THE 7 MOST RELEVANT TYPICAL PASCO DANCES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

There are several typical dances of Pasco. These dances show the influence of the different cultures that came into contact in Peru during the colonial period: aboriginal, Spanish and African culture.

From the aborigines the dances take certain elements referring to agricultural activities, such as the cult of corn.

From the Spanish they take Catholic beliefs and certain clothing. Finally, from the Africans they take the use of the drum.

Some of these dances are of pre-Hispanic origin, such as the jaramuruy, which is done in honor of the planting of corn; and the yanesha dance, which celebrates the traditions of this aboriginal group. The Rayhuana dance also stands out, which is told by a Peruvian legend.

Other dances developed after the arrival of the Spanish. Such is the case of the dance of the negrería, which originated by Africans who were brought to America as slaves.

The 7 main typical dances of Pasco

1- Huaylash field

The huaylash field dance is done every year at carnival time. The dancers dress in silver ornaments, which are symbols of power and wealth.

Married couples participate in this dance, executing slow and simple but vigorous movements.

2- Jaramuruy

The term jaramuruy comes from the Quechua voices jara and muruy, which mean "corn" and "sow" respectively. In this sense, the term means the "sowing of corn."

The dance of the jaramuruy is done within the framework of the pasqueña festival that bears the same name.

This dance is of pre-Hispanic origin, a time in which its objective was to worship the god Tayta Wamani and Pachamama or Mother Earth. It was also a way of thanking for the corn crops.

With the arrival of the Spanish, the aborigines adopted certain European cultural elements, such as religion. In this way, they took the Holy Rosary as the protector of the cornfields.

The dance of the jaramuruy joined the Catholic calendar and began to be celebrated during the first weeks of October in honor of the Holy Rosary.

3- The ho ho

The jo jo is a dance that takes place at Christmas time. The men dress in a goat or goat mask, a cape that reaches to the heels, a wide-brimmed hat and a cane adorned with bells.

The women dress in shepherdess costumes and carry Christmas trees adorned with sash, bells and other ornaments.

The dance begins with the shepherds, who dance holding the trees. Subsequently, the women stop in a linear formation and the men join in the dance.

They perform a series of movements with the canes around the shepherds, who remain motionless.

Finally, the shepherds begin to dance with the men: first they dance in pairs and then culminate with a group stomping.

Various studies have been carried out that seek to explain this dance. Many of these indicate that the shepherds are the representation of beauty, spring, fertility and joy.

Likewise, it has been established that men represent the protection of all the previously mentioned aspects, since with the cane they remove any negative element that could affect women.

4- The black shop

The negrería is a dance of African origin that takes place between December 24 and 30.

During the Colony, blacks brought from Africa worked as slaves in Villa de Pasco, collecting gold from the riverbanks.

At Christmas parties the masters adorned the Negroes with precious stones and gold and silver necklaces. These days slaves were given a kind of freedom, which they enjoyed dancing.

5- The compadres

The dance of the compadres is part of the cultural heritage of the department of Pasco. This was determined by the National Institute of Culture of Peru. This dance is of colonial origin and is practiced in the town of Tápuc.

The compadres dance takes place 10 days before carnival. Its protagonists are young single men who are about to get married. These young people organize a party that lasts for three days.

On the first day the young people bring to the town a cross of the Lord of Chumpivilcas, which they take to the church of Tápuc.

On the second day the corresponding dance is performed. In addition, there are concerts of traditional music and other festivities.

On the third and last day, the young men return the cross to the chapel from which they had taken it. During this process, the women dance behind the men, carrying flowers that they throw to the cross.

The men are dressed in a cloth hat, a white shirt and black pants. In addition, they carry a cross that represents Taita Compadre, who is the patron and protector of compadres.

The women also wear a cloth hat. The rest of the costume is made up of a black skirt, a white flannel and an embroidered blanket.

6- dance yanesha

This dance is typical of the Yanesha aboriginal community, which takes place in Oxapampa, Puno. This dance has religious roots and often depicts scenes from myths and legends of this aboriginal culture.

The participants of the dance not only dance but also sing religious songs, which are charged with sadness and melancholy. In fact, tragedy is the central element of this dance.

The men wear a brown tunic called a necaus. They also wear a crown and a pushac, which is a cloth sack.

Women wear a feminine tunic called a cashemuet. They also wear certain decorative garments, such as necklaces, bracelets, and hair clips.

7- Rayhuana

This dance tells the legend of Rayhuana, who was sent by the creator to end the famine on Earth. Various dancers dressed as animals participate in the dance.

The Rayhuana dance does not have a pre-established order. It could be said that each dancer moves according to the feelings she experiences when listening to the music.

References

1. Art & Cultural - Pasco. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from pasco-wa.gov
2. Hill of Pasco. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from inspirock.com
3. Mountain Voices: oral testimonies from Cerro de Pasco, Peru. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from mountainvoices.org
4. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from peru.travel
5. Pasco Peru. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from peru.travel
6. Peru of Living Cultures. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from peru.travel
7. Peru: Pasco and Huancavélica. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from evaneos.co.uk