Discovering Bolivian Tinku and Hawaiian Hula

A Vivid Celebration of Culture through Dance

Vibrant dances often serve as a living bridge between the past and present, with cultures telling their stories through movement, music, and costume. At the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, two distinctive dance traditions—the Bolivian tinku and the Hawaiian hula—commanded attention by embodying deep-rooted cultural pride and community spirit.

The Bolivian Tinku: A Communal Dance of Unity

On a lively Sunday morning at the National Mall, the resonant beat of drums and flutes filled the air. A large group of dancers in colorful, embroidered costumes moved in perfect cohesion beneath a proudly waving Bolivian flag. This spectacle was the tinku, a traditional Andean dance whose name means "to come together" in Quechua.

The dance, performed by fraternities from the Washington D.C. area, emphasizes peer-learning and collective effort over hierarchical teaching. Participants follow guides known as guías, who communicate next steps through whistle signals and hand signs, crafting a performance that is as much about cooperation as it is about rhythm and precision.

This immersive learning process reflects the communal values of Andean Indigenous culture, where each member supports one another to perfect their steps. The sharing and blending of different fraternity styles during performances also foster unity and growth among dancers.

Costumes worn in tinku vividly represent Bolivian heritage, referencing historical and cultural stories stitched into their embroidery and designs. The dance serves not only as entertainment but as an educational vessel, preserving languages, customs, and identities for future generations.

Hawaiian Hula: Language, History, and Movement Intertwined

A short walk away, the graceful movements of six girls dressed in red with yellow leis and feathered gourds complemented the ethereal chanting of a Hawaiian song. This was the hula, performed by members of Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo, a hula school dedicated to cultural preservation through dance and the Hawaiian language.

Hula in this context is more than a dance; it is a storytelling medium passed down through generations. The dancers’ hand gestures and chants bring to life the history, myths, and relationships to land and community. The school uses ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi exclusively in instruction, emphasizing language revitalization alongside dance.

The significance of performing at the nation’s capital during major events, such as the Fourth of July, added deeper layers of meaning. Hawaiian students expressed the honor and responsibility of representing their culture on a prominent stage, a meaningful gesture of heritage sharing amid a diverse cultural landscape.

Bridging Local Roots and Global Audience

Both the Bolivian tinku and Hawaiian hula dance groups come from communities either local to the Washington D.C. area or connected through diaspora and heritage schools. Yet, their performances transcended local boundaries, inviting festival-goers to connect with and appreciate different cultural narratives.

These dances also highlight the importance of spaces like the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in nurturing cultural expression and mutual respect. Beyond showcasing tradition, the festival creates a dynamic environment where diverse cultures meet, learn from each other, and celebrate identity.

The Role of Dance in Cultural Preservation and Identity

For participants, dance is an anchor to heritage, history, language, and community ties. Through movement and music, stories that might otherwise fade continue to live on vividly in the hearts and minds of new generations. In both Bolivian and Hawaiian traditions, dance connects performers deeply to who they are, where they come from, and the values they uphold.