What types of Latin American dances are there? Bachata: dance of unrequited love
Latin dance has a long and complex history, but during its course the same elements were constantly repeated - self-expression and rhythm. While some Latin American dances are almost entirely derived from local traditions, the vast majority of Latin American dances are influenced by three different dance traditions: indigenous, European, and African. The first mention of these dances dates back to at least the 15th century, when local indigenous dances were first documented by European explorers. It is this moment that is considered to be the birthplace of Latin dances, although in fact they are much older.
Origin of Latin American dances
Long before men and women began dancing rumba or salsa, the indigenous peoples of South and Central America invented what has become known today as Latin dances. However, the development of these early ritual dances subsequently depended heavily on many different European and African styles, both in terms of movement and music.Ritual roots
At the turn of the 16th century, maritime explorers such as Amerigo Vespucci returned to Portugal and Spain with tales of the indigenous peoples (Aztecs and Incas) from whom complex dances. How long these dance traditions had already existed at that time is unknown, but when these dances were noticed by European explorers, they were already fully formed and ritualized. These indigenous dances often center around mundane concepts such as hunting or farming.
In the early 16th century, European settlers and conquistadors like Hernán Cortés began to colonize the regions South America and adopted local dance traditions, eventually transforming them into new version local culture. During this assimilation, Catholic settlers united local cultural traditions with their own, keeping the original Indian movements but adding Catholic saints and biblical stories. Especially strong impression Aztec dances impressed the settlers because they were well structured and included a large number of dancers executing movements perfectly at the same time.
For centuries, European folk dances and the dances of African tribes blended with these indigenous traditions, eventually creating modern Latin dance.
European influence
Because the European folk dances that came to America with the settlers prohibited men and women touching each other during pair dance, closer contact between performers was new to Europeans. Moreover, while local indigenous dances were mainly group dances, European dances that were brought to America were performed in pairs by a man and a woman. As a result, similar European dances were integrated into the developing Latin American dance genre. Most of The narrative element disappeared and the focus shifted to rhythm and steps.
In terms of movement, European influences have brought a certain sophistication to indigenous dances. Latin America, because the steps were smaller, and the movements were not so sharp and sweeping. The integration of these nuances, coupled with the irresistible rhythm of African drums, is one of the defining features of Latin dance.
Popular dances in Latin style.
Salsa– means “sauce” in Spanish and is a mixture of different musical genres and dance traditions different countries Central and Latin America. Therefore, its rhythms and figures combine all the flavors of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico and Cuba, which is considered the cradle of Salsa. It was there that these melodies originated at the beginning of the twentieth century. Salsa, slower and more elegant than the similar Rumba, in which the dancers hardly touch, was in former times held in high esteem by the local white bourgeoisie. But everything changed in the 40s of the twentieth century in New York. The Latin American community took over the west of Manhattan and mixed Salsa with the rhythms of jazz and blues. New genre called “Salsa Metro”, in the 70s it was “exported” from New York and spread across the planet with incredible success, becoming the most popular dance Hispanic origin. Salsa contains interesting combinations, relaxed and passionate movements, fun and flirting, flirting with each other. This is a dance of love and freedom.
Merengue appeared on the island of Hispaniola, discovered by Columbus in the 15th century. This island became the point of expansion of the entire Spanish-American empire, which spread throughout much of Central and Latin America. Later, powerful flows of African slaves joined the Indian tribes and Spanish colonists. It's a mixture ethnic groups, traditions and cultures contributed to the emergence of a variety of dances and music, among which merengue is, without a doubt, one of the most ancient dance forms.
It is believed that the origin of the pas characteristic of Merengue comes from the movements made by slaves on sugar cane plantations. Their legs were chained at the ankles, and when they danced to escape for a moment, they could mostly only move their hips, shifting their weight from one leg to the other. There are other versions, but, be that as it may, at the beginning of the 19th century, Merengue was already danced in Haiti and in Dominican Republic.
The success of the Merengue is explained by the fact that the partners move with their arms around each other, giving the dance a special intimacy that makes it possible for more open courtship. Merengue music is very varied, the rhythm speeds up a little in the last part of the dance. Merengue is easy to learn, so it is recommended for beginners. This one is amazing, very colorful and plastic dance involves a unique movement that mimics a slight limp.
Mambo, like Rumba, Salsa, Cha-cha-cha, appeared in Cuba. The word “mambo” probably comes from the name of the god of war, to whom a ritual dance was dedicated in Cuba in the distant past. The current form of Mambo was born in the 1940s as a result of the fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms and jazz. The sensual and lively Mambo enchanted the world with its simplicity of performance and the fact that it can be danced alone, in pairs and whole group. Mambo gained wide popularity thanks to cinema. Among famous films there are several that use this dance as a means of seduction: “Mambo” (1954), “The Mambo Kings” with Antonio Banderas and Armand Assante and, well known to everyone, “ Dirty dancing"with Patrick Swayze in leading role. After the release of this film, Mambo's popularity dance schools began to grow exponentially.
Rumba“This is the apotheosis of tango,” says Paolo Conte in the song. This is true because both Tango and Rumba are derived from Habanera. This Cuban dance with Spanish roots produced two very different sisters, one with fair skin, the other with a dark one. In Argentina, she miraculously reborn into the sensual Tango. In Cuba, the habanera was filled with sensual and full of vitality choreography - and Rumba, a more African dance in its essence, was born. Rumba has become a classic of all Latin American dances. This slow and sensual dance is an interpretation of the relationship between a man and a woman, it has characteristic movements hips and enchanting rhythm. At the beginning of the 19th century, there were three versions of Rumba, but the most famous is the guaguancho - a dance during which the gentleman follows the lady in search of contact with his hips, and the lady tries to avoid this. In this dance, the lady seems to be the object of daring courtship and tries to restrain the passion of her partner. Perhaps because of this, the name “dance of love” stuck to Rumba. Rumba underwent a radical evolution after its introduction to the USA. Along with the expansive and erotic Cuban, American Rumba appeared - with more restrained movements and style. It was this version of Rumba that spread throughout the world, winning the hearts of several generations of dancers and simply connoisseurs of Latin American culture.
Cha-cha-cha. The exciting Latin American dance cha-cha-cha has a happy and slightly carefree atmosphere, its name comes from a special repeating basic rhythm. The birth of Cha-cha-cha marks the 19th century, when danzon, son, rumba and mambo were born in Cuba. All Cuban music was influenced by the music of black settlers who arrived in America during the colonial era. Accordingly, Cha-cha-cha, along with its other relatives, has African roots. Nowadays, the Cha-Cha, like other dances, is back in fashion. Elegant Cha-Cha-Cha with its characteristic rhythm, which seems to be specially created so that a woman can demonstrate her beauty and femininity with special expressiveness. They say about the cha-cha-cha that this is the dance of coquettes, because it is very popular with women who are characterized by provocative behavior or light flirting. Cha-cha-cha is a real example of the dance of seduction. In fact, the Cha-cha-cha movements allow a woman to openly demonstrate her charm and figure, since the dance itself is characterized primarily by expressive movements of the hips. The woman proudly walks in front of the gentleman, as if trying to conquer not only him, but also to become desirable to the entire male audience.
Posadoble. If the partner dominates in cha-cha-cha and rumba, then posadoble is a typical male dance. The partner is a bullfighter, the partner, following him, personifies his cloak or bull. Posadoble is a catchy and expressively emotional dance.
Sambu often called the "South American waltz", its rhythms are very popular and can easily be modified to form new dances.
Jive It is very different in character and technique from other Latin American dances; it is very fast and requires a lot of energy.
The fiery temperament of Latin American dances has already captivated many people, turning them into loyal fans of this style. You cannot remain indifferent while watching the passionate and energetic movements of professional dancers, mentally trying on this role. The great popularity of the trend has led to the active opening of more and more new schools, inviting future students to their lessons and vibrant club parties.
However, Latin American dances include a huge variety of types, among which you can easily get confused. One studio invites you to take sensual rumba lessons, another offers interesting discounts on bachata or merengue. What to choose and how does one dance differ from another?
Main types of Latin American dances
All dances of this direction can be divided into two groups: classical and club dancing. The first group includes paso doble, cha-cha-cha, samba, jive and rumba. Schools offer them to learn ballroom dancing, allowing you to further demonstrate your skills in various competitions. The number of dances in the second group is much larger; these include mambo, salsa, bachata, merengue and others. Knowledge of any of these dances will easily make a dancer the star of any Latin party.
Ballroom Latin American dancing
- Samba - the name describes dances of Brazilian origin, including those performed on famous carnivals. However, the latter are not very similar to traditional ballroom samba, which emphasizes technicality. Rhythmic and vibrant, samba was born as a result of the fusion of Portuguese, Spanish and African dances.
- The Cha-Cha-Cha is an incredibly playful and flirtatious dance that originated a couple of centuries ago in Cuba and has African roots. It has a very distinctive rhythm - slow, slow, fast, fast, slow - which looks very elegant and unusual on the dance floor.
- Rumba is a world-famous love dance, a distant relative of tango. In it, the partner follows the partner in an effort to touch her thighs, while the lady tries to prevent this. Thus, Latin American dance turns into an exciting and passionate game between the couple.
- Jive - this dance can easily be called the fastest and most energetic dance among the entire Latin American program. The main figures of modern jive include fast, syncopated highway, complemented by movements from rock and roll.
- Paso Doble – spanish dance, imitating a traditional bullfight for the country. In it, the partner acts as a bullfighter, and his partner portrays a bright red cape. TO characteristic features dance refers to the position of the body with lowered shoulders and raised chest with a rigid fixation of the head.
Club Latin dances
- Salsa is traditionally considered the queen of club Latin American dances. It can be found in almost every dance studio, which offers Latin lessons. The main features of the dance include a characteristic step performed to four percussion rhythms.
- Merengue – energetic and bright dance, using great amount decorations and figures, including rotation of the body, circular movements of the hips and movements of the shoulders at a fast pace. The dance is performed by partners embracing each other, which gives it a special sexuality.
- Mambo is a dance of Cuban origin that became popular in the middle of the last century. It is danced solo, in pairs and even in whole groups.
- Bachata is one of the most romantic dances of club Latin, which includes elements of North American and European dance styles.
Latin American dances is a collection of different dance styles combined into one direction, which is in constant development, allowing you to master as much as possible modern technology execution various types dancing. Millions of fans of Latin American dances gather in clubs and discos to enjoy a relaxed and relaxed state.
Reggaeton- this is dance business card Puerto Rico and Latin America, addressed to the world's youth. Reggaeton is considered one of the sexiest dances in the world. What else can you dance, imitating “doggy-style”?
On the dance floors of reggaeton, it is not traditional morality that prevails, but the universal desire for pleasure, therefore, mastering it, you don’t have to worry about partners: you will certainly find them. However, reggaeton is also suitable for demonstrating individual skills, especially the mastery of isolations and hip movements.
The dance vocabulary of reggaeton is based on the movements of reggae, bachata and hip-hop. Possessing an open character, reggaeton perfectly absorbs elements of strip Latin, strip plastics and individual author's techniques. As a rule, this dance is danced to reggaeton - a mix of Jamaican reggae, dancehall and American hip-hop (Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Ivy Queen). However, although it is reggaeton and its unique bit Dem Bow allows you to feel all the nuances of performing the style; you can organically dance reggaeton to Latin hip-hop (Big Pun, Fat Joe, Akwid) and even to the American mainstream ( Lil Jon, 50 Cent, Usher’ and Snoop Dogg).
Hot, frank and provocative reggaeton is an excellent choice for those who strive not for isolation from other dancers, but for intimacy and want to receive pleasure in dancing, bordering on the pleasures of sexual play.
Salsa
The name of the most popular dance in the USA and Europe, Salsa, translated from Spanish means “sauce”. After all, without this additive we would not love these hot Latin American rhythms, fiery songs, Latin films and bright outfits so much! Vamos a bailar!
Salsa is a mixture of different musical genres and dance traditions from different countries of Central and Latin America. Therefore, its rhythms and figures combine all the flavor of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico and Cuba, which is considered the birthplace of salsa. It was there, at the beginning of the 20th century, that these melodies were born.
New York South Americans - Puerto Ricans, Panamanians, Cubans, Colombians - mixed salsa with jazz and blues rhythms. A new genre called " Salsa Metro", in the 70s, was "exported" from New York and spread across the planet with wild success, becoming the most popular dance of Latin American origin.
This type of dance is intended for those who want to learn how to move beautifully to Latin American music, have perfect control of their body, improvise and fantasize, and gain powerful positive charge, pleasure from yourself and others.
The dance itself is closely related to African American ethnic culture, so popular today. Only in the Latin interpretation, to the hard, abrupt blows of African tambours, melody and lyricism are added, with a certain shade of nostalgic notes, which are so in tune with the Russian character. However, it must be said that together with Russia, the whole world has tasted Latin dances. More and more perky songs in the “a la Latin” style are appearing on world stages, and every self-respecting crooner considers it his duty to make at least one thing in this style. An example of this is such world stage stars as Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and others.
Mambo
Mambo born in Cuba. Sensual and groovy Mambo conquered the whole world with its simplicity of execution and the fact that it can be danced alone, in pairs or in a whole group. Widely known Mambo I also found it thanks to cinema. Among the famous films, several should be named in which this dance is used as a means of seduction. These are famous and have become classic paintings "Mambo" (1954), "Mambo Kings" with Antonio Banderas and Armand Assante and, of course, " Dirty dancing"starring the incomparable Patrick Swayze. It was after this film that popularity Mambo in dance schools began to grow. And today, millions of people around the world take lessons in this incredibly beautiful, fiery and sensual dance.
Rumba / Rumba
Rumba“This is the apotheosis of tango,” sings Paolo Conte. And he's right, because Tango, And Rumba originated from habanera. This Cuban dance with Spanish roots gave birth to two very different sisters, one with light skin, the other with dark skin. In Argentina she amazingly reborn into the sensual Argentine tango. In Cuba, the habanera was filled with sensual and full of vitality choreography - and Rumba, a more African dance in its essence, emerged.
Cha-cha-cha / Cha-cha-cha
Cha-cha-cha often called the “dance of coquettes”, because it is very popular with women who are characterized by provocative behavior or light flirting. Cha-cha-cha- a real dance of seduction. In fact, the movements Cha-cha-cha allow a woman to openly demonstrate her charm and figure advantages, since the dance itself is characterized, first of all, by expressive movements of the hips. Unlike other dances, in which the proximity of partners seems to allow flirting, Cha-cha-cha provides a woman with the opportunity to flirt: she proudly walks in front of her gentleman, as if trying to conquer not only him, but also to become desirable to the entire male audience.
Bachata, merengue / Bachata, merenge
Bachata And merengue - two rhythms that originated in the Dominican Republic have many similarities and just as many differences. Both genres have folk origin, both were not easy to achieve public recognition and both went beyond the confines of their small island homeland. But, unlike the energetic and carefree merengue, which could not be more suitable for happy parties, bachata created for a slightly different pastime. It is not for nothing that it received the name “música de amargue” - the music of bitterness. Its tempo is much slower, and the lyrics talk about suffering unrequited love.
Choreography Bachata simple and straightforward - four steps from side to side or back and forth with an emphasis on the latter, at this moment the leg is extended slightly forward and placed on the toe or heel. Partners dance at a very close distance from each other, also making light circular movements with their hands clasped. The main goal in dance bachata- close contact with a partner, so there are very few turns, but side passages and “throwing” the lady from side to side are often used.
The traditional set of instruments for performing merengue includes a barrel - a double-sided drum specific shape called Tambora, alto saxophone, diatonic accordion And Guira, a cylindrical instrument made of metal that is scraped with a stick.
Bachata - charming musical form, reminiscent of the Cuban dream, has long been part of Everyday life Dominicans, but only recently began to be perceived as important and unique cultural feature. Despite the fact that the ensembles performing bachata , regularly included in their repertoire merengue , the instrumentation in bachata is different. The guitar or requito is the most prominent instrument in bachata like an accordion in merengue. Thanks to advanced technology plucking strings and high timbre of the guitar bachata recognized instantly. At Latin American club parties, it is customary not to differentiate between dances. People simply immerse themselves in the atmosphere of fiery Latin rhythms, dance and have fun. You may know a few movements, but every time, with a different partner, something unique, inimitable, with its own emotions and passions will be born to a new melody. And this is precisely where the fascinating Bachata.
The main task is to catch all the movements of the partner and literally become one with him. Like all Latin dances, bachata very useful for female figure . In just a month of regular exercise, your figure will acquire seductive shape. And bachata also has a unique effect on gait - it becomes surprisingly feminine!
Merengue / Merengue
Today, Merengue is one of the most popular Latin American dances. If you can walk, then you can dance Merengue! It does not require space; you can dance it on any free space.
Merengue originated on the island of Hispaniola, discovered by Columbus in the 15th century. This island was a kind of starting point for the entire Spanish-American empire, which spread over most of Central and Latin America. Over the centuries, Native American tribes and Spanish colonists were joined by powerful streams of African slaves.
Some believe that the origin of the characteristic Merengue Pa comes from the movements made by slaves on sugar cane plantations. Their legs were chained at the ankles, so when they danced in order to forget for a moment, they could mostly only move their hips, transferring their body weight from one leg to the other.
Former slaves of cotton plantations, having received their freedom, danced and rejoiced at their fate. Imitating walking in shackles, they laughed and embraced while dancing, thereby emphasizing main idea- freedom is the happiness of all people.
There are other versions, but be that as it may, at the beginning of the 19th century, Merengue was already danced in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. And unlike other Antillean dances, the success of the Merengue can be explained by the fact that the partners move while hugging, which gives the dance a special intimacy that makes it possible for more open courtship.
Club Latin dances are easy to learn. The main thing is to completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Latin American rhythms, and openly express your emotions and feelings. Club Latin is attractive because when performing it there is complete freedom. At any party you will be simply irresistible!
Having firmly decided to expand the range of their skills with the help of fiery ones, many enthusiasts begin to simply study advertisements for the recruitment of relevant interest groups. And there the first problems begin, because not everything is so simple, and the category of these same dances includes a dozen different types. Therefore, it is worth first deciding on the main names and what distinguishes, for example, Paso Doble from Rumba.
What are they?
First of all, we need to list all the types of Latin American dances that are always popular today, these include:
- Mambo;
Test the bull's patience
It is interesting that the Paso Doble is nothing more than the Spanish dance of a heroic bullfighter in front of an angry bull, and the notorious red rag in in this case personifies the partner. Although there is no killing animal here, you must steadfastly keep your chest high, your shoulders low, and your head fixed. Jive, in turn, is the most energetic and fast of the ballroom cohort. It originated in the southeastern United States and has a certain connection with classic rock and roll, from where it even took a number of movements at one time. During Latin American dance competitions, the Jive usually comes last, being the traditional culmination of the program.
