The 2015 Richmond Folk Festival was nothing short of glorious: great weather, enthusiastic crowds, and excellent music, food, and crafts. A highlight of the festival was the parade of Bolivian dance troupes. Organized by Nelly Zapata, president of Comite Pro Bolivia, and the Virginia Folklife Program, hundreds of beautifully costumed Bolivians paraded through the festival’s main artery. Northern Virginia is home to the largest population of Bolivians outside of Bolivia, and hundreds of them dazzled festival crowds with their spectacular costumes and athletic dance moves:
The parade featured members of six different Bolivian dance groups: Fraternidad Cultural Pachama, Fundacion Socio Cultural Boliviana, Morenanda, Fraternidad Alma Boliviana, Centro Cultural Bolivia, and Fraternidad Folklorica Cultural Caporales Universitarios San Simon Filial VA.
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Clad in extravagant costumes hundreds of traditional Bolivian dancers from five different groups from northern Virginia paraded through the festival grounds at the Richmond Folk Festival on 10/10/15. Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Folklife Program.
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Bolivian Dancer (Photo by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Folklife Program.) 
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Bolivian parade groups marched through the Richmond Folk Festival on 10/10/15. Photoe by Pat Jarrett/Virginia Folklife Program.
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
Photo by Pat Jarrett/The Virginia Folklife Program
