Mid-February is about the time when we all grow sick of winter. The holidays have come and gone, the snow has worn out its welcome and we just want to get back outside! But, while we patiently wait for the warmer months to roll through, Mayu has a movie recommendation for your indoor entertainment.

Soy Andina is “the dazzling story of two women raised in different worlds — an immigrant folk dancer from the Andes, and a modern dancer from Queens, NY — who return to Peru to reconnect with roots and an astonishing world of traditional dance and celebration.”

We’ve mentioned Huayno dancing a number of times in past communications, but this movie truly highlights the cultural significance to Peruvians. Dancing ignites the importance of folklore and tradition within the Peruvian community as people look to express themselves through various forms of movement. Both traditional and modern, Huayno is the preferred dance of Mayu’s artisans (and of course one of our favorite Peace Corps activities!). Click here for a sample of wiki huayno music! In the film, you will catch a glimpse of rural Andean life and have a better understanding of where our artisans come from.

This wonderful documentary was created by Mitch Teplitsky. Mitch has partnered up with founder/organizer of the Foreign Film Club and New York Spanish Language Meetup, to screen Soy Andina on Saturday, March 27 at Iguana in NYC. The event will include a showing of the film, Q&A with Mitch and Cynthia (main character); followed by a Peruvian dance workshop and Salsa! This should be a fantastic event. Readers, let us know if you plan on attending…a possible Mayu meet-up?!

There you have it; Mayu’s inaugural film recommendation. So get a copy of the movie, get cozy under your Mayu hand-knit alpaca throw and hunker down for just one more night of winter.

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Enjoy the show!