In this interview, Gabriela Meneses Cagigao shares her thoughts about the origin and events of the festival and the plans for the 2005 festival which will be held on Children’s Rights Day in November.

Sol & Luna has committed once again to participating in the fundraising and organizing efforts for the 2005 festival.

Q. How did the idea for this festival come about?
GMC: The idea began because there are no shows especially for children in the provinces of Peru, there are no theatrical cultural spectacles for children. There are festivals of some music and dancing for adults but nothing geared just for kids. And I think this is a shame because first of all, it is such an important educational tool and second, because I think it is the right of a child to have the opportunity to experience this kind of entertainment. Theater and music contributes to the formation of human being, a very important emotional part that usually is not attended to in school and studies. I believe theater is the most complete tool for education. Every child likes to create theater and theater involves intellectual, physical, and emotional components. So, for example if you teach something to children through theater, they are going to absorb it better. And I really think you should have theater and music as part of a regular educational curriculum.
So the idea began when I saw there was a real need for a festival like this and also I was hoping that it would motivate teachers or the people who lead institutions for children to begin creating more cultural workshops of children.

Q. What does the name “Intichuriqcuna” mean?
GMC: The name means “Children of the Sun.” In 2003, when the festival began, it was held on June 23, the solstice, the real date of the feast of the sun. I chose this date because it was a way of revalidating the festival of the sun that was so important to our Inca ancestors, and having it celebrated by a younger generation. So they don’t forget where they come from.

Q. Describe the audience for the festival. GMC: The audience was children of different ages and different social classes but more importantly, poorer children who would never be able to afford to pay for a show like that. That’s why it was free for children. Only some of the adults paid a nominal amount. We also had teachers and entire families that came. Most of them were from Urubamba and other towns in the sacred valley. There were even some campesinos, farmers and their families. So many people came that even an hour-and-a-half after the starting time, they were still coming.

Q. How did Sol & Luna become involved in the festival and what role did it play?
GMC: Well I think that every large business or group that is getting something out of the Sacred Valley should give something back to it. It’s actually part of our Andean understanding of life to have this system of reciprocity; since ancient times, we have this system called ayni and it is a fundamental aspect of our culture. And I think the best way to give back is to help the education of children. I trust in education more than any kind of help.

I had heard about Petit Pois (Manager of Sol & Luna) and how she was helping the community at Palccaraqui. So I thought she shared this idea of giving back to the community. I approached Sol & Luna with a proposal – it was actually the first potential funder that I approached. I asked her for money to pay the wages for the performing artists, because most of them were coming from Lima. The most famous performing group that I had asked, Yuyachkani, has been doing theater for 33 years and are well-known in the theater world. And I really wanted them at the festival because I wanted it to be good so that the children would enjoy it and remember it. Petit agreed to help and promised that she would find the money for the artists. I believe she did some fundraising but most of the money came directly from Sol & Luna. That was one of the biggest expenses and once I knew it was taken care of, I could plan the rest of the festival. She was also very helpful with ideas and suggestions about organizing the festival and most importantly, she committed to helping out with the festival next year as well.

Q. What were some of the events at the festival?
GMC: The festival lasted 2 days. Each day was a different program with two sessions, an afternoon and an evening session. Four groups participated. Two from Lima, one from Cusco, and one from Ecuador. The first day, there was a performing artist Lunasol who dramatized a story about “Manuel the Doll” who wanted to fly. Then Yuyachkani from Lima who acted legends and folktales of the forest and the Andes using music and other elements. The second day, Tirulato dramatized legends from the forest and we ended with a group from Cusco, Impulso who performed stories from the Andes.

Q. What aspect of the festival made you proud? GMC:I was proud of the number of the children who came and that it went well. To see so many children happy, and that they could see this theater – I was proud of this. I was also very proud of the the kids of my radio show, who were my organizing crew. They were conducting the shows both days and also they were conducting the radio program every week! They’ve really improved a lot in their expression and communication.

Q. What are your plans for the 2005 festival?
GMC: Next year, the festival will be in November on Children’s Rights Day. I want to do it bigger and better! I want to bring in a famous circus/theater group from Lima. They are like Cirque du Soleil, theatrical and acrobatic, interesting and challenging. I think the children will love them.

Q. What is your ultimate goal with the festival?
GMC: I would like this festival to be well-known and to attract both national and foreign theatrical groups that work with children. My grand plan for the future is to get the tourism industry more involved in this festival, to see if they can help out with bringing professional theater groups to the Sacred Valley and to the festival. Maybe using incentives that allow the groups to see all the famous cultural sights and also to give something back to the community by performing for the festival. That’s ayni. And I honestly feel that there are many people who want to help – when I was organizing and fund-raising, no one told me “no.” So this festival is also a way to give people an opportunity to do ayni -- they want to help and they just need a good project.

For more information about the festival, please email: info@hotelsolyluna.com