This is Huancayo
The celebration of taita shanti:
The “tinya” (a very old instrument which looks like a little drum) accompanies
this dance with its.
La majtada de Caceres:
This dance, with its funny characteristics, is a representation of the
“campaña de la breña”, which was happening between 1881 and 1882, during the war
with Chile. In this campaign Don Andres Avelino Caceres Dorregaray ordered a troupe
of warriors to face the enemy, and therewith desist the invasion. In many cases
Caceres practically managed to defeat the powerful Chilean force with only a few
farmers. This is why he was also called “the wizard of the Andes”. Officially the
dance is carried out on the 16th August and the 30th September in San Jeronimo de
Tunan (north Huancayo).
El cortamonte:
This dance is carried out in the whole Mantaro valley at different dates. This dance
has elegant movements and clothing and the couples dance around a tree which has
previously been decorated with different objects. Every couple has to cut off a
piece of the tree with an axe. The person who cuts down the tree in the end has
to host the dance the following year.
La chonguinada:
Officially the dance is carried out on the 25th January in the city of Santiago
Leon de Chongos Bajo. (south east Huancayo). This dance is an imitation of the French
men of the 18th century. Initially it was a dance only for men, but with time the
women could also take part, which gave it a hint of luxury. The dance is carried
out in columns, which move forwards slowly. The dance incorporates different masked
figures.
Clothing: The men wear a black hat and multicolored feathers. They
have masks made of “malla”,a shirt, a jacket decorated with gold, short trousers,
embroidered sandals or shoes.
On the hat there hangs a horn “covered in gold”. To complete the dress they have
a stick with a silver handle.
El Apu Inca de Sapallanga:
Origin: on 8th November 1598, the first “Obispo” of Ayacucho, Agustin
Caryo, initiated the cult of
The holy virgin and it was him who introduced the devotion to the region. There
are various legends about the origin of the celebrations of the Mamacha Cocharcas
(image of adoration). At the end of the procession, the capturing of the inca is
symbolized. This corresponds to the death of Atahualpa in Cajamarca, who was killed
by the Spanish.
Choreography and clothing:
The music normally corresponds to the
specific passages of the dance, which makes this celebration one of the most renowned
ones. The Inca is carried by the citizens. Behind them walks a group of people,
dressed and armed like Incas, with bow and arrows and protected by shields. Other
people are representing the Spanish, armed with swords and some of them on a horse.
The dialogue between the priest Valverde and Atahualpa is shown. Atahualpa “arroja”
the bible, which provokes the Spanish soldiers, who are under the lead of Pizarro.
The capture of the Inca symbolizes the conquest. “El Apu Inca” is characterized
by the typical music the orchestra plays.
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