THE 5 MOST POPULAR TYPICAL DANCES OF AYACUCHO - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical dances of Ayacucho, department of Peru, are formed by a mixture of indigenous cultures with Spanish influence.

The Incas and other peoples of the Andes mountain range that inhabited these lands had spiritual and artistic practices connected to the forces of nature.

Scissors dance

The arrival of the European conquerors imposed the Catholic religion and the Spanish language. The newcomers banned indigenous religious and artistic practices.

Among the most outstanding are: La Marinera Ayacuchana, Danzas De Las Tijeras, Los Rejones, La Capitanía, Los Avisadores, La Wambarkuna, El Waqtay, Qachua De Pamay, Inti Wichy.

5 of the most outstanding typical dances of Ayacucho

1- The dance of the scissors

The Spanish conquerors forbade the ancestral rituals and dances to continue.

Despite this, the Inca priests led a spiritual rebellion, promoting the music and dances of their ancestors. "The dance of the scissors" survived the attempt to make the old customs disappear.

it is performed with a group of four male musicians and dancers. His acrobatic movements have a striking resemblance to hip hop.

Dance is a one-on-one competition between dancers. It is a test of strength, endurance, agility, imagination and art. Each dancer must keep the rhythm of the scissors in her hands while performing acrobatic movements with her feet.

The dancers carry in each of their hands two metal blades, which were formerly made of stone.

These blades pretend to be scissors, which move to the rhythm of the music creating sounds that connect with those of nature.

2- Llaqt Maqta De Llauta

Traditional pre-Hispanic dance that represents the first stages of falling in love among young people and their first approach.

Imitating the movements of native animals of the Andean zone, the dancers of both sexes try to attract the attention of the opposite sex. It is also called the Dance of Initiation to Love.

The festive calendar of this dance is associated with the religious calendar and runs in the months of November and December, around Christmas. In ancient times they were governed by the solar equinoxes.

3- Qocharunas

It means people of the spring or the man of the spring and runs in the community of Oqopeqa at more than 4,000 meters high.

It is a dance that pays tribute to water in gratitude for giving life and emerging from the pacha mama, from the earth. They dance around the water and reeds are planted around it.

In addition, newborn children are taken to the lake so that it recognizes them and when they become men they become qocha runes.

3- Llaqta maqta de chungui

This dance has its origin in the custom that young people had (llaqta maqta) of escaping at night from their homes and getting together to dance, sing and play musical instruments such as the mandolin.

The songs were about love and the dancing lasted late into the night. Currently it is done after the potato or corn harvest.

4- Yantakuy

Dance that is performed in homage to the Virgin of Asunción on August 15 and in which the townspeople participate.

Coca leaves and a drink are given to start the fire. Logs or logs are moved by passing them from one hand to another. Then husband and wife usually face each other in dance and finally they all drink, sing and dance.

5- Wambarkunas

Dance that is also performed in honor of the Virgin of Asunción. The men wear a wambar made of bull's horns in which they carry a typical liquor.

It is a dance that simulates the abduction of women by men, to the rhythm of kangaroo music.

References

1. Los Danzaq (2003) Los Danzaq de Ayacucho. 11/21/2017. AmericArtes. www.andes.org
2. Elvis Jesus Pedraza (2010) The Dances of the Department of Ayacucho. 11/21/2017
3. T. Turino (1988) The music of Andean migrants in Lima, Peru. 11/21/2017. Latin American Music Review, University of Texas Press
4. Dale Olsen (1998) The Garland Encyclopedia of music, Vol 2. Garland publishing, New York.
5. JJG Miranda, KT Aragón (2006) Traditional popular festivals in Peru. 11/21/2017. flacsoandes.edu.ec