Film Lens
Soy Andina is a 2007 documentary directed by Mitchell Teplitsky that focuses on the lives of two dancers from New York, Cynthia Paniagua and Nelida Silva, as they navigate their mixed Peruvian and American identities. Cynthia, a modern dancer with Andean heritage from Queens, seeks to deepen her understanding of her roots by taking lessons from Nelida, an immigrant folk dancer from the Andes. Their connection is further solidified when Nelida returns to her native village in Peru to host The Patron Saint Festival in 2000, allowing them to reconnect and explore their cultural backgrounds together.
The film was shot over a five-year period and premiered at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in September 2007. It was also featured at the 2007 Los Angeles Latino Film Festival and had two screening tours organized by the U.S. Embassy in Peru, highlighting its cultural significance and the interest in Peruvian heritage within the American context.
Why Watch
- •Meet Cynthia Paniagua, a modern dancer with Andean roots.
- •Follow Nelida Silva at The Patron Saint Festival in Peru.
- •See the cultural blend of Peruvian and American identities.
Did You Know
•Cynthia Paniagua is a modern dancer from Queens with Andean heritage.
•Nelida Silva is an immigrant folk dancer from the Andes.
•The film premiered at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in September 2007.
•The filming took five years to complete.
Perfect For
Dance enthusiastsPeruvian culture fansDocumentary lovers