Dear
Peruvians in the diaspora:
'This is my love letter to you.'
Dance Your Ancestors ™️ is an emerging program that connects Peruvians in the diaspora to their heritage and ancestry through dance, ritual, historical research, and community connection. The program consists of a 4-month online program of followed by a 10 to 12 day in-person DYA dance intensive where participants travel to Peru, train with cultural ambassadors of the dance genre, visit historical sights related to the dances learned, and give back to the local community.
Each round is carefully curated and dedicated to a specific genre of traditional dance. Currently, our focus of study is AFRO-PERUVIAN dance, specifically Festejo rhythm-based dances. For our DYA intensive we learn and dance in both Lima and El Carmen, Chincha.
Dance Your Ancestors ™️ program first launched in May of 2022 and has since completed it's 5th round this past February 2025. Each cohort has experienced an unforgettable transformation filled with connection, joy, healing, and DANCE like never before.
As a community, we honor our ancestors by uplifting them through dance, learning and understanding through a decolonial lens, through the body, ritual, community connection and reciprocity. As a NYC born Peruvian- American and Puerto Rican dancer who has dedicated her life to the creation of this program, I fully understand the double and triple consciousness of being from the diaspora and feeling "in-between" cultures with "ni de aqui, ni de alla". The truth is that "somos de aqui Y de alla" in unique ways. With over 20 years of experience dancing, living and researching in Peru, I understand how the dance of our ancestors have shaped and transformed my life. I'm proud to share this experience as a way to dig into your own ancestry in the ways our ancestors were denied. We get to do that today, with conciencia and joy.
Dance Your Ancestors program opens an opportunity for us to discover, experience and strengthen that understanding. We make up an important part of the mosaic of Peruvian culture. How we represent, connect and value our heritage MATTERS. Dance Your Ancestors program is fully immersed in the dance language that our ancestors used to resist, connect, thrive and self empower. Y nadie te quita lo bailado !
I feel honored to be a part of and witness the incredible transformations of DYA participants who now form part of a larger community. I thank the Dance Your Ancestors ™️ team for trusting the vision of ensuring that our ancestors dance through us with resilience, knowledge, honor and truth. Gracias infinitos al equipo en Lima y El Carmen, la Familia Ballumbrosio, guerrerxs por siempre en nuestra cultura Afro Peruana.
To begin your journey or learn more, click the link below and schedule a call.