TUMBA MONTE, HUACONADA AND CHONGUINADA
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Peruvian Dances |
Sometime in the afternoon (after dinner and vollyball), probably around 4:30 we will dance the Tumbamonte. An ancient dance, where you, your friends, and everyone at the Pachamanca will dance around a tree adorned with Candy. The resident "Godfather" of the Tumbamonte will have an axe present, and each dancer will have the opportunity to chop the tree. At each hit of the free,each dancer receives a drink of PISCO (A Peruvian brandy). The Godfather will manager the Pisco (so you don't drink too much too fast) and the axe (so you don't hurt yourself!) Whoever knocks the tree down becomes the Godfather for the next year. When the tree falls, all the children run to get the candy. |
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La Huaconada Mitena is a grotesque dance autonomous to the district of Mito.No one knows when it was created and it has not migrated to other cities of the Mantaro Valley or any other place in the Country.It is a dance performed annually in the main square and the streets of Mito for three days celebrating the arrival of the new year.Up to approximately the year 1940, la Huaconada was danced by the most important citizens of the community only. Women were not allowed to dance neither were kids and no one could follow the dancers on the square or streets. The spectators were standing on the sidewalk and gardens of the main square.La Huaconada has become one of the classical folklore exclusive of Mito and their sons are proud of it, traveling from all over the world to the tiny place to have the pleasure of receiving the new year dancing the huaconada. If you want to talk to the Huacones, you have to call them Mr. Mayor (Senor Alcalde)and wish them a happy new year in a very polite way, expressing always a great respect for them.Los Huacones are supposed to be vested with maximum authority in order to punish those whom had avoided justice because of lack of evidence. In other words,guilty offenders of the law that were not punished by the regular justice system,are subject to be whipped as many times as the Huacon considers necessary according the magnitude of the offense.In a small town like Mito, everybody knows who is guilty of some offenses, even if the regular justice did not prove so. |
La Chonguinada is a parody of the formal dance of the old monarchy of France and Spain.It was introduced into Peru during the colonial days (1521 to 1824)and has become one of the typical customs performed in the mantaro Valley. Originally, it was designated only for royalty and performed in special places.After the Spaniards were swept out of the country (December 9,1924 in the battle of La Quinua in Ayacucho), the Peruvians danced the "Chonguinada" on the streets,squares, and in any public or private celebration. The elegant dance and display of jewelry gives the formality offered to the high class society; honoring their names, personality and thus preserving one of the formal Peruvian folklore in the entire Mantaro Valley (Provinces of Jauja, Concepcion, and Huancayo), in the heart of the Andes and about 10,500 feet above sea level. The original dancers were man (50% dressed as women and the other 50% as men). Today, it has evolved and is danced by both men and women (the women are not masked). The "Chuto" is a bodyguard acting like a dancer clown,whose real duty is to maintain the public away of dancers and keep a close eye on the jewerly of the Chonguinos. |
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