Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes back Maestro Luis Valverde teaching Marinera Peruana for Adults; ages 18+.

Luis Valverde is a choreographer, musician, and researcher of Andean art. Member of a family of artists, he began his career in Lima at Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, where he studied and worked at the Centro de Folklore. He was also a member of the renown ensemble Brisas del Titicaca and of the Center for Research and Development of Peruvian Music (CIDEMP). He moved to San Francisco in 2000 to perform, teach and collaborate with local artists such as Eddy Navia, Nayo Ulloa, Lalo Izquierdo, Pampa Cortés, Chaskinakuy, and others. He founded and directed the Peruvian Dance Company and has presented works for the SF Ethnic Dance Festival, the American College Dance Festival, Carnaval San Francisco, Dance Lab (NEFA) and was a guest panelist at the Dance/USA National Round Table in Portland, Oregon. A member of the International Dance Council (CID-UNESCO), he currently directs his own multicultural Valverde Dance Ballet Folklorico.

For DUF 2026: The Marinera is a beautiful romantic dance from Peru in which the dancers –a couple- perform a fine courtship encounter. Elegant and complex, it is one of those rare dances where the woman marks the rhythm and leads her partner. Being the Peruvian national dance, different schools and dancing styles exist. The northern-Peru version, known as “Marinera Norteña” is enthusiastic and joyful. The origin of the Marinera is generally traced back to the Zamacueca, the old XVIII century dance that gave origin to most of the “handkerchief” partner-dances of Latin America.

“I learned this dance from a young age in family gatherings and elementary school performances and have been performing, teaching and researching its origins and history for almost 30 years”. –Luis Valverde

Cultura illuminates LIFE . . . nurture the light.

Danzantes Unidos Festival DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” will take place March 27, 28 & 29 in Fresno, CA.
Registration is OPEN at www.danzantes.org.  Early Registration ends on January 23, 2026.
Click here to register for this class: Marinera Peruana