On the south-central coast of Peru, it is possible to find villages where the population is predominantly black and andean. In one of these towns, El Carmen (Chincha-Perú), which holds celebrations in honor of religious figures between December 24th and January 6th, there is the participation of the Atajos de Negritos. The Atajos de Negritos are formed by a group of people known as sapateadores (tap dancers) for presenting a specific performance called Sapateado. The Atajos de Negritos happens mainly in front of “devotional altars” for Niño Jesus set up especially inside the homes of residents who claim to be fulfilling promises made to religious figures. However, movement also occurs during its journey towards the host houses. In this case, tap dancers also sing to announce their presence on the village streets. The Atajos have become a symbol of Afro-Peruvian culture, from the point of view of syncretism, which gained visibility as a black artistic-cultural expression inside and outside the country. Based on fieldwork, it is possible to propose that the Atajos performance preserves and transmits the collective memory of Peru's south-central coast. Atajos practitioners participate in sapateado because of their appreciation for participation in the Atajos. They develop this feeling with family and friends. In this sense, they link their participation in sapateado not only with the promise to religious figures, but also with the promise to family members and companions in the group. The obligation present in the promise of the sapateadores is also linked to the appreciation for participating in the Atajos, as a ritual; and the friendship with companions trained in the sapateado. Finally, the promise is approached as an obligation and affection, marking the visibility of the black population in Peru.