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  Directly from the department of Potosí are Sebastiana Calani Varges (left) and Isabelle Valedian (right). Isabelle, pictured here showing us the proper way to wear a manta, was born in the town of Tupisa, but has been in La Paz for almost 45 years. Sebastiana, who’s been in La Paz for 20 years, was raised in Macha. She told us that her hometown is famous for “Tinku,” a kind of ritual combat. While Tinku has since been transformed into a very popular Bolivian folkdance, its mano-a-mano, Fight Club form still persists in certain districts.

Photography by Szymon Kochański