- The 6 main typical dances of the Amazon region
- 1- Bëtsknaté
- 2- Dance of the sanjuanes
- 3- Bambuko (Bèngbe Oboiejuaian)
- 4- Dance of the offering
- 5- Dance of the bride and groom
- 6- Zuyuco
- References
The typical dances of the Amazon region are influenced by the folklore of neighboring countries such as Brazil and Peru. As in all indigenous dances, the environment, nature and myths influence the choreographies.
Beliefs about the lunar and solar cycles give rise to dances for harvest, fishing, hunting, or liberation.
Other dances are motivated by the initiation of marriage or the entrance to puberty, which are important moments to celebrate within the indigenous culture.
There are also dances to cure diseases, for war or death, which are part of the ritual of invoking the ancestors.
The 6 main typical dances of the Amazon region
1- Bëtsknaté
It is a dance representative of the encounter between the indigenous communities of the Alto Putumayo region. Through this ceremony, the villages redistribute the food.
It is part of the Carnaval del Perdón and is directed by a person called Matachín Mayor. This character directs the parades; he wears a red mask and a bell.
The carnival is to thank the earth for the fruits received during the year, and it takes place on the Monday before the Catholic Ash Wednesday.
Men dressed in white dance with red capes and triangular hats. White represents purity and red refers to the blood shed during the Spanish conquest.
Mirrors that represent the Sun, which sees all, are embedded in their hats.
2- Dance of the sanjuanes
It is a dance of the Inga and Kamëntsá indigenous people of Alto Putumayo, and has a remote origin.
This dance comes from the ceremonies of the elders in which the masks were used to communicate with the spirits of the ancestors.
Two masks were used: a female one that represented the Moon, and a male one that represented the Sun. This dance is celebrated in the Corpus Christi and in the Holy Trinity.
3- Bambuko (Bèngbe Oboiejuaian)
It is a dance in which three couples take part, while two musicians interpret the melody.
The three couples dance forming an oval, and it is characteristic of this dance not to turn their backs between the members of the couple. The musicians play flute and drum.
4- Dance of the offering
It is done in memory of deceased loved ones. During the dance different foods are offered that were to the taste of the deceased.
Each dancer carries the deceased's favorite food on a wooden plate. In the center a man is placed with the same food, but in greater quantity.
The dancers are six women and a man in the center, going around in a circular fashion.
Whoever goes to the center of the wheel must represent a cacique, so his clothing is special.
5- Dance of the bride and groom
This dance of the Guambianos takes place on the wedding day. The dance consists of two rows, with men and women in pairs.
Both rows move forward and backward, and the step consists of three beats. One step forward, one to the left, one to the right, and back to the starting position. Both men and women should always look at the floor.
6- Zuyuco
This dance is performed when a new maguaré is built, which is a set of two meter high drums beaten by two rubber mallets.
The songs are sung while they are danced, and there are themes for men and women.
All the songs are from the time of Buinaima, a cultural hero who instructed his people on the use of fire, the ax, coca, honey, tobacco and fruits, basic elements of his culture.
References
- "Region of the Amazon - Dances and culture" in: United by history. Recovered in October 2017 from Unidos por la historia at: omardavidn.blogspot.com.es
- «Typical dances of the Amazon» in Dances and costumes of the Amazon region (May 2012). Recovered in October 2017 from Dances and costumes of the Amazon region in: regionamazonicaa.blogspot.com.ar
- "Costumes and dances" in Amazonas (May 2010). Recovered in October 2017 from Amazonas at: amazonassandyyfrancy.blogspot.com.ar
- «Dances, costumes and typical dishes of the Amazon region» in leijo13 (May 2012). Recovered in October 2017 from leijo13 at: leijo13.blogspot.com.ar
- "Amazon region" in Colombian Folklore. Recovered in October 2017 from Colombian Folklore at: elfolclorcolombianoeshermoso.blogspot.com.es