To dance to the rhythms of our jungle you have to shake your body and feed your soul with pure energy. The heat, the nature, the rhythm of the manguaré and other handmade instruments, make it impossible to avoid being infected by the joy and mysticism that you can only find in our Amazon. That’s why today we present three typical dances of the Peruvian jungle that you should know, especially if you are planning to visit it. Let’s dance, traveler!
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 typical dances of the peruvian jungle.
The Dance of the Boa
A dance native to the beautiful Ucayali! What is most striking about this dance is the huge boa that one of the dancers must carry while dancing. Yes, a real boa! Normally this dancer is placed at the beginning of the choreographic formation, which makes her the center of attention.
There are people positioned at the back of the group, who are the ones carrying containers made of gourds, which are used in the tribes as plates. The dance is distinguished by the dance steps of the dancers who seek to imitate the movements of the reptile when crawling. Sometimes turns or circling movements are added to accentuate the actions and attract attention.
And as for the instruments that are played to dance it we have: the quenillas, the drums, the bass drum, the manguaré, a handmade drum made from a tree trunk, and maracas, all a delight to see in person!
What is the meaning of the Boa dance?
For the Ukayalinos, this jungle dance represents the cult of the Boa, a sacred animal, in which they pray for good harvests in the region, such as rice. That is why it is mostly danced during the rainy season, between November and March, in order to present a moment of joy and hope for a productive growing season.
Buri Buriti
A dance of warriors! It is usually performed in the lower Ucayali and represents the native warriors, so its choreography is based on demonstrating energy and strength. Formerly, it was used for hunting and fishing activities, but mainly to defend against other tribes. It was also a dance that was usually performed when one community tried to invade another. The rhythm to which the dancers dance arises from percussion and wind instruments, such as the tanquiño, the maracas, the bass drum, the quenilla, among others that are characteristic of the jungle.
What is the meaning of Buri Buriti?
Since it is a war dance, it represents the strength of the people. The dance requires energy, courage and strength, which is represented in the dance steps. In addition, it is full of identity, as it is a reminder – which to this day persists – that the villagers must be attentive to their communities and protect their customs.
Shipibo Pride Dance
This is a historical dance that represents the war between the Yawa and the Shipibo. According to archaeologists, both groups came from the same pre-Inca culture: Comancaya, and would have lived together in Ucayali but progressively divided, occupying different parts of the territory. A war was fought for the occupation of territory that, according to the dance itself, would have been originated by the rape of a Shipiba by a native Yawa. From this war between peoples, the Shipibos came out winners and this dance represents their honor and strength.
The women’s clothing consists of bright and colorful blouses and some accessories made with seeds, while the men used to wear “cushmas” or long tunics, but nowadays they can dance with shirts and pants.
What is the meaning of the Shipibo Pride Dance?
This dance of warriors but with historical content, tells the story of a real war between peoples, so more than a dance is an open book of the rich Amazonian culture.
The dance of La Pandilla
The so-called “mother of dances”! It is part of the festive tradition in the Peruvian highlands as well as in the jungle. “La pandilla” is danced through the streets in comparsas, when celebrating the patron saint festivities of a town or at carnivals. Its enormous popularity is due to the fact that it is usually performed in the town’s main square. It is also danced at the tomb of the humisha, in the month of February, the month of carnival. The whole dance is very joyful! People move forward, backward, move to the beat of the music; they brandish their handkerchiefs, shout; bottles with liquor are shaken and spread all over the place, showering the dancers. The main message of the dance is turbulent and contagious joy for the whole community, a real pleasure to dance in a group!
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