Blog Post 3
Do you know who Robert Duvall is? If not, he is a famous actor known for his portrayals of cowboys and military giants. He can also dance. In the movie Assassination Tango he plays a hired killer who travels to Buenos Aires and becomes interested in a young and beautiful dancer named Manuela and leans how to dance the Argentine Tango.
Also, Bruce Lee could dance. Yes, that Bruce Lee. The one who could kick faster than the camera could capture the shot. In 1958 Bruce Lee won the Hong Kong Cha Cha Championship.
Latin American Dances have had two major influences. The first being the natives and their traditional dances. The other being the European influences brought by the Spaniards and the Portuguese.
Traditional Dances
The traditional dances consist of dances like:
Zamba
Zamba is a traditional dance of Argentina. It is a style of Argentinian music and Argentinian folk dance. Zamba is very different from its homophone, the samba – musically and rhythmically. It is afro-indigenous compared to the Samba, in the steps of the dance and in its costume. It has six beats to the bar and is a majestic dance, performed by couples who circle each other waving white handkerchiefs very elegantly
Cumbia
Cumbia began as a courtship dance practiced among the African population, which was later mixed with Amerindian steps and European and African instruments and musical characteristics. Cumbia is very popular in the Andean region and the Southern Cone, and is for example more popular than the salsa in many parts of these regions.
In the Disney movie Three Caballeros there is a great deal of traditional Latin American folk dances that featured. The movie also had traditional music playing throughout the movie and featured several Latin Stars of the period, like Aurora Miranda who was a very famous Brazilian entertainer.
There are many different countries that make up Latin America and because of that I could go on and on about traditional folk dances and their history and their music. However, I will stick to the more well-known Latin American Dances such as the Samba, Argentina Tango, and Cuban Salsa.
Modern Dances
The well-known Latin American dances are recognizable because of the European influences. These particular dances are considered Ballroom dances. Social Latin dances include salsa, mambo, merengue, tumba, bachata, bomba, plena, and the Argentine tango. There are many dances which were popular in the first part of the 20th century, but which are now of only historical interest. The Cuban danzón is a good example.
Competitions and Championships
The International Latin American Dance Championships were created after the Second World War in England by Elsa Wells, and are now organized by Dance News special events. The current full title is the Elsa Wells International Dance Championships, and includes all categories in Standard and Latin American ballroom dance. The Latin American competition comprises five dances: cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive, conducted in line with British Dance Council (BDC) regulations. Advanced choreography has, however, broken through the traditional limitations of social dancing, and more obviously in the Latin and American dances than in ballroom (Modern or Standard).
The World Dance Council Ltd (WDC), is a registered limited company, and the legal successor to the International Council of Ballroom Dancing, and was established at a meeting organised by P.J.S Richardson on 22 September 1950 in Edinburgh. For a period from 1996 to 2006, the WDC was known as the World Dance & Dance Sport Council Ltd (WD&DSC). The primary objective, at the time of its formation, was to provide an agreed basis for holding world championships in competitive ballroom dance. That objective has been achieved. Initially consisting of nine European countries and three others, today the WDC has become the leading authority on professional dance competitions, with members in numerous countries throughout the world. Each country is allowed one vote. As of 2006 there are 59 members. Its governing body, the Presidium, consists of a President and five Vice-Presidents.
Music and Movies
Latin America has influenced many artists. The artist range from singers to dancers to movie makers.
Have you ever heard of Shakira? She is a Colombian singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer, choreographer, and model. She is also a very large influence on modern music of the United States.
How about Celia Cruz or Gloria Estefan? Both are extremely famous Cuban singers.
How about Mercedes Sosa? She is an Argentinian Opera Singer.
There have been numerous movies made that have Latin American dancing prominently displayed.
Tango
Assassination Tango
Shall We Dance (Japan)
Shall We Dance (America)
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
Cuban Fury
Moulin Rouge
Rent
Scent of a Woman
In the news!
Dancing in Jaffa
In 2013 a renowned ball-room dancer Pierre Dulaine takes his program, Dancing Classrooms, back to his city of birth, Jaffa, to teach Jewish and Palestinian Israelis to dance and compete together.
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