It has been said, that all ballroom dances are "elevated folk dances": Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Pas de Gras, Mazurka, are all folk dances that first crossed over,( after being regulated, sterilized and "civilized" ( to be danced in aristocratic and upper class balls of Europe. Over time,with the development of Dance Sport and with the emergence of new dance styles from swing to rock and roll to Hip Hop and Jumpstyle, "nightclub dancing" and so on, the boundaries between ballroom dance and "social dance" have blurred.
Modern International Ballroom and International Latin Ballroom dances are less restricted and allow more individual interpretation and expression.
In the meantime, especially in Europe, traditional folk dancing has became nearly extinct at "mainstream" dances and parties: with the exception of rural areas, it is more likely to see ballroom and social dancing at weddings, festivals and parties, than traditional folk dancing.
In Latin America, the trend sometimes developed in reverse: most of the Latin dances now danced in the ballrooms, at clubs, and social dancing events were "invented" in Cuba, where African Rhythms, the sounds and movements of Carnival were incorporated with the Spanish Guitars and ballroom dance elements. In fact, most Latin Dance styles known today, Salsa, Cha Cha, Son, Danzon, even Tango have their origins in Cuba.
When the first radio waves in 1909 hit America with the sounds of music played by the first Cuban Big Bands and Orchestras, musicians in the U.S. took note, (literally) and Latin Jazz emerged. With the U.S. soldiers positioned in Cuba getting "infected" with the rhythms and sounds, and, during the prohibition area, Americans partying in large numbers in Cuba, where alcohol was legal, Latin Dance and Music crossed over to the mainland, where it quickly spread to Puerto Rico, Colombia, and eventually, all the way south of the Latin American continent, becoming an integral part of the Latin American Culture.
Simultaneously being incorporated into street and "folk" dancing, while being refined and regulated, Latin Rhythms now are part of the International Latin and Dance Sport divisions and they are completely integrated into Latin Culture. To complete the circle, Latin Dance, ballroom, or "ethnic", crossed back over the oceans again to become a very popular in Europe and in Asia: no matter where you are, chances are you will find a Latin Dance event any weekend anywhere: L.A. Cuban, Miami, Colombian....your choice and it is sometimes a very hard choice too!
The following videos demonstrate the closing and widening of gap between "Ballroom" and "Street" Latin Dance.
Competitors in an International Latin Ballroom Competition dance to Cuban rhythms by Celia Cruz, "Queen of Salsa"
Various couples dance "street salsa" in Cuba
It is like comparing apples with oranges, isn't?
Another excellent example of this migration is Colombian, Cali Style Salsa: originating in Cuba, Salsa was "imported" to Colombia by way of New York by Puerto Ricans, Cali style salsa incorporates acrobatic elements of North American, especially L.A. Style salsa, with the distinctively intricate and super fast footwork. Colombian, and especially Cali Style Salsa (Salsa Calena) has become such an integral part of Colombian culture, that it was recently declared to be "National Cultural Treasure" of Colombia.
In turn, graduates and professional Salsa dancers of Cali Ballets and Academies of Salsa are consistently winning international Salsa competitions world wide and the style is being incorporated more and more into "mainstream" L.A. style and European Style Salsa.
A good example of L.A. Style Salsa: this couple dances still very different;y from the "International Ballroom Style", but it is easy to see the way they incorporate certain elements of Dance Sport acrobatics, and Ballroom into their routine.
In contrast, "pure" Salsa Calena is focused so much on the footwork and styling that there is no partner required at all!
And here is an example of Salsa Calena that seems to be the winning combination at international salsa championships world wide: L.A. Style showmanship and drama, Dance Sport style acrobatics, and the same intricate, intense, highly technical footwork that made Cali famous:
At the end...how can one even begin to compare these styles? What is better? Organic oranges that ripened on the tree, but might not look so perfect on the outside? Or hothouse apples force ripened in a warehouse, beautiful and appealing to the eye but without real "sabor" or taste? Depends where you are, what is the season and what your taste is in fruits, I say.
Many would argue, that when it comes to dance as a sport or performance, there is no such thing as an "unbiased" or "purely objective" judgement, and I agree. Weather watching, learning, judging, or critiquing, everyone experiences dance on a deeply personal, biased and subjective way, and this is great: Dance, let it be ballroom, folk, primitive, or eloquent, moves all of us on an instinctive level, and not only allows us to express emotions, but it is naturally a highly personal and emotional experience.
So, enjoy your oranges, apples, bananas, strawberries, and all the fruits that are available in your area, hothouse or straight off the tree: ITS ALL GOOD FOR YOU! Enjoy!
Noche Calena/Cali Night In Vancouver: A WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN Situation!
Noche Calena/Cali Night in Vancouver, a GOOD Cause to Salsa is fast approaching, and it is not only a WIN-WIN, but a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN Situation for all!
Who WINs?
Victims/Survivors of Hurricane Karl in Mexico: We are accepting donations on line and at the event on behalf of the Mexican Community and organizers of various fundraiser events for this cause.
Who Else Wins? YOU WIN!
Thanks to our sponsors, YOU can win one of the door prizes when participating in the Fifty/Fifty Raffle!
A Gift Basket of Beauty Products Valued at $100.00 as part of the fifty/fifty raffle
A Gift Basket of $50.00 as a gift for trying Mary Kay Products
A FREE mini-make up/touch up provided by a Mary Kay Representative on location
A Gift Certificate for Dinner for Two at Zachary's on Robson
Plus: Get a Complimentary Chef's Appetizer: just mention Noche Calena: A GOOD Cause to Salsa!
A $50.00 Gift Card from Eccotique Spas and Salons
A gift certificate ($80.00 value) valid for one person to take any *beginner level* 6 week course including Salsa Level 1, Bachata Level 1, Cha Cha Cha and Merengue with Ronald Martinez of the Martinez Dance Company.
A $50.00 Dollar Gift Certificate for Latin Dance Lessons with Alberto and Teresa of Hot Salsa Dance Zone
A choice of one full hour of private lesson of golf's short game for beginners on the course (Par 3) including green fee or The Full Swing at the driving range for intermediates including pratice balls donated by Fabio Molina Golf Academy
Complimentary V.I.P. Table for TEN ($100.00 Value)
for our next Noche Calena/Cali Night in Vancouver on
November 12th, 2010.
Participate and you can win
FIFTY PERCENT OF PROCEEDS OF THE FIFTY/FIFTY DRAW!
(with the other fifty percent to go to our Good Causes: The Vancouver Food Bank, and Casita Belen)
We would also like to thank the following sponsors/supporters for getting "the WORD out there":
and SOMOSEVENT Latino Themed Events
Hector Morales of Hectorplus Webdesign
MUNDO FLAMENCO cada Lunes 10:30 AM a 11:00 AM
TANGO ROMANTICO cada Lunes 11:00 AM a 12:00 M
CFRO 102.7 FM Coop Radio
Joaquin Ernesto
Productor/Conductor
TANGO ROMANTICO cada Lunes 11:00 AM a 12:00 M
CFRO 102.7 FM Coop Radio
Joaquin Ernesto
Productor/Conductor
Our circle of Friends and Family in Canada and in Colombia:
We literally could not have done without you and your support!
a Huge Thank You
to all Latin Music and Dance Lovers and Patrons of past, present and future events!
And last, but not least.....
Thank you to our biggest supporter, benefactor, the One who came through when no one else would, whom wishes to remain anonymous, desires no credit, but deserves all, and without whom, this would not be possible!
Eggbeater and Ripped Parrots: Merengue!
Merengue is the Spanish word for meringue, and there are theories that the dance got its name because of the circular, rapid motion of dancers around the dance floor, that resembles an eggbeater making its rounds in a bowl of egg white. Other speculations include the myth that a famous war hero invited to a dance was forced to step this way because of his war injuries, and other dancers followed his example either out of politeness, or because they thought this was the "new" way to dance. Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic, where merengue tipico (typical merengue) is often called perico ripiao, which literally means: ripped parrot, and it is believed that this style, with its often highly sexualized movements originated in a bordello, by the same name. Why would a bordello be called the Ripped Parrot, I don't know, and don't dare to even contemplate.
If Marijuana is the gateway to hard drug addictions, Merengue is the "Weed" of Latin Dances: Most of us who were not born in Latin America were introduced to and got addicted to Latin Dancing by learning Merengue first, perhaps because its simplified version, "one-two, one-two, left-right, left-right" is easy to learn. In fact, I always tell to students, and heard other instructors do the same, that "if you can walk, you can dance merengue". Students eventually learn to twist and turn each other into quite intricate patterns and pretzel like contractions, but for a lot of dancers even at the more advanced level, the foot work and rhythm remains rather uncomplicated.
Like most dances of Latin America, the styles of Merengue danced from region to region, from bario to bario, from one family to the next are diverse, unique and highly personal. There are many "subtipes", either origins or derivatives of Merengue: from the Dominican bottle dance to Merengue Parease, (Parean Merengue) danced in Brazil, to Merengue Ripiao, which is very closely related to Punta and Reggeaton dances. Merengue is very popular in both Latin, Central and North America, in fact, at times Merengue is even more popular than Salsa on the airways.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with sticking to the basics, but for the more adventurous, here is a sample of different merengue music and dance styles:
Haitian Merengue:
Merengue Paerese (Parean Merengue from Brazil)
This video is a tribute to Merengue: Viva El Merengue featuring the best, most well known singers of the genre:
Michael Jackson's Billie Jean Merengue Remix
And Carrie, the Merengue dancing dog!
Here is Dominican Merengue dancing on a bottle:
And here is Perico Ripiao as it is played and danced on a balcony somewhere in the Dominican Republic
If Marijuana is the gateway to hard drug addictions, Merengue is the "Weed" of Latin Dances: Most of us who were not born in Latin America were introduced to and got addicted to Latin Dancing by learning Merengue first, perhaps because its simplified version, "one-two, one-two, left-right, left-right" is easy to learn. In fact, I always tell to students, and heard other instructors do the same, that "if you can walk, you can dance merengue". Students eventually learn to twist and turn each other into quite intricate patterns and pretzel like contractions, but for a lot of dancers even at the more advanced level, the foot work and rhythm remains rather uncomplicated.
Like most dances of Latin America, the styles of Merengue danced from region to region, from bario to bario, from one family to the next are diverse, unique and highly personal. There are many "subtipes", either origins or derivatives of Merengue: from the Dominican bottle dance to Merengue Parease, (Parean Merengue) danced in Brazil, to Merengue Ripiao, which is very closely related to Punta and Reggeaton dances. Merengue is very popular in both Latin, Central and North America, in fact, at times Merengue is even more popular than Salsa on the airways.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with sticking to the basics, but for the more adventurous, here is a sample of different merengue music and dance styles:
Haitian Merengue:
Merengue Paerese (Parean Merengue from Brazil)
This video is a tribute to Merengue: Viva El Merengue featuring the best, most well known singers of the genre:
Michael Jackson's Billie Jean Merengue Remix
And Carrie, the Merengue dancing dog!
Here is Dominican Merengue dancing on a bottle:
And here is Perico Ripiao as it is played and danced on a balcony somewhere in the Dominican Republic
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)