Bricki Down South: Dance the funky chicken

Absolutely nothing. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now and it feels great. We’ve had one of those weeks where we both have been running around like mad. Nobody celebrates a day of independence like the Chileans! In fact, the official day is still a week away, but you’d never guess it by the way the folks down here have been having festivals, performances, sporting events, song & dance, and all around general festivities.

The week long merriment was kicked off last Saturday with the Fiesta Huasa, a celebration of the huaso, which is the Chilean equivalent to the old western cowboy. People from near and far come each year to our school campus to play typical Chilean games and to see the Cueca dancers. “What’s Cueca?” you might be wondering. Cueca (“kway-kuh”) is the national Chilean dance. Both partners dance with hankies, which the woman uses to demurely hide her face behind and the male swings it around above his head (which kind of reminds me of the Minnesota Twins’ homer hankies from the late 80’s). Generally you will only see this dance performed in the countryside by the huasos and huasas, but during the month of September, you will often see it throughout Santiago. It is meant to represent the courting ritual between a rooster and hen. Which, come to think of it, makes it sound a little odd. It certainly doesn’t sizzle like the Argentine Tango, but it is a fun tradition to watch. Today I stumbled through my first cueca and loved it! Below are some photos of Fiesta Huasa (both this year and last), and one of my students dressed up in traditional Chiean wear for our school assembly.

Chi-chi-chi-le-le-le…Viva Chile!!

Arturo, school custodian extrodinaire! Dressed up here in his huaso attire, Arturo is one of the most genuine men this world has ever known. Here he is passing around a Chilean liquor (made of corn)that is stored in a glass jug and drunk from a bull's horn.