Baile de las Turas

Baile de las Turas (Dance of the Flutes)

Varies, June-OctoberIndigenous peoples, including the Ayamas, living in Venezuela's Falcón and Lara states celebrate the Baile de las Turas at various times during the harvest season in thanksgiving for the corn crop. In Maparari, Lara state, Las Turas is held on September 23-24. Roman Catholic-influenced religious processions and services honoring the Virgen Mary blend with traditional religious dance and music over two days. "Tura" refers to the end of the corn harvest as well as to the two different kinds of flutes used in the ceremonies: a smaller, shorter flute which creates a sharp sound and a larger flute with a deeper tone.
CONTACTS:
Venezuelan Embassy
1099 30th St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007
202-342-2214; fax: 202-342-6820
www.embavenez-us.org
SOURCES:
FiestaTime-1965, p. 135