dancing with a pole on the edge of the abyss; A forbidden heritage that became a symbol of Peru’s national identity

The indigenous people of Peru‘s central Andes preserve one of the world’s most difficult performing arts, a mixture of extraordinary physical skills and cosmic beliefs, by performing the “Scissor Dance” ritual. This dance, in which performers hold two heavy metal blades—like scissors—perform complex acrobatic movements to the beat of a violin and harp, and has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Photographer: MARIANA BAZO / nationalgeographic

The history of this tradition goes back to the 16th century when these dancers were known as “messengers of the ancient gods” and their performance was considered a form of cultural resistance against the religious influence of the Spanish colonialists. Although the Catholic Church once considered this dance “satanic” and banned its performance, the natives saved this art from destruction by integrating Christian symbols and their ancient beliefs to “Pachamama” (Mother Earth).

Today, scissor dance competitions, which sometimes last for many hours, are not only an artistic show, but also a difficult test of physical and mental endurance in which dancers perform risky and sometimes traumatic movements to show their strength. Anthropologists believe that the survival of this tradition in modern Peruvian societies shows the unbreakable link of indigenous identity with the Andes mountains and the ability of local communities to redefine their historical heritage in the face of globalization.

This dance, which has now made its way from remote villages to the big world stages, is still recognized as one of the most complex forms of cultural expression in Latin America, where every stroke of the scissor blades echoes the voice of a civilization that refuses to accept passivity.