TEXTILE ART

The Caporales dance originated in La Paz by the Estrada Pacheco brothers in 1969.  It was presented  to the public for the first time at the Fiesta del Gran Poder. The brothers were inspired by the character Caporal  from the Afro-Bolivian inspired Saya dance from Los Yungas region of La Paz. The Caporal of the Saya dance represents a foreman of the black slaves, who usually was a mestizo and wore bells on his knees and a whip in his hands. The dance, however, has a prominent religious aspect; participants supposedly dance for La Virgen del Socavon (patron saint of miners) and promise to dance for three years of their lives. 

​

The Caporales dance is a folkloric manifestation that represents the mulatto, who considers himself the bosse's favorite, denies his race as foreman and controls the production of citrus fruit and coca in Los Yungas area.  The original clothing of the men consisted of whips, baggy shirt, girdle or belt, military-cut pants and boots, while the woman wore a blouse with wide sleeves, long skirt that has now been shortened to be a mini skirt, shoes and the characteristic borsalino bowler type hat or commonly known in Bolivia as the 'cholita' hat.  At present, clothing has been developed incorporating designs and colors that identify the different fraternities or sets of Caporales.

​