Popular dances in Latin style.

Salsa– means “sauce” in Spanish – it 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 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. The new genre was 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 of Latin American 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. This mixture of ethnic groups, traditions and cultures has contributed to the emergence of a variety of dances and music, of which merengue is undoubtedly 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 the 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 delightful, highly colorful and flexible dance includes a unique movement that imitates 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 execution and the fact that it can be danced alone, in pairs or in a whole group. Mambo gained wide popularity thanks to cinema. Among the famous films, several that use this dance as a means of seduction include “Mambo” (1954), “The Mambo Kings” with Antonio Banderas and Armand Assante and, famously, “Dirty Dancing” with Patrick Swayze in the title role. After the release of this film, the popularity of Mambo in 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 light skin, the other with dark skin. 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 hip movements and a charming 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 era of colonization. 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 in cha-cha-cha and rumba the partner dominates, 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.

Samba 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.

In recent years, a huge number of dance studios and fitness clubs have appeared in Russia, where the line “Latin American dances” can be found in the range of services. They enjoy enormous popularity and love among the people, both in their homeland and in all countries of the world. It is impossible not to love Latin American dances - beautiful, passionate, fiery - more and more hearts are being conquered in the world.

Where did Latin American dances come from? What are the basic dance principles and types? Is dancing good for a woman’s health, and if so, why exactly?

The benefits of Latin American dances

Combining business with pleasure is exactly what Latin American dancing is all about. They have been proven to have a positive effect on a person’s overall health and well-being:

• First of all, dance will be useful for both men and women. It has no contraindications, since the dancer is not subjected to sudden stress.
• Promotes good coordination of movements - as evidence, it is worth looking at the activity and flexibility of the dancers, with what skill they perform many of their steps.
• Maintains excellent posture and corrects gait - it is important for every person to be able to “carry” himself. Dance is the best assistant in developing this skill.

• Helps improve the respiratory system.
• It has been proven that if you practice regularly, dance helps get rid of colds and bronchitis. Helps relieve asthma attacks.
• Dancing promotes a more positive attitude. How often can you see a dancer in a bad mood?
• Useful for maintaining overall performance levels.
• During dancing, calories are burned, so for those who want to lose excess weight, head to the dance floor!

Gallileo. Latin American dances

Samba: fiery dance

Samba dance is a combination of dance cultures of African and American peoples, which was brought to Brazilian soil in the 16th century. It was designed to relax the population after a hard day at work; they danced it barefoot. It is interesting that samba enjoyed great love among the poor, while the aristocratic part of society treated this type of Latin American dance with contempt, considering it obscene and vulgar. It is for this reason that for a long time it was not customary to dance it in decent establishments. Attitudes towards samba changed after the dancers performed in public, making the movements less explicit. Since then, the dance began to conquer the hearts of people and became one of the most popular.

Today, samba is considered one of the most popular dances at the Brazilian carnival. Many dance schools compete to be the best. The birthplace of the dance, Rio De Janeiro, is considered the world center of samba.

Samba

Types of samba

Today sambo has a number of directions:

• Samba nu pe is a type of samba that is performed while the carnival van is moving by solo dancers, that is, without a partner.
• Samba de Gafieira is a pair dance that uses acrobatic elements, elements of rock and roll, and Argentine tango.
• Pagode is a samba performed by a couple in very close contact with each other. Acrobatic elements are not used.
• Samba ashe - can be performed either solo or in a large group. Combines elements of samba and aerobics.
• Samba de roda is considered the founder of urban samba. Traditionally, men form a circle and accompany them on musical instruments, and one, maximum two women perform samba in this circle.

Samba. Learn to dance

Salsa: a story of love and freedom

Salsa is a native Cuban dance that promotes the ideas of love, freedom, passion, emancipation and flirtation.

The word “salsa” itself means “sauce” in many languages. According to one version, a Cuban group of dancers and dancers once performed in a Miami club. They managed to ignite the audience so much that people began to chant “salsa!”, which meant that the dance had a “peppercorn” - as spicy as the sauce that seasoned the main dishes of the establishment.

Today salsa is called a sport; it is interesting that this dance is characterized by frequent changes of partners. This allows you to gain new knowledge and consider dance as a means of communication and transfer of dance experience.

Thus, salsa can be performed in any club in the world, using the universal language of communication - dance.

The partner is characterized by frequent alardes movements - reminiscent of combing and stroking hair. The professionalism of a partner depends not so much on the clarity of the movement of the legs, but on the ability to move naturally, with relaxed arms. It is believed that Latin American dancers can move best this way. The main role is played by the leading partner, while extremely modest demands are placed on the follower.

Salsa

Meringue: dance of flirtation and improvisation

Merengue is native to the Dominican Republic. Very quickly this dance became popular throughout the Latin American region.

Merengue can be performed solo, in pairs, or even in a group. It is filled with all kinds of movements with an emphasis on eroticism, movements of the hips and shoulders at a fairly fast pace.

Merengue originally emerged as a musical movement. When and for what reason exactly this happened, dance historians do not agree: either it was first composed by one of the Dominican composers, or the music was first heard after the military battle of Talanquera, which the Dominicans solemnly won, or the dance came from the shores of Puerto Rico.

So the dance began to spread and gain popularity due to its simplicity and ease, displacing some traditional dances.

Then merengue developed in two versions:

• Salon merengue is a pair dance in which the couple, almost never separating, makes rhythmic movements to the left and to the right;
• Figured merengue is a pair dance in which the couple, almost without separating, makes figure combinations with their bodies.

Meringue

Bachata: dance of unrequited love

Bachata is considered a dance that tells the story of unrequited love. The birthplace of this Latin American dance is the Dominican Republic.

Bachata is extremely multifaceted, it is difficult to distinguish it into any type, however, bachata can be:

• Colombian bachata - never allows simplification of steps, characterized by a clear movement of the hip on the fourth count
• Dominican bachata is characterized by a lighter foot technique, sometimes reaching the point where partners take a normal step.

The main purpose of the dance is to get into very close contact with the partners, so there is a lot of movement from side to side with clasped hands.

Bachata

Rumba: dance of love

It is the rumba that is recognized as the pearl of Latin American dances.

Rumba is considered a Cuban dance of African origin. It was originally a wedding dance that featured movements reminiscent of household chores.

The most famous rumba composition can be called the composition “Guantanamera”, authored by Joseito Fernandez.

Today there are two varieties of rumba:

Cuban and American.

What is their difference?

Cuban rumba is used in sports ballroom dancing, and American rumba is used in social dancing, that is, it is danced in a relaxed, non-competitive atmosphere.

Rumba

Cha-cha-cha: dance of seduction

It’s not for nothing that the cha-cha-cha is recognized as the dance of coquettes. The combination of steps seems to be specially created so that a woman can show herself how seductive and sexy she is. A distinctive feature of the dance is the active work of the hips. The dancer openly seduces, flirts and provokes the dancer.

One of the most modern varieties of Latin American dances. It originally came from mambo dancing and was performed in American dance halls in the 1950s. Its main difference from mambo is that cha-cha-cha uses less rhythmic and calmer music.

The famous "cha-cha-cha" is a component of mambo, which separated and became the main element of an independent dance.

In 1951, a dancer named Enrique Joren showed the world his vision of the cha-cha-cha. In his opinion, this dance should be of medium speed, suitable not only for professional dancers, but also easy to learn by the mass public.

After World War II, cha-cha became even more popular than mambo.

Cha-cha-cha

Argentine tango: a dance of madness and passion

It is noteworthy that tango was the first of all types of Latin American dances to become known to Europeans. Argentine tango was born in the poorest areas of Buenos Aires more than a hundred years ago. All sorts of cultures have left their mark on it: African motifs, the German waltz, the Mazurka of the Poles, and flamenco from Spain.

Since its birth, Argentine tango has been considered a dance for men, as it was predominantly performed by the stronger half of humanity. The purpose of the dance is to demonstrate prowess and masculine strength, grace and courage. Sometimes, only a good tango could win the heart of a beautiful woman. Dance has a place for most human emotions - from suffering and sadness to love and admiration.

Like some Latin American dances, Argentine tango has stood the test of time: initially this type of dance was banned due to its vulgarity and obscenity. This did not last long, and already in the 1920s a real boom began, when every more or less famous person had to, one way or another, mention tango in any form.

Today the dance has been standardized as much as possible; there are many required elements for the dance. However, in their homeland, dancers can dance it without any restrictions, as they feel it themselves.

Argentine tango

Conclusion:

Today, Latin American dances are experiencing a “second life” - in many countries around the world, interest in this art is returning with greater force than before. Not surprising, because they are bright, dynamic, passionate, sexy and good for health and maintaining the overall tone of the body.

Latin American dance technique. Learn to dance

Latin American dances

Latin American dances- this is a set of different dance styles, united into one direction, which is in constant development, allowing you to fully master the modern technique of performing various types of dances. Millions of fans of Latin American dances gather in clubs and discos to enjoy a relaxed and relaxed state.

Reggaeton is the dance calling card of Puerto Rico and Latin American countries, 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 Dem Bow beat that 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 receive a powerful positive charge and pleasure from themselves and others.

The dance itself is closely related to the African-American ethnic culture that is 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 pop singer considers it his duty to do 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 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, it miraculously transformed 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 origins, both have not easily achieved public recognition, and both have transcended the confines of their small island homelands. But, unlike the energetic and carefree merengue, which is perfect for fun 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 tell about the suffering of 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 of a specific shape called Tambora, alto saxophone, diatonic accordion And Guira, a cylindrical instrument made of metal that is scraped with a stick.

Bachata - The charming musical form, reminiscent of the Cuban dream, has long been a part of everyday life for Dominicans, but has only recently come to be perceived as an 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 the developed technique of plucking the strings and the 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 the 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 hugged while dancing, thereby emphasizing the 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!

Latin American (Antillean) dances, or simply latina, took shape as a separate type of ballroom program in the mid-19th century. They owe their widespread popularity to free North America, in which cultures, including dance, of several races were intricately mixed. Thus, the Spanish folk dance, elements of which were performed by bullfighters during a bullfight, became known throughout the world as the paso doble. Samba was brought to Brazil, and then to Europe, African slaves, rumba and cha-cha-cha in Cuba and Haiti.

The traditional ballroom dancing program, adopted by the Ballroom Sports Federation, has included five dances in the Latin American section since 1930. These are jive, samba, rumba, cha-cha-cha and paso doble. All of them are performed in pairs, and the peculiarity of Latin, unlike European dances, is that during the performance the partners can either separate contact or press very closely together. All Latin American dances are rhythmic and emotional, and some of them are particularly sensual.

As a rule, at competitions and festivals, Latin dancers perform in bright, tight outfits with a lot of sparkles. For ladies, a short skirt and a maximally open back are allowed, for a partner - a tight-fitting suit.

Not only professionals dance Latin American dances. The so-called “club” Latin has long become one of the most popular areas of mass dance, both in Latin America and in the USA, Europe and Russia. Salsa and bachata, merengue and mambo - these dances do not require honed skills; it is more important to open up completely, turning movements into a meaningful story and passion. It is no coincidence that the same thing is called, half-jokingly and half-seriously, “sex on the parquet.”

For many years, the film “Dirty Dancing” with Patrick Swayze has been a cult favorite for all Latin dancers, where the most popular amateur dances are shown in all their glory.

Sources:

• Latin: everyone dances!

Tip 2: What branches are modern Latin American dances divided into?

Each Latin American country has several dances of its own. However, they have many common features - they all appeared on the same continent, becoming a kind of fusion of several cultures - Spanish, Indian and African. They were originally considered dances for the poor and were performed at parties and folk festivals. It was not until 1930 that Latin American dances began to spread to the United States and Europe. But since then they have enjoyed constant popularity.

Instructions

Samba is a rhythmic, fiery dance of passion. It appeared in Brazil, the result of the fusion of African dances with Spanish and Portuguese.

Rumba and cha-cha-cha are dances that originated in Cuba. Rumba is a beautiful dance of love, which is considered the main one in the Latin American program. Cha-cha-cha is a playful “dance of coquettes”, with a typically Cuban sway of the hips.

Paso Doble is a dance of Spanish origin, its plot is a reflection of traditional bullfighting. In this case, the partner plays the role of a fearless bullfighter, and the partner plays his bright red cloak. Many movements are borrowed from the Paso Doble from the famous Spanish flamenco dance.

Jive is a very energetic, fast and fun dance. It is in the southeastern United States in the 19th century; its creators, according to various versions, are considered to be Indians or Africans. He borrowed certain elements of jive from rock and roll.

Salsa is considered the queen of Latin American club dance. It appeared in Cuba at the beginning of the twentieth century. Its name is translated from Spanish as “sauce”. Salsa combines choreographic traditions from different Latin American countries. The dance is somewhat reminiscent of the rumba, but in a slower and more elegant version.