Claire Dean
Claire Dean

Claire Dean

Travel in South America is a joy to behold. The rich variety of destinations, experiences, landscapes and geography fascinated me so much, that I chose to relocate here, over 20 years ago! The best thing I ever did! Allow me to share my knowledge and passion for Central and South America with you and help you plan your holiday of a lifetime!

The Marinera Contest in Peru

The Marinera Contest in Peru

3MINREAD

Written by:Claire Dean

Published: 2023-01-24

Every year the city of Trujillo in the north of Peru is filled with joy, rhythm, and color accompanied by marinera music, and thousands of couples from all over the country come to the Mansiche Coliseum to participate in the Trujillo Marinera National Contest. The Trujillo Marinera Festival is a Peruvian cultural event held annually in Trujillo city in January. The event focuses on a marinera dance contest, which is the traditional dance of the city, and Peru´s marinera, the national dance. The festival also presents parades, presentations, and competitions of Peruvian Paso horses. Both the marinera dance and the Peruvian Paso horse have been declared to be part of the cultural heritage of the nation by the Peruvian government. This festival is one of the most important cultural events in the country and has been recognized by the Peruvian government as the National Marinera Capital.

 

The marinera is a traditional Peruvian dance from the coast of Peru. The dancers use handkerchiefs, and elegant steps as they dance to criole music, with its own Peruvian identity. It is a combination that represents the Hispano-indigenous-African influences on Peru. The Marinera is the perfect example of the fascinating multiculturalism in Peru. You can see this on a Peru tour package.

Marinera Dancers

 

The Roots of the Marinera

The Marinera has its roots in the Spanish fandango, African zamacueca, and indigenous dances. The dance portrays a couple’s flirtatious pursuit of their partner, with the woman, in her embroidered pollera (skirt) and handkerchief, wooing the man with her graceful movements. The Marinera is an example of the magnificent multiculturalism of Peru. These dances from Europe and Africa were fused with the traditional dances of the ancient Peruvians, and as a result, many years later, formed what we now know as Marinera.

 

One of the explanations behind the Marinera dance is the story of a Peruvian soldier who noticed a beautiful young woman. The soldier flirts with her while riding his horse and she imitates the movement of the horse's gait. This is reflected in the Marinera and with the Peruvian Paso horses. Make sure you take in a Peruvian Paso marinera show when you visit Peru.

Marinera Dancer and Peruvian Paso Horse


There are several versions of the origin of the Marinera, but the most widespread of them speak of the Hispanic, African and indigenous mixture. Each region has its own style, with variations in the tempo, key, clothing, and steps. The Norteña dance from Trujillo is playfully flirtatious and accompanied by a brass band. The Mochera style, also on the north coast, reflects its rural origins in the dress style. The Limeña is considered the oldest style. The elegantly dressed couples dance to the rhythms of the guitar and cajón box drum. Today, the Marinera is not only a dance but a craft industry for embroiderers, weavers, hat makers, and filigree jewelry artists, among others. Its vitality is expressed in the energy of the dancers, the rhythm of the musicians, and the hands of the artisans.

 

The cajon comes from slave musicians who came to Peru with the Spanish during the conquest. It is possible that the drum is a direct descendant of a number of boxlike musical instruments from West and Central Africa. Another theory states that slaves simply used boxes as musical instruments to combat the Spanish colonial bans on music in the African areas. In this way, cajons could easily be disguised as seats or stools, to be sat on. You are sure to hear the Cajon today when you travel to Peru.

Cajón

 

History

In 1960 the Club Libertad of Trujillo held the first National Marinera Competition and since then the popularity of this event has reached various cities in the world such as Kyoto, Madrid, and Las Vegas. What originally began as a dance contest has now become an event that brings together the best representatives of each country and in which other activities are carried out such as the coronation of the Festival Queen, the competition of Peruvian Paso Horses, the and the Marathon of Marinera de Corazón.This seven-day show ends with the Perol Party, an event that takes place at the end of each National Marinera Competition. It is attended by hundreds of people, all dressed in white, who, among other activities, enjoy the dance of the Queen of the Marinera of that year.

 

Trujillo in the North of Peru is famous for the Marinera, and the Peruvian Paso Horses. On a Peru tour package, you can experience one of the most important traditional dances in Peru and witness the elegance of the dancers, and of the Peruvian Paso Horses. The care and training of Paso horses in Trujillo is a very old tradition that you can see when you travel to Chiclayo, Trujillo, or Northern Peru.

Marinera

 

In short, The National Marinera Contest is one of the best events to learn about the culture and roots of Peru, through dance in the beautiful northern city of Trujillo. Ask us for more information here!
 

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