Energy. Passion. Fire.
If we had to choose three words to describe Latin dance styles, it would be those. The dances, whether solo or with a partner exude raw energy and fire, with a passion for rhythm and movement like no other dance style on the planet.
Energy, passion and fire are also traits that many kids have, especially energy. Therefore, kids and Latin dances have something in common.
Another reason that dancing is good for kids is because it teaches them discipline and rhythm. A lot of kids are also excited to learn choreography and feel accomplishment when they learn dance routines.
Learning Latin dancing will provide kids with a way to use up their energy, provide them with discipline and teach them rhythm. These are just a few reasons why learning Latin dances may be good for your kids.
There are so many different Latin dance styles that you may be wondering where should you start? How did these dance moves start? Where did they start? What is the history behind them?
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular traditional and modern Latin Dances Styles.
1) Cumbia (Columbia)
Cumbia originated in Columbia in the 1880s. The unique Latin dance style and sound is a blend of European, African and indigenous culture and came from the Caribbean coast of Columbia. It was originally an African courtship dance that evolved over the years to become what it is now.
If it is done as it was initially intended, the Cumbia should be danced at night. Couple dance in a circle around a group of seated musicians. The female dance partner makes shuffling type movements while her male dance partner zigzags around her. In their right hand, the woman holds candles wrapped in colored handkerchiefs.
2) Cha cha cha (Cuba)
Moving on to a more well-known form of Latin dance – the cha cha cha (or the cha cha, as it is sometimes known) came about in the 1950s in Cuba. It is an onomatopoeic name – the sound of the shuffling makes a sort of ‘cha cha cha’ sound on the dance floor.
Traditionally, it is danced to authentic Cuban music. But these days, particularly for shows and competitions, Latin pop or Latin rock is often used instead. It is a fun dance, particularly for younger children who may have already been introduced to it by the infamous DJ Casper. His ‘Cha Cha Slide’ hit song really introduced the dance move to the masses!
It is quite similar to the Mambo and Rumba in that it takes the slower steps of the two dances and adds in a third step. Simple and energetic, it is the perfect dance for Latin dance beginners. It is one of the most popular dances at competitions, and many couples ask to learn it for their wedding, so always a good idea to get to grips with this one early!
3) Mambo (Cuba)
In the 1940s, mambo music became popular in Cuba, and alongside it, the Mambo dance was created.
The mambo first appeared in the United States in New York’s Park Plaza Ballroom – a favourite hangout of enthusiastic dancers from Harlem. However, it had to be toned down somewhat – the complex, almost acrobatic moves were too difficult for most dancers. However, these days, a newer, more nightclub-friendly version of the mambo – the infamous Salsa – is popular. It also gave rise to the aforementioned Cha cha cha.
4) Merengue (Dominican)
Merengue is the national dance music of the Dominican Republic. You will hear it almost everywhere you go – playing in the bars and clubs, restaurants, shops or even as you walk along the beach or down the street. It is a dance that the Dominicans are rightly proud of, and dance it with flair and passion.
The Merengue is thought to have been created in 1844, the year that the Dominican Republic was founded. It was said to have been developed to poke fun at a Dominican soldier who had abandoned his post during the Battle of Talanquera in the War of Independence. The Dominicans won the battle and, while celebrating the victory at night, soldiers mocked the cowardly deserter in song and dance, and thus the merengue was born.
5) Bachata (Dominican)
The bachata could almost be described as the Dominican version of country music. It encompasses love and romance, heartbreak and pain. It was established in the very poorest Dominican neighbourhoods in the mid 20th century and is typically played on a guitar, slowly and romantically.
Music and dance was looked down upon by the Dominican elite for it’s supposed lack of sophistication and did not get much in the way of support. It was not really recognized as a form of dance until the 1960s and even then, not outside of the country.
These days, it has evolved and has been reinvented and now, it has infiltrated mainstream Latin ballroom dancing.
6) Samba (Brazil)
Lively and full of fun, the Samba originated in Brazil, potentially as far back as 1838. It is inspired by the music and dance culture that the African people brought over to Brazil. Through the 17th and 18th centuries, slaves kept the dance alive in their private celebrations and gatherings, but when slavery was abolished in the mid 19th century, the former slaves moved out into the hills surrounding the city of Rio de Janerio. Here, the dance continued to thrive and grow in popularity and recognition.
While originally a partnered dance, in the 1920s a solo form of the dance became popular. Samba no pe is the form of this Latin dance style where a partner is not needed. It is popular in samba clubs. These days, samba clubs are still around, with dance routines practiced for months on end, especially for the colourful and vibrant carnival season.
7) Quebradita (Mexico)
The quebradita originated in Mexico. It means ‘little break’ and became popular in the south-west US in the early 1990s, particularly in Los Angeles. The ‘little break’ refers to the breaking of a wild horse and a female dancer’s back bends, so you can get an idea of the sort of high-energy involved in the dance moves from that alone! It is a dance of acrobatics and gymnastics, rather than the rhythmic, almost trotting steps of other, more traditional Latin dance styles.
The music that the quebradita is danced to is like no other. Think traditional Spanish melodies mixed with electric instruments synthesisers – ‘technobanda’. Traditionally in the quebradita, there is a male dancer and a female dancer. The male dancer lowers the female dancer down to the floor backwards, hence the ‘little break’.
Many dancers were unwilling to learn the quebradita because of the acrobatics involved, and the risk of potential injury. However, this did not stop plenty of quebradita nightclubs and groups opening, particularly along the US and Mexico border. However, as a competition dance, it’s popularity has waned somewhat in recent years.
Is it time for a revival?
8) Flamenco (Spain)
We go from one of the easiest Latin dances to one of the most difficult ones. The Flamenco is a dance which requires years of training and practice to perfect. More than a dance; it is a form of art.
Although the origins of the Flamenco is strictly Andalucian, it is associated with the Romani people of Spain. It dates back to 1774. It involves lightning-fast footwork, carried out with precision. Props such as castanets, canes and shawls are a part of Flamenco dancing. It is a Latin dance style that many professionals do not peak at until they are much older. This is differnet in other forms of dance because younger dancers lead the way in other forms of dance.
9) Paso Doble (Spain)
Less exotic in nature but no less sensual than many of its Latin dance partners, the Paso Doble is a Spanish military march used by Infantry troops. The speed allowed troops to give 120 steps per minute and gave rise to the dance. Because of the sense of urgency and the fast pace, the Paso doble music is often played during Spanish bullfights. The fast pace gets the crowd and the anticipation going. The male dance partner is the matador and the woman is the flowing, provocative cape that entices the bull to charge.
It is a performative and exaggerated dance. You will find it in many Latin dance competitions but not the sort you will find people doing at a nightclub or a party!
10) Tango (Uruguay and Argentina)
The Tango is a partner dance which originated in the 1880s along the Rio de la Plata. Rio de la Plata is the border between Uruguay and Argentina. The Tango was frequently practiced in brothels and the bars in ports. It was used as a way for the owners to entertain their patrons with music. The popularity gathered pace, and it spread around the world.
Of course, like most types of Latin dance styles, this one has evolved and has various offshoots. The Argentinian version of the Tango is very different from the one in Uruguay, and they are both somewhat different from the ballroom version.
11) Salsa
Another dance and music style hailing from the Latin American countries is the Salsa. It appeared in New York in the 1960s and is an amalgamation of many Latin dance styles including the merengue, mambo and pachanga. It is a versatile dance. Various areas of Latin America and the United States have their own version of the popular dance.
The thing that attracts many young dancers to Salsa dancing is that it can be danced in an either strictly choreographed and rehearsed way or it can be freestyled.
12) Rumba
The rumba is a form of ballroom dance and music that appeared on the east coast of the United States in the 1930s. Big band music is combined with the Afro-Cuban rhythms of the Conga. Full of flirtation and romance, it is a slower dance that is regularly danced to at weddings.
Due to its movements, it is sometimes called the ‘Latin Waltz’ or ‘Waltz with a wiggle.’ It is one of the easier Latin dance syles to learn, hence its popularity. It is a spot dance, meaning that rather than the couple moving around the floor, they tend to stay in one place, and focuses specifically on the hip movements.
13) Conga
The Conga is often the dance of choice at parties, with partygoers forming a long, snaking line and dancing around the room. It’s a fun dance, and one that became popular in the 1930s and 1950s. It is thought to have been brought over from Africa by slaves and became a popular street dance in Cuba. During the Machado dictatorship in Cuba, Havana citizens were not allowed to dance the conga, because rival groups would work themselves to high excitement and end up fighting in the street!
In 1984, British band Black Lace reached the top of the charts with their ‘Do the COnga’, which saw a revival of the dance – which involves three shuffle steps followed by a kick – at parties all over Europe.
14) Macarena
Almost everyone can mutter along to the Macarena, and it is one of the most widely-known dances at parties all over the world! Created in 1993 by Los Del Rio, about a girl with the same name, the Macarena is the ultimate party song. It is easy to learn, it is fast, and it is fun. It is a Latin dance style that everyone, no matter their age or dancing ability, should have in their repertoire.
The dembow dance features around the all-important rhythm. It is about letting go and feeling that rhythm, slightly reminiscent of dancehall music, but faster. The rhythm and melodies also tend to be more repetitive and simple. The lyrics focus heavily on slang and on sharing the reality of local life in the Dominican, a country with a history full of division, revolution and rule. This only makes the dance feel more hard-hitting and more passionate.
15. Dembow (Dominican)
Dembow is a popular Latin dance style which originated in the Dominican in the 1990s and saw a big revival in the 2010s. It all started with a song, called, well, ‘Dembow’, recorded by no other than Shabba Ranks in 1990. From there on, ‘riddims’ (rhythms) were built, and a whole new type of movement was created. You have heard of reggaeton, right – recently popularized by more mainstream artists such as Daddy Yankee (and even teen favorite, Justin Beiber!) and J Balvin. Even British girl group Little Mix have had a crack at the Dembow/Reggaeton market!
Wrap-Up
Latin dancing is interesting and fun to learn. If you and your kid decide that they would like to participate in Latin Dance, The Kid On The Go hopes the descriptions of 15 Latin Dance Styles were helpful. Whether you choose this or another activity, remember the most important thing is that your kids have fun. Dance On!
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