The dance is performed in the Herrera province on the S.W.Pacific coastof Panama by individuals of Spanish descent generally at religious carnivals in urban areas. The origins of the dance can be traced back to Spain and are possibly even pre-Christian. The dancers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, the centre of this activity is in Chitre, fourth largest town of Panama and provincial capital of Herrera. I estimate it would need at least five hundred hours work to complete one of these outfits. Some are self made, others are made by professionals.
Children also participate usually using wing feathers.
The tradition is deep rooted and well respected locally and nationally. There are no Macaws left in Panama except in the Darien province in the East. Those seeking new or replacement feathers have been going on illegal expeditions to Darien in order to get the indians there to obtain feathers by of course killing Macaws. These are usually kept in a cardboard tube and wiped with paraffin to deter moths when not in use. Other tactics are an education programme for schoolchildren, use of goose and pheasant feathers and use of artificial substitutes.