HISTORY SAN JUANITO

                  HISTORY OF SAN JUANITO 

San Juanito Dance. Ecuador has strong roots in its traditions, which in the festivities is manifested with the delight of the Typical Dances of each region, a unique and unforgettable spectacle. In Ecuador it is considered National Rhythm, a musical genre that has a strong influence from the past, especially from the Native Peoples, who left their mark not only on the culture, but also on this musical form that has its Typical Dance. The history of San Juanito goes back not only to this country, but to all Andean music and the region, with bases based on the rhythms made by the Native Peoples of the region, and mainly having a very marked boom at the beginning of the 20th century, with a marked influence from the expansion of the Tahuantinsuyo Inca, where they marked the fundamental points of this Pre-Hispanic Dance.

                     ORIGIN OF SAN JUANITO 

The name of San Juanito is specific to the area of ​​the Otavalo canton, located in the province of Imbabura, consisting of one of the main dances (and perhaps, the central show) of the festivities in honor of San Juan Bautista, a celebration that takes place every June 24, consisting of a happy dance, with a lot of movement, which is called by the native languages ​​as Saltashpa.

Very popular at the beginning of the 20th century, it is originally from the province of Imbabura. One of the several versions regarding the origin of its name, according to the Ecuadorian musicologist Segundo Luis Moreno, is that it was due to the fact that it was danced during the day that coincided with the birth of Saint John the Baptist, a festival established by the Spanish on June 24. , but which also coincided with the indigenous rituals of Inti Raymi. It is a potential of Ecuadorian music, which has not yet managed to spread throughout the world, but it has spread in Ecuador and the Andean countries. 

                Musical structure 

               

As for the musical structure, it is easily recognizable for having a base of Indigenous Music, with typical musical instruments of Andean Music, although the modernization of this rhythm and its combination with the culture of the old continent led it to use guitars, being widely danced especially in schools

     HISTORICAL REVIEW OF SAN JUANITO 

Sanjuanito is an indigenous Ecuadorian musical genre of Andean music. Very popular at the beginning of the 20th century, it is a genre originating from the province of Imbabura. The "sanjuanito" has pre-Inca origin, that is, it existed before the Spanish conquest.

It is also heard in the Andean area of ​​southern Colombia, in Nariño, in Putumayo and throughout northern Peru.

Etymology Regarding the origin of its name, the Ecuadorian musicologist Segundo Luis Moreno conjectures that it was due to the fact that it was danced during the day that coincided with the birth of Saint John the Baptist, a festival established by the Spanish on June 24 that coincided with the indigenous rituals of Inti Raymi.

This Ecuadorian rhythm has and transmits Ecuadorian joy and emotions that motivates attendees of programs and town or urban festivals to dance in circles, holding hands, turning from one side to the other.

                         VESTIMENTA 

The sanjuanito's clothing is very colorful and consists of many accessories as can be seen in the images, the respective clothing for each gender is:

WOMEN: Pleated skirt of any color, white shirt, espadrilles, large necklaces and hats, thick ribbon around the hips.

MEN: White pants, espadrilles, blanket of any color under the hat that is placed on the head, thick ribbon around the hip.

The costumes are colonial type, originating from the tropical jungle of Peru.