The Diablada or Danza de Diablos (English: Dance of Devils) is a traditional South American dance created in the Andean Altiplano characterized by the mask and devil suit wore by the dancers.^[4] The dance is a mixture of the Spaniard's theatrical presentations and Andean religious ceremonies such as the Llama llama dance in honour of the Uru god Tiw (their protector in mines, lakes, and rivers),^[5] and the Aymaran miner's ritual to Anchanchu (a terrible demon spirit of caves and other isolated places).^[6]

The origins and sense of patrimonial identity of this dance is a matter of dispute between authorities and historians of Bolivia, Chile and Peru where it's performed as an important part of their respective festivities.^[1] There is a style of dance proper of Ecuador named Diablada pillareña,^[7] and squads of Diablada were founded in other countries such as Argentina, United States and Austria.^[8][9][10]

History

The origin of the Diablada is a matter of dispute.^[1] The 2001 proclamation of the Carnaval de Oruro as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO suggested that this dance had roots in the ancient dance of the Llama llama in worship of the Uru god Tiw which used to take place in the ancient location where the modern Oruro, Bolivia is nowadays for being this area a sacred place for the Urus.^[5] It is also believed that the dance could have had its beginnings in another city of modern-day Bolivia, such as in the city of Potosí, back then a miner's settlement during the Spanish conquest, from where it later spread to Oruro and other parts of the Altiplano.^[11] Another theory suggests that the Diablada would have been introduced in 1576 to the native Lupakas people of Juli, located near Lake Titicaca in the Altiplano of present-day Puno, Peru; and from there it allegedly spread to other parts of the Spanish domain in the Americas.^[12] During the evangelism of the natives, the missionaries instilled the Christian paradigm of good and evil by teaching them their theatrical dance which was a representation of the seven deadly sins that concluded with the victory of the angels over the demons (which is how the costumes of angels and demons became associated with the dance). Ultimately, the result was a fusion between Spanish and Andean culture in the Altiplano as the original dance taught by the Jesuit missionaries adopted Andean elements.

The Diablada' represents a mixture between Christianity and Andean religions that goes as far back as 1538, where in the mines of Aullagas (in northern Potosí) the natives adopted Christian religious figures and adapted them to their indigenous religious visions.^[11] The dance eventually became part of a series of Christian religious festivities, most prominently during the celebrations to the Virgin of Candelaria (also known as the Virgin of Socavón).^[11] These Christian rituals replaced the old Andean beliefs and mythology, and the festivities changed from honouring what were considered "pagan" gods to that of honouring Christian saints and God. Over the years, the Diablada has developed uniquely in various regions of South America, which has led to variations such as the Diablada Puneña and the Diablada of Oruro.^[6]