Dancing the Marinera

by Inocencia Toribio Garcia

The Marinera is a wonderful dance, and it is a symbol of being Peruvian. Don Abelardo Gamarra, known as “El Tunante,” named this famous dance. It is an elegant couples’ dance and shows loving conversation between the partners.

The Marinera Festival is held every January in the city of Trujillo. This event is very important and includes parades, horseback riding and dance presentations. I love the Marinera because I am from Peru and my nephew is a Marinera dancer.

There are schools for Marinera, and my nephew, Brian Flores, attended one. He began at age five and graduated at age eighteen. He now performs at parties, dinners, and birthday celebrations. Brian has a small performing group of 8-10 dancers, with girls and boys, who range in age from five to eighteen. He may perform alone, with a female partner, or with a group – depending on what the guests wants. He’s sometimes paid for this, sometimes not. He loves dancing the Marinera.

Peruvian Independence Day is July 28, and he performs everywhere that day, as a celebration. Also, La Marinera was given the honor as the Cultural Heritage of the Nation. I love La Marinera because it’s from my country. It’s my native dance. I’m very happy when I hear it. I am so happy that my nephew is a part of this Peruvian tradition. Our family is extremely proud of him, and I love my nephew!