BORUCA IS AN INDIGENOUS VILLAGE IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC OF COSTA RICA, LOCATED AMONG THE TALAMANCA MOUNTAINS.
THE INDIGENOUS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE BRUNKA TRIBE’S VICTORY OVER THE SPANISH CONQUISTADORS .
REPRESENTING THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION IN THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF THE “DANZA “ DANCE , THE MASK USUALLY FEATURE A DEMONIC VISAGE, BUT ALSO CAN DEPICT PREDATORY OR MYTHOLOGICALLY SYMBOLIC FAUNA , AN ANCESTOR OR AN OGRE/MONSTER. DURING THE 3 DAY ANNUAL CEREMONY LEAD BY THE VILLAGE ELDERS “LOS ARREADORES” . THESE PERSONAGES CONFRONT A SINGLE ANTAGONIST IN THIS EVENT’S CHOREGRAPHY- THE “TORO” BULL WHICH EMBODIES THE INVADING EUROPEAN IN THIS CASE THE SPANISH AND ALL OF THE FOREIGN ELEMENTS SUBSEQUENTLY IMPOSED ON THE BRUNKA
HERE IS A PORTRAIT OF KAMEL GONZALES , ARTIST, SCULPTOR AND PAINTER. HE IS THE SON OF THE GREAT ARTIST DON ISMAËL GONZALES WHO’S LEGACY IS ABUNDANT AND THE ONLY LIVING PERSON EVER BEEN DECLARED A “CULTURAL PATRON OF THE COUNTRY”. IN THE EARLY 70s , HE REVIVED MASK CARVING, AS IT WAS A DYING ART WITH JUST A FEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS STILL CARVING MASKS FOR THE FESTIVAL “ LA DANZA DE LOS DIABLITOS”.