Like miniature adults, tiny children dance around Cuzco’s main plaza today. They form lines and move like the larger people who will be dancing all week, organized by institutions–schools and kindergartens, and performing Cuzco’s increasingly codified culture.
Cuzco has begun its jubilee month with all kinds of celebrations in almost every kind of activity around the city. People will also come from throughout the city to perform greetings to the city. In Spanish this is called saludos–salutes, wishes of well and demonstrations of affect and belonging.
Ultimately most everyone in the city will be drawn into the celebration, the month of ritual and honor. Today it is the school children. Next weekend it will be University students, whose majors have each organized dance troupes to compete for honors while rendering homage to their native city.
