After five months of hard work, students of Pachamama Peruvian Arts finally had the opportunity to display their hard work to the Jackson Heights community.
“When I first heard that she was going to start, I was pretty surprised and didn’t know if I was going to be happy,” said eight-year-old Ernesto Bosi, whose mother also enrolled in the program. “But when I saw her playing, I was happy because I saw that she was talented just like me.”
Bosi and his mother Maria Vaquero were two of the 64 students of Pachamama Peruvian Arts (PPA), traditionally a youth program that opened its doors to adult students this past October, who performed a variety of Peruvian folk tales, dances and music in front of a packed house at the P.S. 212 auditorium on Friday, February 12.
While adults were allowed to participate this time around, only six did, allowing the children to steal the night once again. However, Luz Pereira, the Executive Director of PPA, feels the program is on the rise, with an increase in adult participation coming in the months ahead.
“We are offering classes for adults because the parents asked us to,” said Pereira. “They came together and agreed to participate. I have had parents ask me about taking classes next semester, and one man who wants to learn to play the guitar.”
The classes have been meeting every Friday since early October. Their hard work culminated on Friday night, with performances ranging from the cajon, a form of drumming on boxes, to the Marinera Norteña, a traditional Peruvian partner dance, to a performance of an old folk narrative, “The Gods of Sipan I.”
“We want to make sure that the traditional values are not lost,” said Pereira. “And we can teach, not only Peruvians and their children, but any Latin American or any other person who wants to learn. This way, they can learn our origins and the things we have to offer.”
Pereira feels PPA is inspiring the children to learn more about their culture. Her goal is to make sure that students learn about their Peruvian culture and “that they are proud of what they have.”
One such case is that of 8-year-old Walter Villa, who was inspired by the program to compete in his native Peru.
“This is important to me because the first time I danced, I didn’t know I had the talent,” said Villa, who performed in the Marinera Norteña National in Peru. “I went to Peru because I wanted to step on the Gran Chimu and dance there.”
The program has been a stepping stone for many of its young students, all of whom gain something from the experience. For 12-year-old Maryann Carrillo, meeting new friends and wearing the costumes makes the experience worthwhile.
Anthony Apestegui, 16, has been a part of the PPA family since its inception in Jackson Heights six years ago. He has risen from student to apprentice in the six years he’s been there, and now teaches the cajon to beginners and intermediates.
“It’s a learning opportunity to learn more about yourself and your culture,” said Apestegui. I learned so much, not just student-wise, but leadership skills. It is a really good experience and I love it.”
