por The typical dances of Huánuco, department of Peru, are Los Negritos, El Tuy Tuy, the Rukus dance of Canchapampa, the Cholones of Rupa Rupa and the dance of Jija Ruku. Many of these dances, along with other traditional and representative of this department, have been declared intangible heritage of the Peruvian nation.
Through their dances, the Amazonian and highland peoples express their idiosyncrasies and values; They also serve to represent their customs, economic activities, geography, politics, history and society in general.
Main typical dances of Huánuco
the blacks
It is considered the most traditional and representative dance of the department of Huánuco. It is executed by the Brotherhood of the Negritos.
It has its origins in the plantation haciendas where the African slaves brought by the Spanish worked.
It is a rhythmic Afro-Hispanic dance, which evokes the splendor of the colonial era during the Viceroyalty and the daily work on the haciendas. But it is also an expression of the joy of blacks in the achievement of their freedom.
The brotherhoods or comparsas hold competitions of this dance that they stage in the streets during Christmas and Easter.
It begins and is led by Los Caporales, but other people such as El Corochano (an old Spanish nobleman), El Abanderado, a white man who waves the flag of freedom and El Turco y la Dama, who represent the noble Spanish owners of the farms.
Yours Yours
The origin of the name of this typical warrior dance of the town of Llata is not clear, in which skill, strength and courage are exhibited, without actually representing a fight itself.
Four to six people participate in this dance disguised with wooden masks, wearing black pants, with a sash, leggings and bronze bells on their feet.
They wear a triangle shawl covering their shoulders and back. A buckler in the left hand and a club or cane in the right.
It consists of tap dancing, while representing figures such as Pacha Nanay who simulates a stomach ache and others such as Huaragua, Rat Goat, Cebadilla, Huariniña and Mata Perro.
Rukus of Canchapampa
This ritual dance was declared in 2012 intangible national heritage. It is originally from the district of Llata. It represents a bullfight in a burlesque tone. In general, it is danced on July 26, 27 and 28 on the occasion of national holidays.
During the dance, the wild bull (played by a person) is captured and taken away by a group of rukus (weasels), headed by another character called Repuntero, who is the rancher ‘owner’ of the animal.
After dancing the bullfight takes place. The bull resists being captured and charges against his captors. When he kills the Puntero, he ends the run.
Rupa Rupa Cholons
This dance is an expression of festivity and joy. The dancers imitate the movements and the ability of jaguars and monkeys to hide in the jungle.
Although it is originally from the Central High Jungle, it was incorporated and recreated in the city of Huánuco, capital of the department of the same name.
It has a varied choreography that is executed to the rhythm of the march and then as an Amazonian cumbia. It is danced in rows and in circles, jumping with the hands up.
The dance begins with the dancers going from the ends to the center, the women from the left side and the men from the right side.
Dance of the Jija Ruku
This ancestral dance was also declared intangible national heritage in 2015. It is danced in the Huancabamba annex, Llata district, a peasant area. Jija means sacred mountain in Quechua and Ruku means old man.
The dance refers to a mythical old man from the mountain, who is the central character of the dance. It has a parsimonious choreography and is danced to the rhythm of slow music, which intersperses light tunes or solos performed by the ‘cashier’.
It is performed with 20 dancers who dance in two columns making movements and representing various choreographic figures.
mule dance
The muliza is Cultural Patrimony of the Nation. Although its origin is in Pasco or Junín, the Huanuqueña muliza also has a lot of tradition and roots among its citizens. It is usually represented at important events or parties such as carnivals, being a happy and elegant dance.
References
Dances of the Department of Huánuco. Consulted from huanuco.com
Dances of Huanuco. Consulted from enperu.org