Planning to always leave the soul in each stage where they perform and highlighting the name of the municipality of La Plata, known as the Folkloric Paradise of Huila”, the Alma Opita artistic company, in the month of August 2024, leaves for Italy with its performance. in a scene called “This is Colombia”, in which through a historical thread they will honor the Colombian homeland and its dance.
The artistic group is directed by Daniel Felipe Alvira Alvarado, who has been a dancer in different dance groups in the department of Huila for 24 years, 10 as a partner from Sanjuanero Huilense and 11 years of experience directly with “Alma Opita”, with which he has dedicated himself to enhance and strengthen Colombian traditions, culture and folklore on national and international stages.
Daniel Alvira, as director of “Alma Opita”, expresses that, when dancing, more than feeling is being able to make the heart beat by mimicking the various rhythms when dancing and listening to the beautiful symphonies of the dances of our land.
TSM News wanted to know a little more about this important group, so contact was made electronically with its director, who, out of his busy and hectic time, kindly gave us some statements about his dance experiences.
Tell us, how was Alma Opita born, why was that name chosen and how long have they been in operation?
“Alma Opita” was born through the initiative of a group of dancers who intended, in parallel with our other occupations, to resume our dance work.
Thus, at the suggestion of one of them, the teacher Henry Pérez Ortiz, the origin and name of the group were given in order to exalt Colombian folklore and put all the appreciation for the culture and firmly believing that wherever we perform we leave all the feeling and the expression of our traditions. That is to say, with these 11 years of experience, manifest, project and leave with Alma Opita an image of what an entire ancestral heritage of Colombian culture represents.
They have obtained several distinctions, what have they been and what competitions or events have they participated in?
Among the most representative distinctions we have: 1st. placed in the departmental dance competition “Cesar Marino Andrade”, Neiva-Huila, years 2013 and 2023; 1st. Placed in the departmental modern dance competition, Timaná, Huila, years 2014-2015-2016; 3rd. Placed departmental modern dance competition in Pitalito-Huila, 2018.
We have been representatives of the department of Huila in the “Inés García de Durán” International Dance Meeting, years 2013 and 2023; at the VIII departmental meeting of Culture in Garzón-Huila in 2015; present at the national festival “Huellas y Voces”, in the municipality of Soledad-Atlántico, 2014; also at the International Festival “Galá Mondiale di Danza Popolari” Italy in 2017; participants in the Escazú International Folk Festival, Costa Rica in 2018; representatives of the department of Huila at the Carnival, within the framework of the Barranquilla Carnival, in February 2023; International Festival of the Chórt’i area, Guatemala, May 2023 and International Flower Festival, in Honduras in August 2023.
You are traveling to Italy, when is the trip, what event are you going to participate in and what is the name of the presentation you are going to give?
Next August we will be visiting the Italian country, participating in the International Festival for the union of the peoples of the world. Our staging is titled “This is Colombia” in which through a historical thread we will honor the Colombian homeland and its dance.
It is necessary to state that for this trip the collaboration of the Municipal Mayor of La Plata has been of great support, who has extended its hand to be able to realize the dream of representing our people from La Plata in those lands.
Is it possible to know how he develops his staging, montages or choreographies?
Something very curious happens to me, especially when we go to competitions. I always study, plan and research too much about the topic we want to capture, but it always ends up being a dream that organizes my ideas and guides me to successfully complete the montages.
Do you have any particular research methodology for developing such montages?
I think about how the whole cultural issue was born, in word of mouth and listening to the stories of those who experienced first-hand the birth of our festivals and the idiosyncrasies that identify us; that is always the best research method
Is it difficult to create folklore and cultivate Colombian traditions?
It is always complex. It is a secret to no one that work for culture is done more for love than for economic gain and that requesting support to represent our land is an issue that requires too much paperwork for such high cultural benefits that are received.
Invite children, infants, adolescents and youth to be part of the conservation of the traditions of the Opita land
It is important that as parents we ensure that current generations value our culture, love and cultivate our roots, let them know that the festivals are not just the popular stage, the orchestras and so on; We must know what we are to be able to inherit art, culture and folklore to our children.
Those who wish to contact the artistic group “Alma Opita” can do so at its headquarters located on 4th Street at No. 10-36 Colina Campestre neighborhood, in La Plata-Huila, at the telephone number 3178112790 and on all networks social organizations like Alviradf.
—
By: Milton René Losada Gutiérrez – TSM News
