Marinera
Marinera is a music and dance style from the north coast of Peru . The cultural centers are the areas around Trujillo , Chiclayo and Piura . The dance is held in 3/4 time and is played in a brass band with a strong rhythm section. A typical characteristic of the Marinera is the sustained drum roll at the beginning of each song, and the pronounced counter-melody of the deep instruments.
The dance is always performed in pairs and describes an actual courtship between the gentleman and the lady. Strong bowing gestures and quick turns alternate with tap-dance-like , virtuoso short steps. At the beginning the couple dances at a distance of two to three meters, until the end with light touches on the hips or hands.
Typical items of clothing are a large hat for men and a wide skirt for women. Both also hold a white handkerchief in their hands, which is swiveled in rhythm and partly whirled in the air.
The name Marinera comes from the former Peruvian naval admiral Miguel Grau from the end of the 19th century, as this admiral comes from northern Peru. The name was changed after the Saltpeter War for nationalistic reasons, as it was previously called Chilena . For these historical reasons, the dance resembles the Cueca .
A derivative of the Marinera is the rather rustic danced and played tondero . Other variants include the Marinera Limeña (from Lima ) or Marinera puneña (from Puno ), which have noticeable influences from other dance forms from the corresponding regions in the dance style.
