Victor Raul “Piti” Padilla is an award-winning performer who has devoted much of his life to music, dance, and sharing the rich heritage of the afro-Peruvian folklore to audiences in many countries around the world.

Victor currently resides in the metropolitan area of Washington D.C.; he is a Peruvian artist notable for his amazing talent and energy as a singer, dancer, and percussionist.

His experience in music comes from his teenage years growing up in Peru and playing with renowed local and international artists.

Victor was a member of the international group for black-folklore: “Black theater and dance of Peru”, the band “Peru Negro” with whom he also won an award for a popular festival held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He’s also been a member of the famous band “Los Pasteles Verdes”.

His ability as a percussionist earned him the opportunity to be able join the “La Sonora Dinamita” band with the famous and very recognized artist ,”Fruko”. Since his arrival to the American Union he has been a part of different musical bands such as “Amanecer Criollo Internacional”, “Armonia 808” next to the talented musician Cesar Acevedo (Virginia), and “Azul y Blanco” (flamenco music). Victor has also participated at the “Reston Community Center Theater” under the artistic direction of Terlene D. Terry-Todd where his daughter, Miskisha Padilla, would later join in with him. Victor would later participate at “The Kennedy Center” (Washington D.C.) and at the “Cherry Blossom” Festival.

The festejo is the song and dance that is representative of the mestizo-black population in the Peruvian folklore. Musically speaking, its rhythms are lively and happy. The instrumentation includes guitars, cajones, clapping, and the jawbone of a donkey. The dance moves in jubilant steps to the rhythm of the congo drums.

The cajon is a musical instrument of the percussion family. It was just a simple box made of whatever wood products available, but over the years, the cajon has become more refined. By striking various parts of the box, the cajon player delivers a variety of tones and rhythms characteristic of the african heritage.

El Zapateo is the afro-Peruvian dance which is similar to tap dancing in the United States. It is usually performed to the music of a single guitar. The guitar is preferred bacuse of its melodic variety and lightheartedness. The zapateo is based on the rhythms of the festejo, but the taps whuch create their own singing voice carry on a dialogue in syncopation with the guitar.

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