por The evolution of the dance of Peru It did not stop with the colonial era. On the contrary, this artistic expression continues to transform in our days. At present, contemporary dances have been developed, such as ballet.
The dance of Peru is a form of artistic expression that has evolved from pre-Columbian times to the present day. In the beginning, Peruvian dances and dances were related to religious rituals, the worship of the gods and agriculture.
However, during the time of the conquest, the dances of Peru were adapted. This adaptation was made to include European and African elements: the two main cultures that were introduced into the country’s territory.
The music that accompanies these dances is also a mixture of the sounds of the Inca, Quechua and Aymara aboriginal peoples, as well as Spanish and African rhythms.
In the same way, many of the dances of this nation attest to the beliefs of the aboriginal peoples and how they merged with European religions.
The Peruvian dances that are observed today are an amalgam that demonstrate the cultural richness of this nation.
prehispanic dances
Before the arrival of the Spanish, the native peoples of Peru had already developed the dance. The dances of this period dealt with themes related to agriculture, hunting, war and the worship of the gods.
Dances of the pre-Hispanic era
The footprint of the Incas
An example of pre-Hispanic dance is «the footprint of the Incas», also known as Huayno. This dance is accompanied by a song sung in Quechua. For this reason, the Huayno is considered to be one of the Peruvian dances with the strongest aboriginal roots.
The Huayno evolved from the Huayñucuni. The latter was also an intimate aboriginal dance, so intimate that it was not practiced in public.
Later the Huayno arose, which varies from one region to another. For example, the northern Huayno is characterized by cheerful and energetic steps. On the other hand, the Huayno del Sur presents slower rhythms. Lastly, the downtown Huayno has fast rhythms accompanied by songs with tragic lyrics.
Huanca
The Huanca dance is originally from the Amazon region of Peru and is practiced in the city of the same name. This dance was related to the religious rituals of the Peruvian aborigines. It was mainly done to ensure a good harvest.
Today, this dance is still performed when there are activities related to agriculture.
sara kutipay
Sara kutipay means «the cultivation of corn.» This is a dance of Inca origin. It is a danced representation of the work of Aboriginal farmers.
The sara kutipay demonstrates the discipline, group work and perseverance that characterized the Inca cultures of Peru.
colonial dances
With the arrival of the Spanish in Peruvian territory, the traditional dances of Peru began to include certain foreign aspects.
In this way, they began to deal with Catholic issues, such as the Virgin Mary and the saints. Likewise, the harp and the violin became the predominant instruments that accompanied these dances.
On the other hand, aspects of African cultures were also included in the colonial period, especially those of the ethnic Mandingo tribes. The African influence is observed in the rhythms (for example, the drums).
Colonial era dances
Quipán’s grandparents
An example of a colonial dance is that of “los abuelitos de Quipán”, a dance of Andean origin (Quechua) with Spanish elements. This takes place in the month of July, on the occasion of the celebrations in honor of the Virgen del Carmen.
The dance is performed by a group of male dancers dressed in European style, wearing clear masks. These men represent the former Spanish governors of Quipán.
This dance is considered to bring good luck. This is because Quipán declared its independence three months after the city’s residents performed the dance of “los abuelitos” in front of the Argentine general José de San Martín.
The Creole Waltz
The criollo waltz, also called the Peruvian waltz, is another example of how the country’s dance evolved during colonial times. This dance is based on the traditional European waltz, but both Aboriginal and African elements are added.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DuMzl5ZHrE
The dance of Chachapoyas
The chumaichada or the dance of Chachapoyas is a dance from the Amazon region that arose during the colonial era. The music used in this dance is of indigenous origin, but the dance steps are of European origin.
The chumaichada is inspired by “los lanceros”, a French dance that was introduced to Peru thanks to Monsignor Emilio Lissón (who was of French origin).
tondero
The tondero is a dance from the coastal region of Peru. This dance has its origin in the dance of the flyers, practiced by the Roma (better known as gypsies) who arrived from Spain. Eventually, the dance of the volanderos was combined with African and indigenous rhythms.
This dance tells the story of two birds who fell in love. The dancers must execute smooth and fluid movements, which will represent the flight of the two birds.
The name changed from “volanderos” to “tondero” due to the sound produced by the African drums “ton ton ton”.
bunch of blacks
The bunch of blacks is a dance that was performed in the plantations of the colonies during Christmas to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. This dance was typical of the central region of Peru, mainly Huanuco and Pasco.
This dance mixes African elements (such as the zapateo) and Spanish (the singing of Christmas carols and instruments such as the violin and bells).
contemporary dances
Currently, in Peru, pre-Hispanic and colonial dances are still practiced, which are considered an essential part of the country’s culture.
Likewise, it has given way to the practice of contemporary dances, which have become popular throughout the world. Among these emerging dances, ballet and modern dance stand out.
Contemporary dances are very versatile in terms of music and choreography. In the same way, they are a vehicle for the expression of the feelings and emotions of the performer.
References
Peruvian dances. Retrieved on August 24, 2017, from wikipedia.org
21 Beautiful Peruvian Dances that I Want the World to Know About. Retrieved on August 24, 2017, from xpatnation
Peruvian Dance. Retrieved on August 24, 2017, from about-peru-history.com
Afro-Peruvian Music and Dance. Retrieved on August 24, 2017, from festival.si.edu
Culture of Peru. Retrieved on August 24, 2017, from wikipedia.org
Music of Peru. Retrieved on August 24, 2017, from wikipedia.org
Peruvian Dances. Retrieved on August 24, 2017, from ulima.edu.pe.