Ruphay is a nonprofit organization founded by a group of parents in February 2008. Our mission is to inspire Bolivian youth to preserve, disperse and promote the Bolivian and Latin-American culture through folkloric dances and to be recognized for our traditions. Our most important objective is to strengthen familial bonds, emotional and moral support for our youth and also to promote positive coexistence between dancers, parents, and leaders. We act as an educational entity to help our youth to prioritize education and to participate in programs of personal enrichment such leadership, oratory, positive attitudes, manners, good conduct and behavior, and community service. Ruphay consist of about 90 dancers, their age’s ranges from 3 to 25 years old. Through this organization we have the opportunity to provide these young individuals with an environment filled with positive activities to keep them from negative influences in our society, so they can became responsible, disciplined and good citizens. This becomes a positive outlook for the parents as well, were they can find a group who can support their parenting skills and have the leisure of finding a second home where they can share recreational activities and find quality time to share with their children. The costume is designed specifically for Caporales and is handmade in Bolivia. The designs on our costumes usually represent elements in nature such as fire, water, air and earth. They are decorated with sequins, different types of beading and fabrics. The men carry a whip that was once symbolic of power in colonial times when slavery was a commonplace thing. The bells on the boots were a sort of warning to indentured servants that their master was near. When the Europeans brought slaves to our country, they also brought the afro rhythm that is the whole basis of our la Saya dance. Though the dance has origins in a controversial era, it has blossomed into a beautiful representation of our history and origins and became the most popular dance in national festivities in Bolivia and extended through out some countries in South America.
