THE 9 TYPICAL DANCES OF AREQUIPA MOST REPRESENTATIVE - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical dances of Arequipa are one of the cultural attractions of this Peruvian department. These dances are closely related to the festivities of the area.

For example, during carnival various dances are performed in honor of the gods of the aborigines and the god Momo.

Many of these dances highlight the performance of agricultural activities. An example of this is the pisao de habas, which is a dance performed by the harvest of these beans. The chaco dance is also performed, which is a cattle dance.

There are other dances that mix aboriginal and Catholic roots. An example is the dance of camile, which is done in honor of the potato cultivation and San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers.

Another example of this group is the wititi dance, which is celebrated in honor of the Immaculate Virgin and Pachamama or Mother Earth.

You may also be interested in the history of Arequipa.

The 9 main typical dances of Arequipa

1- Arequipa Marinera

Arequipa's seafaring dance emerged at the end of the 19th century. In this period the country was at war, so the Arquipeños men had to fight to defend Peru.

Each time they were successful, they celebrated together with their women and danced a dance called the montonero.

Later the dance was called the Arequipa marinera, which is the name by which it is known today.

2- Wifala

The wifala or wititi is a dance that is performed in Arequipa in honor of Mother Earth (Pachamama).

Usually this dance takes place during carnival, between February and March, or during the festivities of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8.

The wifala dance not only honors Mother Earth, but also highlights the fertility of women.

3- Turks from Arequipa

The dance of the Turks of Arequipa is typical of the province of Caylloma. This dance is of colonial origin and shows a strong Spanish influence.

In fact, this dance was used by Europeans as a means of culturally colonizing the aborigines.

Through this dance the story is told of how the Spanish defeated the Arabs during the 15th century and expelled them from European territory. In this way the supremacy of Christianity was shown.

Over time, the natives of Peru personalized the dance and transformed it into a way of worshiping the Virgin Mary.

In fact, the mother of Jesus is one of the main characters of the Turks of Arequipa.

4- Añu tarpuy

The añu tarpuy is an agricultural dance. This dance dates from pre-Hispanic times, when the aborigines performed it in honor of the gods to win their favor and obtain good harvests.

Various dancers participate in this dance. Many of these represent various gods: Pachamama, Tayta Inti (father Sun), Mama Killa (mother Moon) and other deities.

The añu tarpuy is carried out when planting is about to begin. In fact, the dancers also participate in the plowing and cultivation activities.

Dance is not only a means to entertain, but also contributes to the development of agricultural activities.

5- Camile

The Camille dance is a dance of pre-Hispanic origin. In that period the aborigines performed this dance to thank for the good harvests.

Through this dance they also asked that future crops be profitable, especially those of vegetable potatoes, which were the center of the economy of the area.

With the arrival of Europeans, this celebration became syncretized with Catholic beliefs. From the Colony, the Camille dance began to be performed in honor of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers.

The characters that take part in the dance are the huskadoras, the runatarpoy and the akarwua. The huskadoras are the women in charge of laying the potato seeds.

The Runatarpoy are the men who plow the land. Finally, the akarwua is the woman in charge of serving chicha and drinks to the workers.

In some cases a tayta or cure is included. The task of this figure is to bless the crops.

6- Tread of beans

The habas pisao is a dance that takes place in the province of Caylloma, in the department of Arequipa. This is a dance that highlights the execution of agricultural activities.

In more specific terms, this dance promotes the planting, harvesting and processing of beans.

Before the dance it is necessary to collect the beans and leave them to dry in the sun. Once the beans are dry, the dance begins, which consists of peeling the beans with the feet.

The bean pisao is a tradition of pre-Hispanic origin, a time when it was carried out by the Kollawua aborigines. With the passage of time it was transformed into the dance that is practiced today.

7- Dance of the chaco

The chaco dance is another of the dances in which the importance of agricultural activities is revealed. In this, the hunting of vicuñas, typical animals of Peru, is recreated.

During the Colony, the chaco dance was performed as a kind of religious ritual that had three functions: obtaining wool, regulating the vicuña population, and pleasing the gods. Today it is done solely as a way to maintain the traditions of the past.

8- Dance of ajchatac pallaichis

The ajchatac pallaichis dance is agricultural in nature and revolves around the planting and harvesting of the avocado. The dancers wear colorful costumes and hats with floral ornaments.

9- Negrillos de Chivay

The dance of the negrillos is typical of the Chivay district of Arequipa. This dance is of African origin and represents the blacks who were brought as slaves to America.

This dance stages the various activities that Africans had to carry out during the Colony: livestock, agriculture, fishing, mining, among others.

References

1. 7 Traditional Peruvian Dances You Need to Know About. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from theculturetrip.com
2. Knowing Arequipa. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from knowingarequipa.wordpress.com
3. Peru of Living Cultures. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from peru.travel
4. Peruvian dances. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from wikipedia.org
5. The Independent Republic of Arequipa. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from books.google.com
6. Typical Dances of Arequipa. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from prezi.com
7. Wititi dance of the Colca Valley. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from ich.unesco.org