Every town has their own traditional dance, and the dance from my town is called Auquish. This is a word in Quechua, a Peruvian language from Incan times. The word translates to "elderly people" in English.
I learned about my town's tradition to dance Auquish during Christmas and New Years. First, the men dance at Christmas time, then the women and children dance during New Years. The dancers dress up in an outfit that looks like an old person (hence the name meaning "elderly person"). This is because the elderly are said to be wise and respected within the community. The dance starts in the evening and the event continues through the night. The dance is popular in surrounding areas and my town hosts a competition for all the towns that dance Auquish. There are elected judges that decide the winner based on the music, the energy of the dancers, and the accuracy of the dance. The plaza fills with people and everyone enjoys the celebration while cheering for their respective groups while dancing.
