We were not amazed badly, to meet in El Carmen at Peru's coast suddenly so many African human types. They are the successors of the slaves from Africa, whom the Spaniards brought to do the hard work on their cotton fields. It was a hard fight until the abolition of the slavery. Today, the region around Chincha Alta is famous for its African music and dance culture. (mi)

The group, that gives a performancein at "Hacienda San José", is called "La guardia Nueva", formed from musicians and dancers. The music is done mainly with percussion-instruments and is sung powerfully to it. Left the music instrument is a cattle jaw, in which the loose teeth were rattled by strong hits. (mi)

The "El Alcatraz" is a dance with the fire. Everyone, has a little tail made of easily combustible paper and a small torch in his hand. The art now is to move the hips so fast when dancing that the other doesn't succeed enflaming the paper. The flames are not to be seen on the photos, but in both cases, the little paper tail burned afterward and then had to be removed as quickly as possible. (mi)

4 (mi)

Melva Garcia (38 year old) is a professional dancer, who also takes part successfully in dance competitions. Unfortunately, we cannot show here, like nimble she is and how incredibly fast she moved. She shook so relaxed and easily different body parts that it is hardly to believed, that they are really part of her. (mi)