Pollera and Tembleques

Assemble the dress layers and thread the shimmering hair ornaments (tembleques) in symmetrical patterns that tremble as the dancer moves.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Panama. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of The Americas: Mesoamerica.