Afrolatin Social Dances

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul” ― Martha Graham

Social Dance

Social dance is dance which is recreational and usually performed with a partner and in groups or as a community activity for fun and enjoyment. Sometimes it does not require a partner but simply a number of people in a group.Many social dances are couple dances and the main thing is that people should mix and regularly change partners. Social dances have the power to unite people from different backgrounds in a common interest, and make them share the joy, passion and challenge of overcoming.Many of the dances mentioned below are just an example of the many existing ones. Learning to dance is a challenge, but with immense gratification and joy. These dances are currently known and danced worldwide. As such it is very easy to be able to share this passion with anyone anywhere in the world. Completely breaking linguistic or geographical barriers. In the information below, you can learn a little more about each of these dances. I hope I can create the enthusiasm and curiosity needed to embrace this challenge. Shall we dance?

Salsa

Salsa is one of the most dynamic and important musical phenomena of the 1900’s. In many Hispanic communities, it remains today the most popular style of dance music. Salsa represents a mix of Latin musical genres, but its primary component is Cuban dance music. The roots of salsa originated in Eastern Cuba (Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo) from the Cuban Son (about 1920) and Afro-Cuban dance (like Afro-Cuban rumba). There, Spanish and Afro-Cuban musical elements were combined, both in terms of rhythm and the instruments used. By mid-century, this music came to Havana where foreign influences were absorbed, particularly American jazz and popular music heard on the radio.By the end of the l950s, many Cuban and Puerto Rican people including musicians had settled in the U.S., especially in New York. This created the environment where salsa music completed its development. “El Barrio” (Spanish Harlem) was the main place where this occurred. Many bands were formed; immigrants continued to make Afro-Caribbean music, but they adapted the sound to their new world. They were influenced especially by American jazz. Gradually in the 50s and 60s, salsa as we know it today was emerging.There are several ways to dance salsa, depending on the music and the geographical location. But some examples are: New York, Los Angeles, Salsa, Timba, Casino, Casino Rueda and Colombian. If you want to know more, you can access this link.

Bachata

Bachata is a style of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic. It is danced widely all over the world but not identically. The basics to the dance are three-step with a Cuban hip motion, followed by a tap including a hip movement on the 4th beat. The knees should be slightly bent so the performer can sway the hips easier. The movement of the hips is very important because it’s a part of the soul of the dance. Generally, most of the dancer’s movement is in the lower body up to the hips, and the upper body moves much less. In partnering, the lead can decide whether to perform in open or closed position. Dance moves, or step variety, during performance strongly depends on the music (such as the rhythms played by the different instruments), setting, mood, and interpretation.The earliest bachata originated in the countryside in Dominican Republic in the first half of the 20th century. Jose Manuel Calderon recorded the first Bachata song, “Borracho de amor” in 1962. The genre mixed the pan-Latin American style called bolero with more African elements coming from Son, and the troubadour singing tradition common in Latin America. During much of its history, Bachata music was disregarded by Dominican elite and associated with rural underdevelopment and crime. As recently as the 1980s, bachata was considered too vulgar, crude and musically rustic to be broadcast on television or radio in the Dominican Republic. In the 1990s, however, bachata’s instrumentation changed from nylon string Spanish guitar and maracas of Traditional Bachata to the electric steel string and guira of Modern Bachata. Bachata further transformed in the 21st century with the creation of Urban Bachata styles by bands such as Monchy y Alexandra and Aventura. These new modern styles of bachata become an international phenomenon, and today bachata is one of the most popular styles of Latin music, even overtaking salsa and merengue in many Latin American dance halls.There are several ways to dance Bachata, depending on the music and the geographical location. But some examples are: Dominican, Traditional, Moderna,UrnamBachata, Bachatango and Bachata sensual. If you want to know more, you can access this link.

Kizomba

Kizomba is a dance and music that was created in Angola in early 1980s.It is also performed in other lusophone African countries, in Europe and in USA. Kizomba is the result of an evolution. It describes both, a music style and a dance style. Kizomba is an Angolan word which means “party” in the Kimbundu language. Kimbundu is one of the most widely spoken languages in Angola within the ethnic group called Bantu. The Angolan expression Kizombadas in the 50’s referred to a big party, but there was no link with the dance nor with the music as we know it today.Kizomba was influenced by traditional Semba and Zouk.On this basis, Kizomba music emerged as a more modern music genre with a sensual touch mixed with African rhythm. Unlike Semba, Kizomba music is characterised by a slower and usually very romantic rhythm. Given that Angola is a former Portuguese colony, Portuguese is the principal language spoken in Angola and thus, also most Kizomba songs are sung in Portuguese. Kizomba is a dance characterized by close partner connection and smooth, grounded movement. The movement with the music is the priority, and steps are incorporated according to the range of your vocabulary. Kizomba is a close dance but is only as romantic or sexual as you and your partner choose to make it. As with any social dance, courtesy and respect are basic expectations, so there’s no need to feel intimidated by the social floor! If you want to know more, you can access this link.