Traditional Dances in Latin America

Dancing is a good way to stay close to your roots. It's an important part of our Hispanic/Latino heritage. Our ancestors celebrated special occasions, festivals, and holidays with traditional dances and music. Most traditional Hispanic dances were influenced by African and European rhythms and melodies. Dances are a blend of culture and tradition. Ask your parents or grandparents about who in the family would know traditional dances they grew up with. Can they teach you? Discover the joy of dancing!

Cueca is the national dance of Bolivia and Chile. It is a very expressive and playful dance in which a man tries to a get a woman's attention. Each person holds a handkerchief in the right hand and waves it around and around! It's a lot of fun to dance cueca with a group of people.

Cumbia is a traditional dance from Colombia. It combines African rhythms and Hispanic melodies. The women wear long and brightly colored skirts. Men wear no shirts, a sombrero, a machete to the side, a red scarf, and a pair of white pants. Today there are many ways to dance cumbia.

Flamenco is a traditional Spanish folk dance. It was born in Southern Spain and combines guitar, song, and dance. The Arabs and Indians contributed to the making of the modern day dance. It's a very beautiful but complicated dance to learn.

Mambo has its origins in Cuba. This dance is a fun combination of swing and Cuban music. It also has some African, Cuban, jazz, hip-hop, and ballet influences. Mambo became very popular here in the United States in the 1950's in New York and Miami.

Rumba comes from Cuba and is influenced by African rhythms. It became popular in the United States in the 1930's. The basic step is quick-quick-slow, quick-quick-slow and is danced in 4/4 time. This is a good dance for beginning dancers because it is danced slowly.

Samba was born in Brazil. It's danced during the street festivals and celebrations such as Carnaval! There are many versions of the Samba.

Tango is one of the most complicated dances. It has its origins in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Like many other traditional dances, tango is influenced by African rhythms. There are many styles of tango: Argentinean, French, Gaucho, and International.

(www.soyunica.gov/mybody/movement/traddance.aspx

Traditional Indian Dance – The Spiritual Art of India

Indian dance cannot be isolated from the art of literature, painting sculpture and music. Indian dance has a unique combination of myths and legend because the art occupied and important place in the society and religion of the people of India.

Art is collaboration between God and Man. This story of art has been largely the story of man’s continuing search of shape, movement and image that can express his experience of the inner and outer world. Such a man had always been a great thinker.

In ancient India, fine arts of dance, painting and sculpture were developed and inspired by religion. Indian art is life, religion and philosophy. Indian art of all the periods has been close to life both divine and traditional.

The theory of Indian dance cannot be isolated from the arts of literature, sculpture, painting and music. Human nature with its joy and sorrow is depicted by dance.

(www.experiencefestival.com/traditional_indian_dance)