Beatriz Restrepo

 

Beatriz H. Restrepo is the founder of the Colombian Ethnic Dance Ensemble, which over fourteen years performed in California, USA. Her training includes Modern, Jazz, Ballet and Ethnic Dance. During three decades of performing and teaching activities she has developed her own unique style of Latin Fusion, rooted in the present, but connecting the spiritual with the physical in a way learned from the ancient traditions of the native people from the Americas and Africa. These dances are the result of a century’s long cultural fusion of peoples from three different origins, who had to learn to coexist in peace and harmony. The original inhabitants of the region, a multitude of indigenous people, mostly provide their airy melodies, while the Africans brought powerful rhythms from back home into their Diasporas. The Spaniards and other European invaders contributed, for better or for worse, the ruthless refinement of the European courts. By incorporating this fruit of ethnic fusion our muscles become nimble and body-mind coordination is enhanced, all while having tons of fun!