Marinera

Marinera is a courtship dance that originated along the coastal regions of Peru. Marinera is a graceful and romantic couple's dance that uses handkerchiefs as props. The dance is a mix of Spanish contradanza and Andean zamacueca, and is an elegant and stylized reenactment of a courtship, showing a blend of the different cultures of Peru. The dance itself has gained recognition throughout South America and is known as the most prominent traditional dance of Peru. The city of Trujillo has been recognized as the national birthplace of the marinera since 1986. The Marinera Festival, a cultural event dedicated to marinera held in Trujillo, has held annual competitions of the dance since 1960.In 2012, the Congress of Peru observed nationally October 7 as a commemorative day for the marinera.

The dance is traditionally accompanied by several instruments: cajón, clarinets, guitars, drums, and bugles.