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Paper short abstract:

Every year the Inti Raymi is the time to transgress the rules through the songs, the dances, the farces, the consumption of alcohol and food, the use of violence. We are interested in analyzing how transgression through dance and exchange acquires a positive connotation and move to free the action.

Paper long abstract:

Every year in the Cayambe region, the Inti Raymi takes place. From June 28th at night until the end of the summer, communities enter into a period of festivities. The festive calendar is defined by three major ritual events.

The first night, groups of dancers move from house to house to pass on the Castillo. The next day, which coincides with St. Peter’s feast, which is one of the most important moments, the Toma de la Plaza takes place; it replaces the ritual battles (tinku) whose main purpose was the confrontation of halves. The violence that unfolds on that day have a meaning only within that context and ceases to exist after the ritual time. Finally, the delivery of the Rama de Gallos occurs. This event brings into play the cycle of debt with its particular forms of exchange.

The most important notion of these rituals is the sacrifice in order to obtain gains from de divinities. Nowadays these ritual has also a political purpose. The violence serves like mediation between the indigenous people, the government and the divinities.

The behavior of the characters involved in these ritual performances transgress the rules of everyday life. Through their songs with an erotic background, their dances, their farces, the consumption of alcohol and food and the use of violence.

We are interested in analyzing how transgression through dance and exchange acquires a positive connotation and move to free the action.