Huayo, also spelled Huaio, Huayno, or Wayno, is a couple dance performed by many mestizos (Peruvians and Bolivians of Spanish-Indian descent) as well as the Quechua and Aymara Indians. It predates the Spanish conquest and may have been an Inca funeral dance, though it is now only performed for celebrations. Performed mainly by ethnic communities such as the “Quechua” a South American dance style known as Huayno. This “folk” dance is supposed to have originated from the Serrania Mountains located in Peru.
Although this dance is extremely popular in Peru, it is also performed in a few South American countries such as Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, and Ecuador. Furthermore, this dance style is extremely rhythmic and involves the use of a stressed beat which is then followed by two short beats.
History/origin of Huayno:
This dance is said to be extremely popular throughout the Andean Mountain Range, and hence can be seen performed in countries such as Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, and Ecuador. However, this form of dancing is said to have originated in Peru, and is also extremely popular in the country. Apparently, it was first created and developed when the country was under Spanish colonial rule beginning in the 16th century. Furthermore, it was basically created by fusing elements belonging to Peruvian folk and urban dance respectively.
Costumes used in the Huayno:
The costumes worn by the performers vary according to gender as follows:
1. For males:
The attire worn includes ponchos, handkerchiefs, and trousers.
2. For females:
The attire worn includes colorful skirt and traditional blouses. In addition, the performer can also be seen with braided hair.
The music involved in the Huayno:
The musical instruments used in this dance include the quena i.e. flute, harp, siku i.e. panpipe, accordion, saxophone, charango, lute, violin, guitar, and mandolin. In addition, the music is also accompanied by some high-pitched vocals. 2/4 time is used in the music. The melodies are pentatonic, or built on a scale of five notes, and rhythmic, going D-E-G-A-B-D.
Training availability and technique involved in the Huayno:
In terms of technique, in this dance the male performer initially offers his right arm to his female partner, and also places a handkerchief on her shoulder. Furthermore, the male and female performers move around the room and eventually dance together with the man touching the woman with his shoulders.
Additionally, movements used by the performers also include energetic stamping of the feet. As for training centers/schools, there are none available around the world since this “folk” dance is mainly performed in South America, especially in Peru.
It’s a dance that’s frequently seen at celebrations and festivals. Even though it is a dance for two, because of the larger setting, it is frequently performed by large groups of people. The dance starts with numerous couples circling one another, and eventually the dancers form a sizable circle with one couple in the center. Throughout the dance, the dancers will move in and out of a variety of formations, such as an enclosed circle or an arch for couples to pass through. The process involves swift, dexterous stamping motions. The majority of the movement is spent with the man following the woman, and men are typically very joyful and celebratory by nature. In contemporary performances, there is no specific attire.
PERU- HUAYNO DANCE VIDEOS