Tobas

The dance of the Tobas is a Bolivian folkoric dance created in the city of Oruro in the early 20th century. Currently, it is performed in important festivals such as the Carnaval de Oruro and the Fiesta del Gran Poder. Its origin is urban and it holds little relation to the Toba people, although this tribe was the main inspiration for its creation. On March 24, 2014, the Bolivian government declared the dance of the Toba as tangible and intangible heritage of the nation, with the contribution of Bolivian researcher Juan Manuel Cuellar Carpio. Every January 24th, the day national day of the dance of the Tobas is celebrated in Bolivia. The dance is also present in festivities outside Bolivia, such as the Carnaval con la Fuerza del Sol in Arica (Chile), the Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria in Puno (Peru) and the Entrada Folclórica de Integración Cultural in Buenos Aires (Argentina).