“At the beginning, it was called fuga (escape) due to the meaning given by their ancestors, who used it as a way to escape from enslaving haciendas. They braided escape routes into the women’s hair, which they covered with turbans so the Spaniards would not discover them, and through the choreography, they reviewed the escape maps. Once the period of slavery ended, the communities named it Juga, linking it to spaces of play or recreation that allowed them to remember their ancestors and preserve their knowledge, customs, and identity,” expressed Professor Claudia with pride. She also added, “Representing the University of Cauca was a great satisfaction for me. Being able to share with universities from around the world the work being carried out at our Alma Mater, where the reconstruction of cultural memory based on the experiences of students from the North of Cauca contributes to the recognition of Afro communities in the region, is something truly gratifying. I am grateful for the support the university has given me to carry out this research.”

Thus, it is important to mention that Professor Claudia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Basic Education with an Emphasis in Physical Education, Recreation, and Sports; she is a Specialist in Play Pedagogy, has a Master’s Degree in Education, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Education. In addition to her strong academic background, since 2015 she has worked on cultural topics, sharing her knowledge through presentations in countries such as France, Spain, Mexico, and now Peru, contributing to the preservation of cultural identity through traditional dance.