La+Marinera

= La Marinera =

The Marinera is a traditional dance of Peru. In this dance couples court each other, showing grace and romance using handkerchiefs as props. Nowadays, it has gained a lot of recognition and is one of the most popular traditional dances in Peru. In the 1960s the city of Trujillo was declared the national capital of this dance. Every year the National Contest of Marinera Norteña is held in Trujillo. Additionally, the congress of the Peruvian Republican declared October 7 as Marinera Day in the city as well. This day is even celebrated with a parade and plenty of dances throughout the city.

The origin of this traditional dance is speculated to be Zamacueca, which is an ancient colonial dance and music that originated in Peru. However, the exact origin is not yet determined. The music is an undeniable collaboration of Spanish, Moorish, Andean, and Gypsy rhythms. According to claims made by Romulo Cuneo Vidal, a historian, the Zamacueca was a dance of rest during the times of the Inca Empire. Coming from a native Peruvian background, the dance is noted to be just a modern derivation of an ancient dance. While the dance itself had been around for centuries it gained its name in honor of the Peruvian Navy, also known as the Marina de Guerra del Peru. Around this time Peru had just entered into war with Chile. The original name of the dance was “Chilena,” but due to the sudden tension between the countries, the name was changed as an act of patriotism.

There are different schools that teach different dancing styles of the Marinera based on location. There are three main variations of the dance: the Marinera Limeña, the Marinera Norteña, and the Marinera Serrana. The Marinera Limeña is an elegant and slow-paced in comparison to the other variations. Today, this variation seems to be less popular than the Marinera Norteña. This style still has its fans, who perform during October fests or the anniversary of Lima. The Marinera Norteña has all of the characteristics of the Marinera Limeña, but it much more fast paced and is thought to be less elegant. It originated in the northern coast of Peru but quickly spread throughout the country. In this dance the men are allowed to wear shoes; however, the woman must go barefoot. It does not matter how hot or how rough the surface they are dancing on is. After a while, woman start to build up calluses on their soles. They have become very prideful of their calluses and like to show them off. Dancers of this style have to go through rigorous training and strict diets. Besides all of the training there is no specific outfits that they have to wear. They usually just dance in clothes that are typical to the town's style. On the other hand, men typically wear chalan clothing, with a cotton poncho, and wide straw hat.

The last variation of the Marinera is the Marinera Serrana. This variation can be found in the highland and mountain regions of Peru. This dance is characterised by slower movements to a more minor tone. In this style, the Marinera is actually to be repeated twice, and then followed by a “fuga de huayno,” which means huayno’s escape. It is noted that the second repetition of this dance is suppose to be more heartfelt or sentimental in comparision to the first.

By: McKayla Holmes