Colombia was beyond anything I could have imagined. In the months leading up to the trip, there was some worry about spending a month in Cali, one of the most dangerous cities in the world. My concerns also stemmed from having watched the complete Netflix series, Narcos that painted quite a violent and intimidating image of Colombia. However, during this time I chose to hold on and lean into the wonderful things I was hearing about the place. I recall Javiera (Director of Engagement Latin America – Education New Zealand) during a Zoom meeting we had with her saying that the last PMSLA group they hosted in Colombia had such a positive experience and they were not ready to leave after a month. I held on to this hope that this would be a similar feeling for me at the end of the trip. I can say now that it absolutely was! Little had I known how transformative this experience was going to be.
My time in Colombia was a whirlwind of rich experiences. Our days were full of them. Our engagement in cultural exchanges at the Universidad del Valle stands out as the richest moments of my time there. Sharing space and energy through our movement sessions felt so powerful in breaking down any boundaries. It did not take long for the vā (relational space) to be activated. I left with so much appreciation for the generosity the students and staff had towards us in terms of their enthusiastic engagement and respect for our work presented. A significant moment for me was watching the students embrace and bring their hearts into our Samoan dances. It brought tears to my eyes and in that moment, I thought to myself, ‘never would I have ever imagined that I’d see or be teaching Samoan dance in Colombia.’ Sharing my culture in that space felt like ‘a full circle moment’, fulfilling my role towards my family and heritage in the work I was delivering. It was a big moment of gratitude and reminder of why I do what I do – to activate spaces of connection, bring joy and to learn from and support each other through the medium of dance.
Learning from them, in particular, afro dance expanded my embodied experiences. I felt that the collective energy, movement and music was prompting me to access and connect to different parts of myself. These learning moments evoked so much shift and expansion in my current work that lies in embodiment. Participating in their folkloric dances also strengthened my ideas surrounding community dance and the ritualistic processes embedded within them. These cultural exchanges that expanded so much of my perceptions cultivated further clarity in the direction of my work and the role that I have that is in service to community. I found it so significant towards my journey as an emerging researcher, educator and artist.
Our moments outside of the university also contributed richly to my experiences in Colombia. The murals on every corner, the salsa music playing almost everywhere, the colourful beaded jewellery displayed at street stalls, the beautiful trees that reminded me of the islands, the salsa dancing on the street, the somewhat organised chaos of the traffic, the sometimes difficult but often rich moments of moving through the language barrier, the cautious but quick crossings of roads, the colours of Salento and San Antonio, and the beautiful people we met. There is so much that I will hold in my heart for many years from my experience in Colombia. I am beyond grateful to have had this opportunity to flow into its wonders that have inspired so much for me.