"La Marinera" performed for Bishop Peter Connors by two of the local children.
Marinera is a coastal dance of Peru, generally called the “National Dance of Peru.” Marinera is a graceful and romantic couple’s dance that uses handkerchiefs as props. The dance is an elegant and stylised reenactment of a courtship, and it shows the blend of the different cultures of Peru. The dance itself has gained a lot of recognition and is one of the most popular traditional dances of Peru. During the month of January, in the city of Trujillo north of Lima, a National Contest of Marinera is held.
The origin of the Marinera is generally traced back to the Zamacueca, an ancient colonial dance that originated in the Viceroyalty of Peru, taking its roots from African, Spanish and Andean rhythms. Nevertheless, there are various other theories about where it comes from. The traditional accompaniment for the dance is provided by guitars and bugles.
The popularity of the Zamacueca would eventually lead to it flowing out of the main region of Peru to other South American countries. The dance would slowly evolve as it took on new influences; however, the basic steps of the dance remained the same. The Zamacueca is not widely popular yet several dance institutions in Peru dedicate part of their time to teaching it.
In Peru, the dance would adjust itself to the post-revolutionary times and take on a series of adaptations, especially from the coastal region of the country. Although the dance never so much as “left” Peru, due to cultural and political reasons this new version of the Zamacueca gained the nickname of “la chilena”. During the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru, 1879-83, the broken ties between these two countries forced the new Zamacueca to indefinitely change its name in honour of the Peruvian Navy to the name of “La Marinera”.
Marinera is a coastal dance of Peru, generally called the “National Dance of Peru.” Marinera is a graceful and romantic couple’s dance that uses handkerchiefs as props. The dance is an elegant and stylised reenactment of a courtship, and it shows the blend of the different cultures of Peru. The dance itself has gained a lot of recognition and is one of the most popular traditional dances of Peru. During the month of January, in the city of Trujillo north of Lima, a National Contest of Marinera is held.
The origin of the Marinera is generally traced back to the Zamacueca, an ancient colonial dance that originated in the Viceroyalty of Peru, taking its roots from African, Spanish and Andean rhythms. Nevertheless, there are various other theories about where it comes from. The traditional accompaniment for the dance is provided by guitars and bugles.
The popularity of the Zamacueca would eventually lead to it flowing out of the main region of Peru to other South American countries. The dance would slowly evolve as it took on new influences; however, the basic steps of the dance remained the same. The Zamacueca is not widely popular yet several dance institutions in Peru dedicate part of their time to teaching it.
In Peru, the dance would adjust itself to the post-revolutionary times and take on a series of adaptations, especially from the coastal region of the country. Although the dance never so much as “left” Peru, due to cultural and political reasons this new version of the Zamacueca gained the nickname of “la chilena”. During the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru, 1879-83, the broken ties between these two countries forced the new Zamacueca to indefinitely change its name in honour of the Peruvian Navy to the name of “La Marinera”.
