Christopher Moreno
Mrs. Saud
Dance Class
3 May 2014
Latin Dancing
Latin dances hail from several different countries in South and Central America, and most have influences that range far beyond this region. Some dances are easier to learn than others, but all Latin dances have a flair that both spectators and dancers alike adore. The Latin music we hear today has its origins in Cuba where the blending of African drum rhythms and Spanish guitar evolved into a variety of Latin American music. During the war in Cuba in 1898 US Soldiers got a taste for Cuban music. Later, during Prohibition in the USA, Americans went to Cuba where drinking alcohol was legal and they became infected with the Latin rhythms. As early as 1909 radio recordings came out of Cuba. In 1932 American Radio came to Cuba to record Orquesta Anacoana. This amazing all-female orquesta consisted of 10 sisters. They were the first females in Cuba to openly play percussion, horns and other instruments. Locked in the house for days at a time during the war, they had nothing to do but practice. This group evolved into one of Cuba's leading orchestras and one of the first to get top billing in New York. To find the roots of Cuban music it dates back to West Africa where the slave trade thrived. The Yoruba, Congo and other West African people created rhythms in ancient times to call forth various gods. Sadly, these wonderful rhythms were brought over to the New World under dire circumstances. One drummer named Ijibwa was taken captive and placed on a slave ship for America. He was forced to play on deck to keep up the spirits of the prisoners so that the "merchandise" would arrive alive.
Salsa dancing is a great way to get in shape. It's also a great way to build c...
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...is a three-beat step moving forward and then backward while shifting weight from one foot to the other. One member of a dancing pair performs the backward motion while the other moves forward. What really gives the Mambo its style though is the hip-swaying action that the weight shift creates. Although the Mambo is a couple's dance, the basic step has appeared in everything from line dancing to aerobics videos, where individual dancers perform the three-beat step either alone or as part of a group.
The Cha Cha Cha, also called the Cha Cha, is a Cuban-born dance, similar to the Mambo in style. However, after the basic movement of stepping forward or backward and shifting weight between feet, the Cha Cha Cha adds a quick set of three steps. This gives the dance its name since many dancers count out these steps as "cha cha cha."
As stated earlier, there is no one creator of salsa, but the genre includes traditional elements of its cultural influences. Additionally, different cultures will play salsa in a particular way that is unique to their country: “. . . each African nation re-traditionalised the salsa sound along its own ethnic lines” (Román-Velasquez: 218). Despite these traditional elements, salsa can also be marketed as popular music. For example, there is a large market for salsa and Latin music in Europe (Román-Velasquez: 216). The music is also used to promote Latin themed businesses: “. . . salsa music has become popular along with Latin food and themed bars and there has been a growth of commercially run clubs, bars and restaurants” (Román-Velasquez: 217). The popularity and party culture associated with salsa, streaming from clubs and dancing, allowed promoters to easily commercialize the
A club known as the Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers possibly began this trend in 1935 when they formed their group of 12 dancers (Swingin’). This group of dancers began, and performed the majority of their lifetime as a group in the Savoy Ballroom. They created the Lindy Hop quite simply, using movements from the Charleston as well as basic tap movements. And because of their dance, they had the opportunity to perform both on Broadway, and even in some movies. First, two partners would dance around together in various ways. Then, the man would complete a series of lifts with the girl, usually ending with them apart. Finally, a section of solo footwork would occur to bring the couple back
Irish Step Dance is a percussive style of dance that comes from traditional Irish dance. It has fast paced intricate foot work with a ridged upper body. Riverdance is a performance of Irish Step Dancing that really got Irish Step Dancing recognized by the world.
All around the world, there are thousands of cultures. Although they are different, every culture partakes in dance. Dancing is something known worldwide. Every culture has traditional cultural dancing they partake in. Mexico has many cultural dances. La danza del venado is one traditional dance from Northern Mexico. La danza del venado, is known as the deer dance.
This dance they get into nature by way of rhythm and it can make your body
Morales, Ed. The Latin Beat: The Rhythms and Roots of Latin Music from Bossa Nova to Salsa and Beyond. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo, 2003. Print.
The origin of Mexican Folklorico dances originate from Mesoamerican days when the Mayas and the Aztecs
The Latin Americans never wanted to be left in this music development. The Latin Americans had their own music, Jazz (Gordon, 2005). They wanted to influence in the development of the music. Soon, Salsa was born out if mixture from the Jazz music and Mambo. Salsa took the bodily movements and the Cuban beats as a contribution from the Caribbean culture. The Latin America contributed the wording of Salsa music. Diversity necessitated the growth of Salsa as Mambo had been viewed with suspicion as it was linked to ghetto status hence it was
Bachata originated from the Dominican Republic in the early 20th century. During dictator Trujillo’s rule, Merengue was the official music to the nation. Because many Dominicans did not accept their African roots, their dances and rhythms were oppressed. Bachata, with its African influences, was considered crude and lower class, only played by campesinos- peasants. It was only popular in the rural parts of the Dominican Republic. However beginning in the early 60s, bachata was steady becoming tolerated, and eventually loved. (Pacini)
They do this in a group, making the movements more intimidating and sinister with a mystical twist, they’re movements are in a ballone style. Once again like a traditional romantic ballet. The ballone style is lighter and highlights the supernatural quality. However, although the majority of their choreography is in the style, they also have a heavy dynamic to their movements, they dance with heavy shoulders and heads, that appear to be kind of just placed on the body and not particularly choreographed, just allowed to be flung freely in whatever direction the body takes
According to his review of A Guide to Latin American Music by Gilbert Chase, Charles Seeger describes Chase’s description of the music culture, “The quantitative distribution of more than 2700 entries, which include some multiple listing, is interesting” (Seeger, 1946, 304). Chase explains a plethora of countries in Latin America and their specific musical features. Furthermore, thanks to his detailed work, the reader can see how many common features can be seen. Firstly, a common feature among all genres is the use of aerophones. The aerophones used could include, panpipes of various varieties, flutes, trumpets (as seen at the Boogat performance in Ottawa) and many more. Another common feature among all the genres is a strong rhythmic presence. In essentially all Latin American music, a steady, metrical rhythmic quality can be heard keeping the music energetic and easy to follow. To keep the rhythm, another common feature to Latin American culture is the drum. Most commonly found in the Afro-Latin genre, as a result of influence from African culture, can be seen throughout Latin America. A popularized western form of this type of music, is that of mariachi. Finally, Latin American culture is known for its vibrancy in their music. The music is generally quite expressive of feelings, strong moral messages found in protest songs, and their colorful, elaborate
You need to be relatively fit in order to perform the dance to the best of your ability.
Even though dance first originated back in the 20th century when dancer Isadora Duncan broke away from the strict rules of ballet to create her own more natural form of dance. Through time and experimentation, many genres of dance has surfaced - whether from oppression or for theatrical purposes, each one has captured the eyes of it 's audience. From flashy, sequined clothes to light and flowy dresses; each form of dance has it 's own representation. As well as representation, each genre of dance has powerful emotion in it. These popular forms of dance can be classified into three categories: the pounding and rhythmic beats of Hip-hop, the powerful meanings of modern dance, and the wonderful elegance of ballet, the most thought-out.Everyone has watched in amazement as their high school dance
Music in the Caribbean was first developed by the Neo Indians around 1600 the Neo Indians died taken their culture and music. Music then reemerged when the African slaves came to the Caribbean. The type of music the Africans brought was both lively and entertaining. The slaves found a rhythm in everything they did from cutting cane to taking care of the homes of the planter class. They sang to keep their spirits up, because they were taken way from family back in Africa and the harsh working and living conditions affecting them.
The style of dance normally depends on the genre of music. Many of the hip hop dances have a song that go with them. For many years, this has been a trend. In the 80’s to 2000’s we had; Da butt, Humpty dance, Hammer dance, Butterfly, Tootsie roll, walk it out, Backhead bounce, Jerk, Harlem shake, Pop lock and drop it, and Stanky leg just to name a few. Those were dances being displayed while attendees listened to the green DJ. Today’s hip hop is similar to 80’s -2000’s dance styles. The songs of today are still collaborate with the dance moves. During the hush party, the partygoers were doing the Dougie, Swag surfin, Nae Nae, Bop, Flick of da wrist, and The Dab. I have learned all these dances old and new. Outside of local hip hop clubs, hip hop dance studios, you can see hip hop dance performed on reality tv. Many viewers from all over the world tune in to, hip hop routines televised; Dancing with the stars, So you think you can dance, Dance world, and America’s best dance crew. Hip hop has become a mainstream form of