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This dance is a spin-off from the zamacueca and the mozamala.
In 1893, Abelardo Gamarra "El Tunante" dubbed the
dance the "Marinera", in homage to Peru's naval
hero Admiral Miguel Grau, during a piano concert performed
by a Lima maiden who was to become a major exponent of the
genre, Rosa Mercedes Ayarza de Morales. This encounter gave
birth to Peru's best-known marinera, called "La Decana"
later rebaptized "La Concheperla".
The marinera has steadily gained a foothold in the country's
culture. In 1938, the genre was presented at the Independence
Day concert at Lima's Teatro Municipal. Today, there are marinera
festivals held all over the country, although the best-known
is held in January in Trujillo. The dance is performed in
several styles, depending on its place of origin: marinera
costeña (the south coast), marinera serrana (the highlands)
and marinera norteña (the north).
The dance is energetic, with elegant movements and a highly
complex choreography of coordinated and synchronized sequences.
The couple keeps time with a handkerchief clutched in one
hand, which is also part of the courting ritual, even though
the couple never comes into physical contact. Instruments
used to perform the marinera limeña include the guitar
and Cajon, a box-shaped drum, while a full-blown marching
band accompanies the Marinera Norteña.
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