Dancing whip

Whips of the simplest design are used by dancers called “negritos”, who take part in a dance of the same name performed at Christmas and Epiphany throughout the Andean region, from Cajamarca to Potosi. These examples come from Huancavelica, a region that throughout the nineteenth century was important as a mining and commercial centre. The whips were an essential part of the festival’s ceremony, enriching the festive atmosphere of the saint’s celebrations with their form and sound. A description of the San Miguel Archangel of Moya festival (Huancavelica), celebrated on September 29, shows the use of rich “whips” that, like these, were made in silver and were used by the mayordomos (foremen) of the brotherhoods of the town.