‘Aura farming’: The video game-inspired youth trend sweeping Latin America

Young people in Latin America are participating in an emerging trend called "aura farming," a dance battle inspired by video games. On a beach in Lima, Peru, dozens of participants gathered to showcase their creative moves and dance routines, hoping to earn applause from the crowd. Competitors dressed up as characters from comic books or animated films, performing elaborate moves like forward rolls and push ups to entertain the audience.

One participant, dressed as Shrek, performed a series of acrobatic moves while techno music played in the background.

This phenomenon, rooted in video games and amplified by social media, has spread to cities across Latin America, including Mexico City, Quito, and Buenos Aires. The concept of aura farming is not about popularity, but about exuding positive energy and allowing one's essence to shine, according to María Paula Martínez, an arts professor at Colombia’s Los Andes University.

Fernando Lícito, a Peruvian content creator, brought the idea of aura farming to Peru, organizing three events so far. Participants in aura battles do not engage in physical contact or verbal sparring, but rather aim to generate good vibes, or "aura," in order to win the crowd's approval.