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Huaylarsh, identity made dance

Junin, Peru / 2015 - 2020

A woman and a man look through the hole in a wall that surrounds the venue where the National Huaylarsh Competition is held in the Huancan District, in the Province of Huancayo, February 2020.

The Huaylarsh is a traditional dance from the Province of Huancayo, which belongs to the Department of Junin, Peru. It is a cultural expression rooted in the identity of the Huancaínos where the cult of nature, the arrival of the rains, the falling in love with birds and the migration from the countryside to the city are shown reflected in energetic dance steps as a couple.

This artistic manifestation, declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation by UNESCO in 2005, is carried out in different competitions throughout the south of the region during the months of February and March, the summer season and, also, carnivals. The “Huaylas”, as it is popularly known, has had great influence on national folklore, with the huayno being the music that accompanies it, performed mainly with harps and violins.

This valuable and diverse representation of Andean culture is also about the connection with nature and inheritance of traditions between generations. This long-term documentary photographic project, which began in 2015 and ended in 2020, arose due to the interest in portraying the celebration and pride of possessing the Wanka identity, embodied in the guapeo and zapateo of the dancing children of the beautiful Valle del Mantaro.

A group of dancers finishes giving the last details to their outfits, consisting of vicuña-colored hats, black cotton, white petticoat, hand-embroidered Lliclla, Chalpi with polychrome designs, low-heeled black leather shoes and two skirts embroidered with patterns alluding to the flora and fauna of the Mantaro Valley.
Pucara District, March 2017.

Before starting the intense tap dancing, a group of dancers take sips of liquor to withstand the low temperatures, which can reach 6°C.
Huancan District, March 2020.

Like the chiguanco thrush in the air, the dancers imitate the infatuation that the male birds make towards the females of this species, during the ten minutes they have to demonstrate exactly the steps that identify the modern huaylarsh.
Pucara District, March 2020.

A young couple of dancers in the audience distracted by the hubbub of the community enjoying the carnivals, waiting for the presentation of the next group.

Pucara District, February 2015.

Already on the stage, the dancers have surprises prepared during their performance, such as throwing talcum powder into the air, a characteristic element of carnivals, these types of gestures make the audience enjoy.
Huancan District, March 2020.

Skill, strength and constant practice are determining factors when performing the dance pirouettes, the same ones that are worthy of highly competitive athletes, as demonstrated by these men of the huaylarsh.
Pucara District, February 2016.

A dancer looks absorbed at the dance group that is performing while she waits for her group's turn to enter the stage.
Pucara District, March 2017.

Ready to enter the stage to show off all their talent and hundreds of hours of practice that they had throughout a year of preparation.
Viques District, February 2020.

Huancaínos from different parts of the province come to the competition to vigorously encourage the dance groups from the areas to which they belong.
Pucara District, February 2016.

In the darkness, spectators celebrate with shouts, songs and applause, in rural areas far from the city of Huancayo, the lack of access to public lighting prevails.
Huancan District, March 2020.

Exhausted, after having left their souls on the stage, the dancers are out of breath, 3,250 m above sea level. n. m. height in the central mountains affects them significantly.
Pucara District, February 2016.

Next to the stage the dancers of the ancient huaylarsh leave their shoes; dancing barefoot is one of the requirements of this variant of the thrush dance.
Pucara District, February 2016.

An exhausted dancer throws himself on the grass after giving his life during the incessant tapping and dancing that the choreography demands.
Huancan District, March 2020.

Time for a "calentito", a drink based on fruit infusions or medicinal herbs mixed with liqueur, which helps to face the frost of the Andes mountain range.

Pucara District, March 2019.

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