DANCE OF THE SCISSORS - PERU
The dance of the scissors is a magical religious dance of the Peruvian Folklor that represents the spirits of the Pachamama, or ancient deities.
The dance shows the spiritual superiority of the dancers, challenging each other with confrontations and competitions.
The dance is usually performed continuously for hours and hours until one of the competitors tires and the other wins the challenge.
Currently, this dance of the scissors is considered one of the most important foklore ayacuchano and huancavelicano.
It was recognized in 2010 by Unesco as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, for its symbolic value and antiquity.
This Dance was formerly persecuted during the colonial era, since it was considered a diabolical dance and its practitioners were called supaypa wawan sons of the devil or supaypa wasin tusuq danzante in the house of the devil.
Many of the dancers fled to the most hidden and high areas of Apurímac, Ayacucho and Huancavelica.
With time the scissors dancers were accepted and were introduced in the patronal and religious dances of the colonial era.
FUENTE: