Peruvian Dance Etiquette

After several turns about the room he began to wish the young lady would suggest that they promenade, as most of the other couples did from time to time. But not she. On they went, spinning and prancing. The young man was burning up. “Will she never stop?” asked the young officer under his breath. – Photo source, Pinterest

Not Knowing What Etiquette Demanded, He Had a Hard Time

This one is told by a navy officer on himself. One of our handsome ships, with her handsome officers, was cruising in Peruvian waters, and while in port the grand ball in honor of the wife of the President of the Republic was given. The young officer was there in full uniform, which is warm enough at any time, but which in a ballroom after a number of whirls in a giddy waltz, such as the Spanish descendants in Peru put up, is anything but an ice-cooler. Our young hero invited a charming Peruvian to waltz. She consented, and away they went.

After several turns about the room he began to wish the young lady would suggest that they promenade, as most of the other couples did from time to time. But not she. On they went, spinning and prancing. The young man was burning up. "Will she never stop?" asked the young officer under his breath. Early in the game he had exhausted the few Spanish phrases he knew. He did not dare stop until she did, as such a breach of etiquette might mean that her brother would be likely to put a stiletto between his ribs for insulting his sister by stopping in a waltz before she did. 

The Peruvian waltz lasts twenty minutes. That is a long time in a tight-fitting uniform in a tropical climate. Our ensign began to wobble, but he kept his feet and that girl never seemed to weary. When the twenty minutes had expired the music ceased. Other couples had waltzed and stopped and waltzed again. Some of his brother officers had waltzed with half a dozen señoritas, and they were wondering why he was so devoted to the particular one he was still hugging and whirling when the music stopped. He led her to a seat, and for himself sought the open air and unbuttoned his coat.

He was in an unenviable plight. He did not enter the ballroom again for two hours, and when he did was still too weak to dance or enjoy the festivities. The young lady he had waltzed with avoided him. Other ladies, who had seen the long-distance record seemed pleased that he did not ask them to dance when presented. Later in the evening he learned that it was the Peruvian custom for the gentleman to suggest that they should cease waltzing and promenade or retire from the floor. It would have been immodest for his partner to suggest stopping. The young officer says the memory of that Peruvian night haunts him still.-Washington Star, 1894

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