Music+and+Dance



The Music and Dance of Latin America
The music and dance of Latin America has many different styles that originate from the history and origin of the people from that specific country. For example, Mexico is noted for its famous Mariachi music while Puerto Rico is famous for the Salsa and the Dominican Republic is famous for la Bachata. Besides the more traditional and cultural rythyms, there is also more modern sounds that originate from Latin American nations such as Pop en Español and Reggetón.

In Mexico, the famous Mariachi music began in the state of Jalisco in the town of Cocula. Mariachi music is said to be a Spanish version of the theatre orchestras that contained instruments like violins and guitars. While keeping that version, other styles were incorporated into the Mariachi music. These styles were mainly Spanish, Mexican, and African. the traditioanl dance moves of the Mariachi are called zapateados, which is a type of footwork that originated in Spain. This zapateado requires that the dancers dig their heels into the dance floor at certain rhythms.

In Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, la Salsa, and la Bachata are very popular. La Salsa has a rhythym and style that has Afro-Caribbean origins that is blended with a European country-dance style. There are many different styles of la Salsa that range from the New York Style, the style from Puerto Rico, to the style of Los Ángeles. The New York style combines both the Puerto Rican and Cuban styles and has a rather calm and easy rhythm. The Los Ángeles style is a more dramatic way of salsa that is seen a lot in the movies. The Cuban style has the same moves, but is often danced in a circle formation. La Bachata originated in the Dominican Republic and has African rhythms while at the same time combining elements of the Tango, the Cha-Cha-Cha, and el Merengue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PItctp71Gc

Besides the traditional rhythms and national dances from Latin America, there are also more sounds that mix the Caribbean, South American, or Central American feel with traditional pop music. Some of the Artists that are famous for this are Shakira, Juanes, and Fanni Lu. Shakira's sounds represent the mix of the population of Colombia through her Caribbean rhythyms in her songs such as "Buscando un poco de amor" and her Middle Eastern beats in her songs such as "Ojos Así" that blend her two cultures while Fanni Lu mixes the traditional Cumbia rhythm with pop in her hit "No te pido flores." Along with the pop en espanol, there is also Reggetón, which is a mix of hip-hop and Caribbean beats to form a steady dance beat. This type of music is played normally in dance halls and discotecas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXYLj7e-s2c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y3lmS0L-co&feature=related

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