In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, dance troupes perform the “Morenada” or Dance of the Black Slaves, during celebrations honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. Although its origins are a subject of debate, the traditional Bolivian dance is comprised of a synergistic mix of African and Aymara influences. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, “cholas” share a toast during a pause in the religious procession honoring Our Lady of Coapacabana in Cuzco, Peru. It is customary that organizers offer free food and drink for celebrants, along with a small fee for the dancers and musicians. According to the steward of this year's celebrations in Cuszo, expenditures totaled 9,000 U.S. dollars. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, members of the Majestic Union band look at a 1930's Martin Chambi photo, displayed on a facade of the Almudena Temple, as they wait to take part in a religious procession honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. Chambi is known for photographing the elite members of Cuzco's society, as well as extensively documenting the Peruvian indigenous culture. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, “cargadores” or male carriers and devotees lunch on free bowls of beef and wheat soup during a pause in the religious procession honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. It is expected that the organizers provide free food and drink along with a small fee for the dancers and musicians. According to the steward of this year's celebrations, expenditures totaled 9,000 U.S. dollars. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, “cargadores” or male carriers exit the Almudena Temple shouldering a statue of Our Lady of Copacabana, where a service was held in the virgin's honor, in Cuzco, Peru. After lunch and some dancing, the carriers returned the statue to the home of local resident Libia Espinoza, who received the religious icon more than a decade ago as a gift while visiting Bolivia. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, a dancer winces in pain as she is whipped by a fellow dancer in an adaptation of the Inca warrior dance known as “Kachampa”, during celebrations honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, faithful take part in a religious procession honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. The veneration of Bolivia's patron saint in Cuzco began a decade ago with a small feast among friends and family. Now an annual event, it has grown in popularity with as many as 500 people taking part. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, steward Libia Espinoza, left, dances with transgenders Coco and Jessi during festivities honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. Espinoza is credited with the first Cuzco celebration venerating the Bolivian virgin, who she believes cured her of her kidney problems. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, transgender Carolina, dressed as a “china”, poses for a photo with Majestic Union band members during celebrations honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. Despite the persistent discrimination suffered by members of the LGBT community in the country, Carolina says she and her friends are invited every year to take part in the religious celebration. “I never feel discrimination”, said Carolina, “and sometimes I receive a little money for my dancing”. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, Andean dancers known as “cholas” applaud the fancy footwork of a couple, as they take a break from their performance honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. “Cholas”, who make up part of the traditional Bolivian dance known as the “Morenada” or Dance of the Black Slaves, are easily identifiable by their typical Aymara dress: wide skirts, bowler hats and elaborate shawls. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, 8-year-old Miguel smiles while posing in his “rey moreno” or “black king” dance costume before the start of a procession honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. The black king, one of the many characters that make up the “Morenada” or Dance of the Black Slaves, often wears a mask with exaggerated features and a tongue hanging out to symbolize the exhaustion of the slaves from the hard work and high altitudes, some believe. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, transgender Paloma, dressed as a dancer known as a “china” for the “Morenada” or Dance of the Black Slaves, takes part in a religious procession in honor of Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. A group of transsexual activists in Cuzco have adopted the Bolivian virgin as their patron saint. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)





In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, “cargadores” or male carriers walk with a statue of Our Lady of Copacabana belonging to resident Libia Espinoza, in a religious procession honoring the Bolivian virgin, in Cuzco, Peru. Unlike many of the regional feast day celebrations dating back hundreds of years, this one, initiated by Espinoza, is marking its tenth year. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)




In this Sunday, August 5, 2018 photo, transgender Jessi dressed as a “chola” dances in the “Morenada” or Dance of the Black Slaves, during celebrations honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. Jessi and her friends say they dance in hope their celebratory tribute will help ward off violence and harassment in a country where being transgender can prove deadly. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)