Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean

Portal of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean

Peru - Danza de los Negros de Malvas (Dance of the blacks of Malvas)

Folkloric dance to celebrate the arrival of the God Child (December 25th). This dance is carried out with the contribution of functionaries or pilgrims paying a religious promise. In general, the group of dancers is made up by 13 or 14 characters, of which two are women. The authors of the songs are in charge of leading and dressing the dancers in each presentation.

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According to oral tradition, these dances recall the slave population, who arrived in this region during the colonial period to work the land. From the outlook of the local population, these characters are the bearers of grace and good luck, linked to the arrival of the God Child, during the Christmas celebrations.

 

The acknowledgement of these dances as intangible material is owed, in part, to the cultural associations of migrants, such as the Asociación Hijos de Huayán (Association of Children of Huayán).

Accessibility: Taking the Panamericana Norte highway, at 293 km from the city of Lima. The journey to the province of Huarmey takes approximately four and a half hours.
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Dance of the blacks of Malvas. Dancers of Negros de Malvas.. Photo: Juan Carlos La Serna
Dance of the blacks of Malvas. Dancers of Negros de Malvas.. Photo: Juan Carlos La Serna

Other data of interest

Peru

Historical name

Danza de los Negros de Malvas (Dance of the blacks of Malvas)

Address

Distrito de Malvas, en la provincia de Huarmey, en la región Ancash (District of Malvas, in the Province of Huarmey, in the region of Ancash)

Links to social networks

 http://administrativos.cultura.gob.pe/intranet/dpcn/anexos/122_2.pdf?5498595

 

Classification

Intangible heritage expression

Function-Testimony

Access level

Free

Property kind

Community

Declarations

  • Intangible Cultural Heritage of Peru en 2013-03-19 0