Academia El Mundo Hispano / Spanish World Academy

Arte en las Américas / Arts in the Americas

Dances of Peru

Peru is one of the most fascinating countries in the world, with astonishing variety in different ecological areas. Only few countries offer so many climate zones and landscapes. It is the country of undiscovered rainforests, high mountain ranges and dry deserts. It is the country of the mysterious Inca.

Peru is the third largest country in South America. The geographic diversity of Peru offers something for everyone. Peru meets the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Amazon on the east, and the Sechura Desert in the center, with the spine of the Andes mountains spanning the length of the country from north to south. The ancient Inca Empire left a rich history for the Peruvians to discover. The physical attributes and the rich cultural heritage make Peru a country that is hard to overlook.

Peru will also lead visitors into a world of art and age-old wisdom, the legacy of major pre-Hispanic civilizations such as the Quechua, Aymara and jungle peoples, whose view of the world was based on their observation of the Heavens and Nature. Over the course of centuries, Peru incorporated the cultural contribution of European, African and Asian migrants.

A diverse nation featuring many cultures, Peru is an endless wellspring of creativity. In addition to its historic, archaeological and architectural legacies, folk art is another of Peru's tourist attractions. Its rich folklore is evident in more than 1,500 musical genres, combining instruments from the outside world with native Andean equivalents, such as the quena and zampoña flutes, which provide the accompanying music for more than 3,000 festivals such as the Candelaria, Inti Raymi, Carnivals, Corpus Christi and Easter Week.

At the same time, Peru boasts one of the most exquisite and varied cuisines on Earth, as local chefs have succeeded in adapting a diverse variety of native ingredients while remaining open to outside influences. Peru's cooking is an invitation to discover flavors and fragrant smells, which are as authentic as they are ancient.

Spanish World Academy presents some of the Dances of Peru:

Marinera Norteña

The marinera, also called the marinera norteña (from the north coast) is a graceful romantic dance employing much waving of handkerchiefs. It is a traditional dance, accompanied by a passionate rhythm.

The marinera is an elegant and sensual dance in which the dancers, a woman and a man, act a play of love and seduction. Marinera dance competitions are frequently held all along Peru's coastal towns, with the most important being in Trujillo on the north coast.

Ana Maria Delgado y José Huamanchuno

Tinkus

The word tínku signifies in the tongue Aymara "encounter". Dances of Peruvian folk, especially in the “ Altiplano” also in Bolivia.

Dick, Sonia, Ana and Jesús

Shipibos

Part of the world's richest rain forest is in Peru. This region, whose difficult access made it Peru's natural border, is known by Peruvians as the Forest. The Forest's meandering rivers are also its main communication means. The Peruvian forest is 747.288 sq. km., 5 times bigger than the Coast and almost twice as big as the Highlands (the other 2 geographical regions of Peru).

The Shipibo belong to the great Pano linguistic family. Panos were widely scattered in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia and included 30 different dialects. The following Pano groups live in Peru: Amaguaca, Capanahua, Cashibo, Cashinahua, Isconahua, Mayoruna, Pisabo, Sharanahua, Shipibo-Conibo, and Yaminahua.

For the first time in Peruvian history, Forest communities will be included in the national Census and although official figures are not yet available it is estimated that there are approximately 25,000 people, grouped in 110 native communities.

Rosario, Ana María, Duria, Magali, Rosa and Teresa

Caporales de la Tuntuna

Dance of the altiplano Peruvian (Puno), represents the falling in love of the young arrieros of the region, that al compass of the charango, the boy courts to his "wuarmy"(mujer). Intially it tries conquering it with subtlety but al not to be seen corresponded, utilizes the force and with his whip, instrument utilized to dominate to the horses, abducts it and initiates in this way the union of couples.

Antikuna ñauraytaki, (Quechua version) Antikuna ñauraytaki Chay paqcha tarikun juk sunqoyakusqa sacha sachapi: puqllayqachaq ye atipaq chay kikinmantapacha. Antikuna ñauraytaki wairaqpa kunkanmi pura sayaq qaqakunapi autiq: wairallamanta paqarisqa zhaqa ancha kallpayuq. Antikuna ñauraytaki kunturpa phawayninmi janaqpachapi qellqayta ruwan: ricukun allin ruwasqa, zhaqa kausaytataq qon.

Andean music, (English version) Andean music is a waterfall encountered in a quiet forest: playful and powerful at the same time. Andean music is the voice of the wind that howls among the high rocks: nothing but air, but nevertheless very strong. Andean music is the flight of the condor making a design against the sky: it appears to be art, but gives sustenance.

La música andina, (versión en castellano) La música andina es una cascada que se encuentra en un bosque tranquilo: juguetona y poderosa al mismo tiempo. La música andina es la voz del viento que aulla entre las peñas altas: nacida solo del aire, pero muy fuerte. La música andina es el vuelo del cóndor que hace un dibujo en el cielo: parece arte, pero da el sustento.