Living in Peru : your everyday companion

By Diana P. Olano

I’m not sure how much television our readers watch, but I’m sure most, if not all of you have seen the Pilsen Trujillo beer commercial featuring one of Peru’s traditional dances, the Marinera Norteña. The beer, which like the dance is a symbol of the Northern Peruvian city of Trujillo, is this year’s official sponsor of the National Marinera Trujillo Competition held every January.

Through beautifully-shot frames, the filmmakers give us pieces of a puzzle that is the dance, which is taking place at an arena - an example of what the actual competitions look like. Confetti flies through the air, people cheer enthusiastically, we catch glimpses of a girl smiling, a gentleman waving a handkerchief, and all of this is backed by a famous Marinera melody and shown in slow-motion (making it more striking since the dance is actually quite fast-paced). Whether or not you’re familiar with the dance doesn’t matter; you’re left speechless. While we can be attribute that to great editing, much of the credit also belongs to the elegant dance itself, the Marinera Norteña.

The Marinera Norteña is only one type of "Marinera", the official dance of Peru. It is characterized as a romantic dance in which the couple tries to reenact a courtship. They named it Marinera in 1880 to honor the Marina de Guerra del Peru (Peru’s Navy) when it went to war with Chile. Its origins are a little hazy, with claims coming from all cultures of Peru (African, Incan, Spanish), but one that features concrete proof is the Inca claim. The dance is said to have originated from a dance called the zamacueca, which dates back to the Inca Empire. Huacos, ceramic pieces of art from that era, have been found with the figures resting in the zamacueca positions.

Confusion about where the dance came from hasn’t stopped Peruvians from creating their own versions of "the dance that ends all parties", adapting each to the region they come from. The term Marinera refers to three different variations, which include the Marinera Limeña (from Lima, the coast), Marinera Serrana (from the Andes) and Marinera Norteña or Trujillana (from the North, Trujillo). The third, however, remains the most popular in the country, with Trujillo playing host to the national competition held every summer.

The Marinera Norteña is different from its sister dances in that it is more quick-paced and takes up more room, while the couple dances without shoes. The female dancer wears a traditional dress of the region, while the male dons a poncho and hat. The Limeñan version is a bit more reserved, taking up less space, but still as cheerful as the Norteña. And the Serrana version is slower in movement, with its music having Andean influences, as expected.

Today, there are Marinera academies all over Peru, dedicated to teaching this graceful dance. And with new generations of Peruvians learning the art-form, there won’t be a lack of competitors for the National Marinera Trujillo Competition anytime soon. This year, the event will feature competitors from all over the world (Italy, Argentina, Chile, United States, etc.), some of who are sons and daughters of Peruvians. 200 pairs will take part in the contest which will take place at the Mansiche Arena. And thanks to generous sponsors, cash prizes surpass S/.100,000 this year. It pays to be dedicated to your culture, apparently.

I tried to search youtube.com for the Pilsen Trujillo commercial featuring the Marinera Norteña, in case any of you hadn’t seen it, but no luck. Try to keep an eye out for it. Strangers to the dance should be impressed after having seen it. Peruvians should at the very least feel a tinge of pride. And at the most be brought to tears.


For videos of last year’s competition, past winners, and more, visit the competition’s official site here. (Spanish).  Or for a documentary of the dance, click here. (English subtitles)

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Diana, I enjoyed this article - enough so I posted in on my weblog

http://www.soyandina.com/weblog/2008/01/marinera-mania.html

Even though I'm back in the States, publications like Living in Peru help me stay connected. 

Mitch Teplitsky

Producer/director, Soy Andina

I enjoyed this article too, wish I could be in Trujillo  for the Marinera Contest...but I´mm so far away.

Well if you're in Lima, you don't have my sympathy - I'm in New York!:)

TV Perú (Public Broadcasting Network of Peru) will broadcast by satellite and internet www.irtp.com.pe this XLVII National Marinera Contest from Trujillo. Friday 25 to Sunday 27.   

I want to be there the next year. How can I get the tickets ? Who I have to contact? I am original from Peru, but living in USA for more than 8 years and I just love all our dances, specially the Marinera from Trujillo.
Aida

I came here to your site (and this article) by way of the mention on the 'Soy Andina' film documentary website !   Thanks Mitch for posting/linking this article!  Diana, very nice article! It's always wonderful to learn more about the beautiful traditions, dances of Peru!  I can't wait to watch this competition!  I just made some new Peruvian friends here on the FIU (Florida International University) Campus - a Peruvian Student Club-- I will send them a link to this article and the SoyAndina Blog as well!!

Are you saying that if I link to the PERU TV website this weekend, I will be able to watch this right here in South Florida?

PS.. Mitch, will your film Soy Andina illustrate one or many of these of dances?  Can't wait for it to be screened here in South Florida! and for the DVD!!

Again, nice article!!

Aida: Contact information...
CLUB LIBERTAD TRUJILLO
JR. SAN MARTÍN N° 299
TRUJILLO - PERÚ
51 44 293966  /  51 44 324399

Mitch: Thanks for linking! I'm originally from New York and wish I could've been there for the "Soy Andina" screenings. Looks like a wonderful documentary. Keep us updated if it'll reach Lima. If not, I'll try to catch it when I'm back in the states!

Hi Diana - Fun to know you are also from New York! I was living in Lima for much of 2005-06. In early 2007 we showed the film in Lima as part of nation-wide tour organized by US Embassy (here's a nice article that appeared in El Commercio to plug the lima screening) (http://www.soyandina.com/Press_Clips/ElComercioMarianneBlanco.pdf_

This exchange is spurring a couple of ideas

First, I am returning to Lima in March to attend a Wharton Global Conference of Business Leaders (I'm actually an alumnus, yes my previous life) I imagine that might be newsworthy for Living in Peru http://www.whartonlima08.com/03-schedule.html. 

The other thing is, I would like to organize another screening while in Lima. This may be public, or private. I'm just starting tothink about it. Maybe this is something Living in peru would like to partner or sponsor.

A thought. - Mitch

Perhaps you would like to cover it - or I can (insiders look)

The girl who dances in the ad you mentioned is my niece, Romina Rossi Escuza, she is in Trujillo right now and has already qualified for the finals. She has already been a champion in several Lima contests and I really hope she makes it in Trujillo this time.  

I love the ad, it would be the kind of ad I myself would shoot (and you know this Mitch since it has a lOT of skirt and foot footage, and you know this is my weak point)! and you are right, the fact that it is mostly in slow motion ads to the magic. I also think that the fact it has so many close-ups enriches it a lot! The last shoot, the skirt sweeping over the Pilsen Trujillo logo was meant to gradually uncover it...........

Beautiful girl, beautiful ad, beautiful dance!

I tried to make it to Trujillo today, on the plane, no way to find a place on the bus and was flabbergasted to see that the only seats available for a flight would be ones at a cost of 325 round trip, agains a usual (at the most) 160 dollars ticket round trip!

I shall have to prepare myself earlier next year! The contests are wonderful,  I have followed Romina around for three years now, and marvel at the vibes you perceive in the dance schools, the contests, the efforts mother and fathers put into making their children ready, the friendship and support there is among the boys and girls, the beauty of this dance, now for me only nearly overcome by the magic and sensuality of tondero which I have discovered in this deep inmersion in marinera I have had for the past three years!

I highly recommend it to all those living in Lima. Go to the dance schools and watch, or even take lessons, go to the contests (all year round in Lima), stand behind the lines, vibrate with the contestants, you will feel your souls fill with love and beauty, the magic of the Northern sea (which is what the movement of the skirts represents) and the hint to the Peruvian Paso horse in the steps of the males.

Noone has posted the ad on You Tube so far, I looked for it too!

Thank you Diana

Well I´m in Lima couldn´t make it to Trujillo, but saw the Marinera Contest  it was Great Show! Thanks to channel 7 TV Peru. Good article Diana I enjoyed it.

730 couples danced in 2008, & over 1500 people including those who were in the choreographed groups. You do not usually have problems entering the Colysseum, but there were problems finding accopmmodation. More than 20,000 visitors were expected in Trujillo for the 2008 event. You can see the Marinera in Trujillo's peñas on Thursday & Saturday nights; & events like the International Spring Festival at the end of September.

More links

http://www.xanga.com/TrujilloPeru/3605651/item.html

Hi again, Mitch! Sorry for the delayed reply. Thanks for the info on the Wharton Global Conference. I've passed that along to my boss Carsten Korch, along with your interest in having livinginperu.com partner or sponsor a possible screening of Soy Andina. Should it happen, I'd love if either of us could cover the event! Email me at do@livinginperu.com if there's anything else you'd like to discuss.

Romina and Renzo made it in their category! It was wonderful to see her tears and happiness! It is a lot of very hard work.

Thanks for the posting, Diana, the whole contest was wonderful and the dancers awesome. The coverage of TV Peru excellent and the interviews to all those involved in this wonderful dance and event very enlighting.

It is due diligence to inform everybody of Peru's riches!

I just moved to Lima for the next few months and would really like to take some dance lessons.  I danced at my University (UCLA) and heard that La Marinera is a beautiful dance.  I live in San Isidro...are there any good dance studios in that area??? What is the normal price for a class??? Any information would be greatly appreciated!

A very good marinera instructor lives not far away from San Isidro.  She still teaches at very reasonable prices + she also designs and crafts the dresses.  Her name is Gilda Moron.  Email me if you need her contact info.

basilisa76@hotmail.com