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Traditional Dances in Peru
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Chujchu or Chukchu |
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A comical dance in which the dancers represent
labourers who, during the Colonial era, went to the tropical valleys and
jungle regions to find work on the sugar plantations and returned with
malaria and yellow fever!! The dancers often fall to the ground in
violent convulsions and are "treated" by doctors and nurses who carry
various medical instruments such as giant syringes and irrigators!
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Qhapaq Ch'unchu / Kapac Chunchu /
Capac Chunchu |
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These dancers represent native warriors from the
Qosņipata jungle who have sworn loyalty to the Virgin and protect her as
she is carried around the streets during the fiesta. They wear mesh masks and a brightly
coloured headband adorned with jewels and feathers from jungle birds.
They wear kilts (unkus) and carry a spear made from native chonta wood.
The dancers are often accompanied by a monkey character (kusillo) who
entertains the crowds.
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dance |
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Qhapaq Qolla / Capac Qolla / Kapac
Qolla |
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This dance represents the legendary merchants from
the altiplano (Lake Titicaca) who used to bring products to trade or
exchange for products from the Paucartambo and jungle regions. Prior to
the arrival of the Spanish llamas were used to transport goods. After
the conquest mules were more commonly used. The dancers wear a
knitted woollen masks called a "waq'ollo" and a beautifully adorned
square flat hat called an "aqarapi" which usually has antique coins
hanging from its borders. From their backs hang a dried vicuņa (q'epi)
and as they dance they can be seen twisting strands of wool into thread.
The Qhapaq Qollas also sing tender songs to the Virgin to demonstrate
their devotion. The characters of the dance are the Mayor (El Alcalde)
who carries a large wooden staff of authority, his wife (La Imilla) and
child (q'ollita), two captains (one for each column) and a llama herder
(llamero) who occasionally wanders off into the crowd follwed by his
llama laden with products.
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Qhapaq Negro / Kapac Negro / Capac
Negro |
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This dance represents the black slaves of the
colonial and republican eras, who were brought from Africa to work in
the mines and sugar plantations. Now liberated, they sing and dance and
declare themselves slaves only to the Virgen herself. The dancers wear
black plaster masks with sad expressions and exaggerated features. They
have hats adorned with sequins, breastplates and a chain around their
waist representing their former slavery. They also wear colourful silk
scarves and carry a small wooden staff in the form of a clenched fist
(called a "Maqui"). The dance leader is known as the Black King (Rey
Negro). He carries a wooden rattle in his hand which he uses to keep the
dancers in step.
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Majeņo |
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In the past the region of Paucartambo did not produce
spirits made from sugar cane (aguardiente). Instead they imported the
alcohol from the Majes River Valley near Arequipa. The merchants brought
the product by mule trains across the high Andes. The Majeņo dancers
represent these merchants, dressed in leather jackets, scarves, riding
breeches, spurred boots and with a bottle of beer or spirit in hand. The
dance leader is known as the Old Majeņo (Corporal) who dances with
his elegant wife (la dama) who wears a pretty dress and carries a
colourful parasol.
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Panaderos |
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