Mi Perú-MN dances for the Minnesota community at their Peruvian Independence Day Celebration event, held at the Recreation Outdoor Center in St. Louis Park, ca. 2018 or 2019. Used with the permission of Mi Perú-Minnesota.

Colorful outfits with long skirts enhance the energetic and joyful movements of festejo, an Afro-Peruvian dance from the southern coast of Peru. Photo (ca. 2023) used with the permission of Mi Perú-Minnesota.

Huaylarsh dance attire with intricate designs of embroidered flowers and birds. This festive harvesting dance is a patrimony of the Andes region of Peru. Photo by Sarah Leon Waddell, 2022. Used with the permission of Sarah Leon Waddell Photography.

Marinera dancers after their presentation at the International Institute of Minnesota’s Festival of Nations 2019, held at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul. Photo used with the permission of Mi Perú-Minnesota.

Tondero, an expressive dance that resembles a bird love ritual, features movements that follow the rhythms of the cajón box drum. Photo by Sarah Leon Waddell, 2022. Used with the permission of Sarah Leon Waddell Photography.

Carmen Alonzo Kohman shows the joy of dancing valicha, a dance from the city of Cusco, Peru. Photo by Sarah Leon Waddell, 2022. Used with the permission of Sarah Leon Waddell Photography.

Members of Mi Perú-Minnesota representing the Shipibo tribe of Peru through Tahuampa, a style of dance from the rainforest area of Peru. The dance is related to Yacumama, a legendary water serpent of the Peruvian Amazon. Photograph by R. Durán, ca. 2018 or 2019. Used with the permission of Mi Perú-Minnesota.

Dancing from the heart to a marinera song, Peru’s national dance, at Mi Perú-Minnesota’s Peruvian Independence Day Celebration event, held at the Recreation Outdoor Center (ROC) in St. Louis Park. Photograph by Angie Garcia, ca. 2018 or 2019. Used with the permission of Alateo Photography.

Dancers of Mi Perú-Minnesota wear Caporales dance attire. Caporales is an Afro-Andean dance from the mountain regions of Peru and Bolivia. Photo by Sarah Leon Waddell, 2022. Used with the permission of Sarah Leon Waddell Photography.

Mi Perú-Minnesota performs a marinera and valicha dance at the International Institute of Minnesota’s 2018 Festival of Nations. Photograph by Erika Busse. Used with the permission of Mi Perú-Minnesota.