The typical dances of La Libertad are the result of the cultural heritage of the different inhabitants who have passed through the region. Among the most important traditional dances are La marinera, Los negritos or Quishpi condor.
In these dances there are indigenous, Spanish and African influences. The mixture of these cultures is what has created the rich folklore of this department.
La Libertad is a Peruvian department located in the northwestern part of the country. It has its capital in Trujillo and has a past rich in history that dates back to pre-Inca times.
The 5 main typical dances of La Libertad
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The marinera is not only the most traditional dance in the region, it has also become one of the most popular in all of Peru. It is a dance that is performed in pairs, characterized by the use of handkerchiefs.
According to experts, this manifestation descends from dances such as the zamacueca and the mozamala, created by the mulattoes of the area.
The current name was given by Abelardo Gamarra Rondó in 1879. In the 20th century, in 1986, this dance was declared a Cultural Heritage of the country by the National Institute of Culture.
In this dance you can clearly see the cultural heritage left by the miscegenation between Spaniards, indigenous people and Africans.
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The importance of the culture that the African slaves brought to La Libertad can also be seen in this dance called Los negritos.
These were brought to the department mainly to perform the tough tasks of the field.
The origin of this dance is said to be found in the rituals that the slaves performed. The Spanish tried to imitate these rituals and created this rhythm.
Currently, many fans wear masks with black faces and wear colorful clothes in many localities of the region to perform this dance.
In some versions there are also characters that represent the Spanish with a mocking tone.
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The origin of this dance is in the town of Santiago de Chuco and has a clear indigenous reminiscence in its argument and in its clothing.
The dance represents an ancient legend about Quishpi, a man in love with the King's daughter. The monarch, not happy with the idea, orders the suitor to be bewitched and turned into a condor. Furthermore, the lover must dance before dawn so as not to die.
The dance is performed by a person who wears an indigenous costume with wings and the head of a condor. His movements imitate those of the bird and he is accompanied by a musician playing the pinkullo, which is an Andean flute.
Along with the melody you can hear the phrases «kispi-condor» (flee condor) and «wayra chaqui» (feet like the wind).
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During colonial times, with the harsh treatment given by the Spanish colonizers and the authorities, dance was sometimes used to mock or ridicule those who oppressed the workers.
The quadrille is a clear example of this. It is based on a dance performed by Hispanics, but giving it a parody tone. Thus, the peasants danced mocking the landowners.
The dancers wear very colorful clothes, with straw hats and wooden sticks that represent the swords that the Spanish carried.
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The origin of this dance is in colonial times, although its antecedents are not very clear.
It is believed that the Spanish picked up that rhythm from their contacts with European Turkey and brought it to America.
The clothing resembles that of the Ottoman warriors and the dance represents a fight, using as a weapon the typical curved saber that these fighters carried.
References
- Wonderful La Libertad Region. Typical dance. Obtained from wonderfulregionlalibertad.blogspot.com.es
- Peru News. Trujillo and his Dances. Obtained from perunoticias.net
- Revolvy. Sailor. Retrieved from revolvy.com
- World Travel List. Seduced by La Marinera, Peru's National Dance. Retrieved from worldtravellist.com
- Miller, Greg. The Elegant Courtship Dance of “The Marinera” of Peru. Retrieved from danceparade.org