The Stiudents' Strange Ceremony

This strange ceremony, mixing chicha, fire, a monster and indigenous dancing, was staged yesterday evening by dance and art students from the Antonio Nariño University, as part of their year-end project.

What it meant was not clear, and left open to interpretation, a student named Brayan told me. But it also had something to do with the injustice of the 1948 assassination of populist leader Jorge Eliecer Gaitán on a nearby sidewalk, Brayan said.

The police, however, evidently did not recognize the artistic genius in the event, rather seeing it as more of a public nuisance, located between two TransMilenio lanes and in the middle of busy Carrera Septima - not to mention the smoke billowing into Bogotá's already-noxious air. The cops hurried the students away, and later fined their teacher under the Nuevo Codigo de Policia.

That all seemed wrong to Brayan.

"It's just an art project," he protested. "It's not like we were here burning things all day long."

Evidently, artistic smoke is not bad for you like regular smoke.

But Brayan saw an elegance in the episode. "We were memorializing injustice," he observed, "and now we've been met by injustice."

Brayan was collecting donations in a hat to pay his teacher's fine.

Certainly, in their zeal for public order and protecting our air, the police might think about going a few blocks north or west and citing the vehicles belching black smoke all day long.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Dancing for Delia

The Fundación Delia Zapata is one of the little-known jewels of La Candelaria. Named in honor of

Delia Zapata Olivella

Delia Zapata Olivella, who dedicated her life to researching and popularizing the music and dance of Afro-Colombian peoples of Colombia's coastal regions. Later in life, she traveled to Africa to find the roots of AfroColombian melodies.

The foundation, housed in a grand old building on the south side of Calle 10 between Carreras 2 and 3, offers dance classes and musical events.

Delia Zapata was born in 1926 in Cordoba and died exactly 14 years ago on May 24, 2001. Ironically, she was killed by a disease she contracted during a research trip in Africa.

Delia Zapata and friends.

The Delia Zapata Foundation on Calle 10.

Delia Zapata at rest.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

A Sensuous Celebration for a Sexy Sculpture

The bowls are carried by AfroColombian street vendors on Colombia's coasts, where they use them to carry fruits on their heads.

 During a bike tour today, we came upon this small troupe of erotic AfroColombian women dancers around the Enrique Grau sculpture of scantily dressed woman in front of the National Park. The location and them were appropriate, since Grau's work, named 'Rita 5:30 p.m., represents a prostitute.

The dancers certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves, as the dance became more erotic. A recording playing in the background talked of the eroticism of AfroColombian women.

The erotic dance was financed by the District's Institute of Patrimony, which is evidently pretty broad-minded. (Bad pun unintended). One of the event's organizers told me that the event's purpose was to encourage the public to respect city monuments and not graffiti them. Events are planned for other monuments, she said.

The dancers evidently were enjoying themselves, as was the audience and - hopefully - Rita as well.

Write something sex on my legs, baby.

Can you read my leg, baby?

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Protesting With A Beat

This is much more fun than working!

The 2013 protest season kicked off today with a beat along Ave. Septima. 

Students, handicapped people and users of the state health system all marched thru downtown today in what looks like the beginning a another protest season. Today was a bit different, tho, thanks to this group which performed a costumed dance routine on Jimenez Ave. Their costumes reminded me of the Village People, altho they didn't sing. 

Employees of the National University have been on strike for more than a week demanding raises. Students are supporting them, shutting down the university. In the past, these strikes lasted months. 

Swing those bodies!

We are not the Village People.

Handicapped marchers demand more government services. 

Riot police at the ready. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

Making La Candelaria a Community

Dancers in old-time costumes. 

Residents of Calle 10, perhaps La Candelaria's most handsome and historic street, turned out today with music, dance and even a circus, to celebrate the neighborhood. The goal of the event, which is to be held on the fourth Saturday of each month, a neighbor told me, is to build community and also improve the image, which has been scarred for years by a reputation for crime.

La Candelaria, Bogotá's historic center, still has its troubles, but has a tremendous amount to offer in history, culture and friendliness!

Circus jugglers. 

Youngsters kick up their heels.

A couple kisses while walking down Tenth St. 

A bookstore/cafe brouht its literature out onto the street. 

A guitarist in the doorway of the Casa Real cafe. 

The doorway of a historic restaurant. 

An impromptu singer. 

Nick nacks for sale. 

A woman in historic dress.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours