cueca, in full zamacueca, also called marinera, folk dance of northern Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. A courtship dance known since the period of Spanish colonization, it is danced to the rapid, rhythmic music of guitars.

How did the cueca originate?

Historians believe that la cueca originates from a regional dance, the zamacueca, which has roots in Spanish, indigenous, and African traditions, and was originally danced in Peru. As the dance evolved during colonial times, it made its way throughout the region to countries like Bolivia and Chile.

What does the cueca dance represent?

The Cueca is a parody of the courtship of a chicken and rooster. The dancers wave handkerchiefs above their heads during the dance. These handkerchiefs can symbolize the feathers of the bird or the rooster's comb. ... The dance happens in an imaginary circle, with the man in one half, and the woman in the other.