Dance, that artistic expression based on movement and music, is one of the practices that generate greater curiosity when traveling to a certain destination; and Peru, one of the favorite countries of tourists arriving to our continent, has charming typical dances.
If you want to be part of these customs, the best thing to do is to plan your trip during a traditional festival; so, as it will be difficult to coincide in more than two, we present five options to help you make a good decision.
While you are traveling to Peru you may need to keep communication or a translation app. That’s why you may need to use one of our mobile phone plans for tourists to have a tourist sim card. In order to make a nice trip here in PeruSIM. Here you’ll find more information about some peruvian typical dances.
1. The marinera
The beauty of Peru’s national dance surprises with the strength of its music, the stories told by its lyrics and the elegance with which the couples seem to dance with the wind.
The main reason why it identifies the Peruvian people is because it represents the crossbreeding between indigenous, Spanish and black cultures, both in its instruments and in its choreography.
It is traditional of the Peruvian coast, although each region along the country differs from the others by giving it a characteristic of its own.
The best time to enjoy the marinera and all its culture is during the month of January in the city of Trujillo, on the northern coast of the country, when the National Marinera Contest has been held for more than 50 years.
2. The Huayno
This is probably the best known dance locally and internationally after the marinera, since its origins date back to the time when the Incas dominated most of the territory.
It is an Andean dance that has been modified over the centuries, adopting instruments such as the violin or mandolin, and maintaining other traditional instruments such as the quena or charango.
The huayno is the dance that predominates during the festivities of the Peruvian Andean towns, but being a lively and cheerful musical genre, in these destinations you can find places to listen and learn to dance huayno at almost any time of the year.
It is danced in couples, with little physical contact and, as in most ancient dances, the skirt or pollera is a fundamental garment for women to show their femininity and skills, just as men do with the hat. The constant footwork is also present and watching it live will surely leave you speechless.
3. The Peruvian waltz
It is one of the most romantic manifestations of the dances of Peru and reflects the cultural integration that took place in the nineteenth century when the Viennese waltz arrived and the Peruvians, instead of adopting it, adapted it.
This is how this rhythm was created, incorporating guitars, Peruvian cajon and spoons, as well as beautiful voices singing about the country and its beauty, love and additionally stories of the time. The women dance it with elegant dresses and move smoothly, giving small and accurate steps. The men, less showy, accompany them by clapping their hands and guiding the steps of the choreographies in pairs.
Lima is the perfect city to enjoy it, as its origins are believed to be in the black communities that lived in the center of the capital. When you get here, ask for the best place to listen to Peruvian waltz, and if you dare, try one of its smooth steps.
4. The wititi
This typical dance of southern Peru, specifically the Colca Valley and its surroundings, stands out for having remained almost intact over the centuries, which is why it has been declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation.
It is characterized by the prominence of wind instruments and the joy of their steps, since the dancers can spend a long time jumping harmoniously, individually, in pairs or forming circles, while emitting short shouts or whistles that accompany the music.
The costumes are very elaborate and particular, and those who dance the wititi may wear more than 10 garments, each with its own special meaning.
Traditionally, it is said that this dance began as an attempt to avoid the Inca conquest, so the men used female garments that remain to this day. Over time, it became the dance of the harvest and was practiced ceremonially in the summer.
It is still a strong cultural manifestation for the people of the Colca, so if you plan to visit Arequipa and its surroundings, do it between December and February when you can enjoy the best interpretations of wititi.
5. Dance of the Scissors
This particular dance, which may seem quite funny and strange because of the mixture of instruments, rhythms and dance steps, is originally from the region of Ayacucho and is performed with violin and harp.
In front of the musicians the dancers dance using their feet more than anything else, and giving between touching scissors that they carry in their hands. They are dressed in costume, since historically this was the traditional dance “tusuk laykas”, as the priests, sorcerers and healers of the pre-Hispanic era were called.
Its choreography is so elaborate that during a time the settlers called it the dance of the devil, stating that these skills were only obtained through a pact with the dark world.
Today it is Intangible Cultural Heritage and is still danced in the different festivities and ceremonies of the area, especially in agricultural and religious celebrations. If you want to enjoy this beautiful spectacle, Christmas time is a good opportunity to do so.
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