about us
Caporales de San Simón Cochabamba, New England branch, is part of the Folkloric and Cultural Fraternity University Caporales de San Simón Cochabamba Block. Our affiliation began in 2016, and its official opening was approved in 2019 after a trial period of three years, which was established under institutional regulations by the parent company in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and approved by Lic. Juan Carlos Morales, President of the parent institution at that time. Currently, we have the legal documentation giving our subsidiary the corresponding permission to carry out its activities within the New England area (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire) of the United States of America.
Announcements: Registrations is currently open for the 2026 season.
Our Mission
At the Caporales San Simón Cochabamba, New England, we proudly and wholeheartedly embrace the mission of highlighting, preserving, and promoting Bolivian cultural values. We are ambassadors of a tradition that has transcended generations, always carrying high the name of our beloved institution, our cherished Bolivia, and one of our most representative treasures: the “Caporal” dance.
More than a dance
The Caporal is much more than a dance: it is an expression of identity, strength, and joy that reflects the history and cultural richness of our people. Every step, every movement, and every costume conveys a message of heritage, unity, and devotion. In this way, we keep alive the essence of those who came before us while opening new paths for future generations.
Community and fraternity
Our mission goes beyond dance. We also seek to strengthen the sense of community and fraternity among our members, working with respect, discipline, and solidarity. Through our cultural activities, performances, and participation in festivals, we bring a message of Bolivian pride to the world, showcasing the greatness and diversity of our culture.
Faith and devotion
Everything we do is framed by our faith and devotion to our Mamita del Socavón, patroness and spiritual guide of our institution. With her blessing, we continue to spread Bolivian culture with joy, dedication, and passion, sharing our dance and art in every place where we perform.
A living legacy
At the F.F.C.C.U.S.S. Cochabamba, New England Chapter, we reaffirm every day our commitment to being guardians and promoters of Bolivian culture, honoring our roots and projecting our folklore into the future, with the firm purpose that it will never be lost, but instead be valued, respected, and celebrated by generations to come.
Our vision
By reviving our cultural roots, emphasizing the value of our caporal dance, and providing people of various ages and nationalities with the opportunity to join our beloved fraternity, all while maintaining appropriate respect among members, our vision is to be able to integrate our Bolivian, Latin American, and general communities.
Our purpose
Our goals include creating a large human organization, a welcoming supporter of the caporal dance within the institutional framework of our beloved fraternity, as well as significantly increasing the number of members within the New England branch, taking part in educational and cultural events related to Latin America, and integrating our dance with our other subsidiaries throughout the United States and the rest of the world. As participants in our magnificent Carnival of Oruro, “a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity,” give our members the chance to experience the wonder of our dance and, more importantly, to be able to touch the feet of our Blessed Virgin of Socavón.
The first group was established on November 22, 1978, at the Universidad Mayor de San Simón in Cochabamba. The 100 Oruro citizens who were enrolled in classes at the university were baptized by Jorge Trigo Andia, the dean of that House of Higher Studies, who served as the new group’s father. They had their debut presentation in Oruro in 1979. It is still considered sacrosanct for the brothers to show devotion to the Virgin of Socavón, as they refer to her. It took the people of the folk capital three years to decide to create a local Bloc of the new Fraternity. The Oruro, La Paz, and Santa Cruz Blocs were established ten years later, and during the 1993 administration, the bloc of the city of Sucre was created.
There are already branches of the Cochabamba Block even outside our country’s borders, such as in the United States, where branches of Virginia, New York, New England, Texas, and California can be found. We feature subsidiaries in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, and Spain. The Caporales Universitarios de San Simón have danced in practically every city in Bolivia and in many areas of the world, distinguishing themselves for their dance style, strength, and grace that their members exhibit when performing this dance.
About the Caporal dance
Caporales It is a Bolivian folk dance that has gained popularity across Latin America and the rest of the world. The Estrada Pacheco brothers, who drew inspiration from the saya’s caporal nature, created and presented this work.
The “Caporal,” who was frequently mestizo or mulatto, oversaw the African slaves who were sent to the highlands during the colonial era.
As a consequence of the presentation of a set of the Saya in which this figure appears depicted, the Estrada Pacheco brothers decide to develop a new dance inspired by the core character of the Saya, bringing together several “Caporales”. As a result, the name of this traditional dance. The fact that there are one or two Caporales in the Saya and the fact that the musical group Los Kjarkas has composed Caporales songs that frequently allude to the Saya has led to much confusion.. As a result, there are still individuals who mistake the two dances, which is a cause of great discontent among the Yungas highland community.
The dance of the Caporales, is a dance that promotes the work and passion of folklorists and dancers, is that the Festival of the “Lord of Great Power,” became the most significant folk event in the city.The dance’s designers, the Estrada Pacheco brothers, were inspired by dances performed by Afro-Bolivian community members from the La Paz region. The performance of the African descendants, transported to Bolivia during colonial times, was coordinated by the entertainment entrepreneur Alberto Pacheco, who met with the “capo” of the Tocaa community members to seek for his permission to perform in the capital. The term “Caporales” is derived from this, as is the original outfit; the “capo” wore a sweatshirt, blouse, and wide-brimmed hat, as well as a machete and two bells on his boots, with which he signaled his presence.
As a result, for the first time in 1969, Afro-Bolivian expressions were shown in the city of La Paz, generating quite a stir among the locals. Days later, the brothers Vicente and Víctor Estrada Pacheco, gathered with their uncle, Alberto Pacheco, to give origin to a new dance, that of the “Caporales”. The Caporales dance is a classic folkloric manifestation that portrays the mulatto who, believing himself to be the patron’s favorite, hides his race and, acting as supervisor, dominates citrus and coca production in the Los Yungas region. He tortures black pawns bound to chains that make rhythmic noises with his whip.
The Caporales dance was designed to glorify the Yungas foreman or black foreman, and it was invented and embodied by young people from Ch’ijini’s popular area (La Paz). However, throughout time, this Caporal and his female accompaniment (at first little more than a flirty Afro-Yungian cholita) whitened and ascended in class, such that today, the most popular dance is linked with completely Westernized, rich elites—so that today, the most popular dance that nothing is associated with fully Westernized, wealthy elites—the character’s symbolic power with its very real power.” Quoted from Dr. Eveline Sigl, and Lic. David Salazar’s book: “You don’t dance just like that”. Bolivian dances.
Men wore whips, a loose shirt with a sash or belt, military-style pants, and boots, while ladies wore a wide-sleeved blouse. long skirt, now trimmed to a small skirt, shoes, and the signature Borsalino-style cap, also known as a cholita hat in Bolivia. At the moment, apparel is continually evolving, with styles and colors identifying the many fraternities or groups of Caporales.
Because their musical style has an aggressive and martial beat, the Caporales dance is defined by being a dance of nimble and athletic motions in which the males mainly show off spins, contortions, kicks in the air, acrobatic jumps, and accompaniment of screams of courage and happiness. Women, on the other hand, stand out for displaying and emphasizing sensuality and femininity via attire and beautiful motions.
Wind instruments such as the quena, zampoña, and whistles accompany it, as do other instruments such as the charango, conga, and maracas.
OUR SUBSIDIARIES IN THE UNITED STATES
OUR U.S. BRANCHES
CALIFORNIA
Caporales Universitarios de San Simón California branch, was recently reopened in 2023, and is only folkloric bolivian dance group on the wsest coast of the United Satates.
VIRGINIA
Caporales Universitarios de San Simón Virginia branch was established as a branch certified by the national headquarters of the Fraternity Folkloric Cultural Caporales Universitarios de San Simón Cochabamba and is recognized as our Institution’s first worldwide branch.
NEW YORK
With more than 20 years since its founding, the Caporales Universitarios de San Simón Cochabamba, New York branch is one of the most well-known Bolivian cultural organizations in the New York metropolitan area.
COCHA ES COCHA
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DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF OUR FRATERNITY?
Caporales de San Simón Cochabamba – New England Branch pleased to invite the whole Bolivian community and the general public to join and be a part of our wonderful family. Inscriptions for the year 2026 are now being accepted. Please contact us at info@sansimonne.com for additional information call us or send us a text to 617-652-0070 You can also find us on Facebook@sansimonne, and Instagram@sansimonne
Thank you very much and see you very soon.