With the presentation "Reconstruction of Cultural Memory through the Traditional Juga Dance of Northern Cauca," Professor Claudia Patricia Burbano Astaiza represented the University of Cauca at the Annual Conference of the Memory Studies Association (MSA), held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in Lima, from July 18 to 20, 2024.

Under the theme "Memories in Transit," the Memory Studies Association held its Eighth Conference at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in Lima, aiming to explore how memories move between different contexts and temporalities, influencing social phenomena such as inequalities, racism, exclusion, and migration. Within this framework, Professor Claudia Patricia Burbano, from the Regional Formative Physical Activity Program, had a prominent participation with her presentation titled "Reconstruction of Cultural Memory through the Traditional Juga Dance of Northern Cauca."

In her presentation, this Unicauca professor addressed the importance of the Traditional Juga Dance of Northern Cauca, a choreographic performance developed during events such as the Adoration of the Baby Jesus and various festivities within the community. This dance is a testament to the processes of resistance and freedom of the Afro communities in the north of our department, being the only dance in Cauca that does not have Spanish traces because it is not danced in pairs.

Provided photo

"Initially, it was called 'fuga' due to the connotation given by their ancestors when fleeing from slave estates, braiding escape routes into the women's hair, which were covered with turbans so that the Spanish would not discover them. Through the choreography, they rehearsed the escape maps. After the end of slavery, the communities renamed it 'Juga,' associating it with play spaces that allowed them to remember their ancestors and perpetuate their knowledge, customs, and identity," proudly stated Professor Claudia, who also added, "Representing the University of Cauca was a great satisfaction for me. Being able to share with universities from around the world the work being done at our Alma Mater, where the reconstruction of cultural memory based on the experiences of students from Northern Cauca contributes to the recognition of the Afro communities of Northern Cauca, is very gratifying. I am grateful for the support that the university has given me to carry out this research."

It is also important to mention that Professor Claudia holds a Bachelor's degree in Basic Education with an emphasis on Physical Education, Recreation, and Sports, a specialization in Pedagogy of Play, a Master's degree in Education, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Education. In addition to her strong academic background, since 2015, she has worked on cultural topics, sharing her knowledge through presentations in countries such as France, Spain, Mexico, and now Peru, contributing to the preservation of cultural identity through traditional dance.

Provided photo

She was also a pioneer in the dance seedbeds at Unicauca and participated in the creation of the first MOOC on folk dance, thanks to the MOOC Mentes project at the University of Cauca, by invitation of Dr. Gustavo Ramírez from the Department of Telematics, which she was a part of in 2018. Her impressive resume also includes a special mention, as she was recognized by the University of Los Libertadores with the "LIBERTADORA" award for her work in safeguarding the cultural identity of Cauca.

From our academic institution, where we make dreams come true and transform lives, we celebrate the participation of our educators in various international academic forums. Initiatives as interesting as Memory Studies have a significant impact on diverse regions like Cauca, the department where we are located and with whose development we are deeply committed. Therefore, we invite all our professors to share their experiences, which serve as inspiration for their colleagues to continue with their research and projects that leave a lasting impact.

Written by:

C.S. Gabriela Bedoya - Press Area