There are about 100 000 Peruvians living in the capital of Spain. They have emigrated from Peru at different times, with different expectations and from different sociocultural and economic positions in Peruvian society. This article is based on six months of fieldwork among various Peruvian cultural associations in Madrid in spring 2009. The article focuses on social differentiations among Peruvians explained by their different representation of Peruvian culture. Peruvian dance changes importance and meanings in a new context. I find that some Peruvians identify with a manifold and authentic culture, while others seek affiliation and membership to different dance groups. Peruvians adjust to new relations of power in Spanish society, and they challenge negative categories such as immigrant from the third world through cultural practices. With different strategies and methods of negotiation they seek cultural legitimacy and social recognition. © 2012 universitetsforlaget.

Migration culture Peru Spain Social inequality

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