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The Music and Dance of Colombia
The music and dance of Colombia are expressions of the Colombian culture that contain diverse music genres and dance styles (traditional and modern) depending on their geographic region, although it is common to find different musical and dance styles in the same region. The diversity in musical expressions found in Colombia can be seen as the result of a mixture of African, native Indigenous, European (especially Spanish) influences, as well as modern American and Caribbean musical forms, such as Trinidadian, Cuban, and Jamaican.
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Cumbia
Cumbia is an elegant and vibrant Latin American musical style that originates from the Caribbean region of Colombia. Traditional Cumbia is considered to be representative of Colombia along with Vallenato, Bambuco and Pasillo.
In the Cumbia, Spanish, African and Indigenous influences are visible. Seduction and flirtatiousness is portrayed by the dancers through playful behaviour in which many smiles and looks are exchanged between the dancers. It is not surprising that Cumbia began as a courtship dance among the African slave population in Colombia. The Cumbia was later mixed with European instruments and musical characteristics becoming very popular in the Andean region and the Southern Cone and in the early 1980s it even gained more popularity in these regions than the Salsa. -
Currulao (Pacific Region of Colombia)
This is one of the most African influenced-styles in all of Colombia, and has its roots among the Afro-Colombian/African-descendant/Black people of the Pacific coast. In this dance you can see the extroverted and outgoing nature of the people in this region. In its most basic form, the Currulao is played by a group of four musicians. One musician plays a 6-8 rhythm on a drum known as a "Cununo", which superficially resembles the "Alegre" drum (used in Cumbia) to the untrained eye, but is narrower and taller. The Currulao rhythm is created by both striking the skin of the drum with one hand and tapping the side of the drum with a small stick.
The second musician keeps time on a shaker known in parts of Colombia as a "Guasá"(goo-ah-SAH) or "Guache"(goo-AH-cheh), which is typically a hollow cylinder made of metal, wooden, or guadua bamboo, filled with light seeds, rice is sometimes used in home-made Guasás. But the main instrument of the 'Currulao style' is perhaps the Colombian marimba, a wooden xilophone which resembles the African balafon also for the style of playing.
Many groups in Colombia perform this traditional style of music. Currently, the most renowned groups include Grupo Socavón, Grupo Gualajó, and Grups Bahia Trio. A well renowned figure among the old marimbero masters in Colombia is Baudilio Cuama Rentería from Buenaventura Colombia. -
Samba
Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin in 2/4 beat however there are three steps to every bar, making the Samba feel like a 3/4 beat dance. Its origins include the Maxixe.
The Samba has been danced in Brazil since its inception in the late 19th century. There is actually a set of dances, rather than a single dance, that define the Samba dancing scene in Brazil; thus, no one dance can be claimed with certainty as the "original" Samba style. Another mainstream form of the Samba besides the Brazilian Samba dancing style is Ballroom Samba which differs significantly.
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Salsa
Salsa (Caribbean Region of Colombia)
Salsa is normally a partner dance, although there are recognized solo forms, Line Dancing (Suelta), and Rueda de Casino where groups of couples exchange partners in a circle. Salsa can be improvised or performed with a set routine. Salsa is popular throughout Latin America.
Colombian Salsa (Cali Salsa style)
'Cali Salsa Style,' or 'Colombian Salsa' based on the geographical location of the Colombian city of Cali. Cali is also known as the "Capital de la Salsa" (World's Salsa Capital). In Colombia this is due to Salsa music being the main music genre in parties, nightclubs, and festivals throughout the 21st century. One of the main characteristics of the 'Cali Salsa Style' is the strong infusion of Colombian rhythm (particularly Cumbia and Boogaloo). The basic step of Colombian Salsa is the "Atras" or "Diagonal"; breaking backwards diagonally instead of moving forwards and backwards as seen in the New York and L.A. Style. Dancers do not shift their body weight greatly as seen in other styles. Instead, dancers keep their upper body still, poised and relaxed while the feet execute endless intricacies. The dancer's break mostly On 1 (sometimes On 3), with short measures of "4" instead of full "8" counts.
A major difference of the 'Cali Style' with the other styles of Salsa is the footwork. The footwork consists of quick rapid steps and skipping motions. The dancers do not execute Cross-body Lead, or the "Dile Que No" as seen in the other Salsa genres. Their footwork is intricate and precise, thus, several major world championships have been won by Colombian Style Salsa dancers. Cali hosts many annual Salsa events such as the World Salsa Cali Festival and Encuentro de Melomanos y Coleccionistas.
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Vallenato (Caribbean Region of Colombia
Vallenato arose in Valledupar on Colombia's Atlantic Coast and only gained popularity elsewhere in the country in the 1980s. Its origins are shrouded in mystery but are said to have begun with Francisco el Hombre, who allegedly defeated Satan in a musical contest. Based around the accordion, vallenato has long been connected with Cumbia. Influential artists include Alejo Duran and, more recently, Alfredo Gutiérrez and Lisandro Meza. In addition to the accordion, the bass guitar has been a common part of Vallenato ensembles since it was introduced by Caliya in the mid-1960s. The most recent modernization of Vallenato occurred in 1993 when Carlos Vives released Clásicos de la Provincia, which made him into a star and changed the face of Vallenato.
Vallenato has spawned several subgenres, including Vallenato-Protesta, which is known for socially aware lyrics, and Charanga Vallenata, which was invented by Cubans in the United States like progenitor Roberto Torres. The Vallenato dance that CCFO dancers are doing is from Carlos Vives and is called "La fruta Fresca" is a very tropical and vigorous style.
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Tango
Tango is a social dance form that originated in Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
Argentine Tango dancing consists of a variety of styles that developed in different regions and eras, and in response to the crowding of the venue and even the fashions in clothing. Even though the present forms developed in Argentina and Uruguay, they were exposed to influences from Europe and North America and re-imported.
There are records of 18th and early 19th century Tango styles in Cuba and Spain, while there is a Flamenco Tango dance that may share a common ancestor in a minuet-style European dance. Consequently there is a good deal of confusion and overlap between the styles as they are now danced - and fusions continue to evolve.
Argentine Tango is danced in an embrace that can vary from very open, in which leader and follower connect at arms length, to be very close, in which the connection is chest-to-chest, or anywhere in between.
Tango dance is essentially walking with a partner and the music. Dancing appropriately to the emotion and speed of a Tango is extremely important to dancing Tango. A good dancer is one who transmits a feeling of the music to the partner. Also, dancers generally keep their feet close to the floor as they walk, the ankles and knees brushing as one leg passes the other. -
Guacherna
With elegant and vigorous movements full of colour, happiness, fantasy and pace the dancers express the happy experiences of our carnival - The Barranquilla.
Basically the 'Guacherna' is a night parade of lights and lanterns, extras, groups of Cumbiambas and disguises (fronts): The 'Guacherna' is the parade of the queen of the carnival and of the popular queens.
Barranquilla lies on the Northern Atlantic coast between Cartagena and Santa Marta and is the fourth largest city of Colombia, Barranquilla is an industrial city whose immediate appeal is far from obvious.
CARNAVAL DE BARRANQUILLA
Barranquilla does have the most famous party in the whole of Colombia: The "Carnaval de Barranquilla" (held once a year in February). The carnival is basically a huge party, lasting well over a month; in this Carnaval the Guacherna is a popular dance style that dancers perform when the beauty queen of the carnaval is crowned. -
Afro-Colombiano/Mapale
The Mapale that is perhaps one of the purest African rhythms on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. Mapale was brought to Colombia by Guinean slaves in the 1600's. The Mapale is an erotically charged - fast and furious dance. Mapale is the name of a fish found in Colombia and the movements also represent those of a fish out of water. The dance was done as a celebration after a large catch of Mapale by the fisherman.
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joropo (Orinoquía Region of Colombia)
Música llanera is a harp-led genre of music from Los Llanos popular throughout Colombia. Colombia has been influenced from spanish dances such as a 'Flamenco and Andaluces rhythms" it is a strong dance where the character of the Colombian cowboy is portrayed. It includes the traditional joropo musical style, and is known for verbal contests called 'Contrapunteo.' Artists in this genre include Alfredo Rolando Ortiz (born in Cuba), Alma Llanera (band), Grupo Cimarrón (band), Luis Ariel Rey, Carlos Rojas, Sabor Llanero, Arnulfo Briceño, and Orlando Valdemarra. This particular type of music is also popular in Venezuela due to the shared llanos. It is considered to be the national music of Venezuela.
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FOLK FESTIVAL & NATIONAL BAMBUCO BEAUTY PAGEANT
During the last week of June, the city of Neiva has celebrations in honor of the authentic Colombian rhythms of bambuco and sanjuanero. People throughout the departments of Huila and Tolima participate in these festivities alongside beauty pegeant contestants, enjoying huilense cookouts, float parades, boat parades down the Magdalena River and cavalcades. This is the most representative celebration of the opitas(name used by the people of Huila to refer to themselves) culminating at the Alvaro Sanchez Covered Coliseum. Here, the National Bambuco Queen is crowned, having been chosen from many candidates from different departments of the country who compete performing the sanjuanero, a choreographic dance representing a courtship among peasants.
BAMBUCO CUNDINAMARQUEZ