History of Latin Dance

A Brief History of Latin Dance

The different types of Latin dances offer a rich history, often linked with unique musical genres.

Salsa

Salsa dance history is difficult to pin down because the name has been applied to a number of different Latin dances. When Latin American dances and music became popular in the U.S. in the 1970s, the term salsa was used as a catchall term. Over time, salsa has become a mix of these dances.

Mambo

The history of Mambo begins with the creation of Mambo music. The story begins with the European contradanzas of the 18th century. They were brought to Cuba from Spain and began to develop their own island flavor. By the end of the 19th century the contradanza had become the more spirited danzón. When Orestes and Cachao López wrote a danzón called "Mambo" in 1938, they introduced African rhythms into the mix. The song's title was used to name this new style of music. In 1943 Perez Prado created a dance to accompany the music. It soon traveled to the United States and Mambo was at the height of its popularity in the 1950s.

Merengue

Merengue began in the 19th century in the Dominican Republic. It first featured stringed instruments, but German traders introduced islanders to the accordion, and that instrument's distinctive sound became synonymous with the dance. It began in the lower classes, although a more formalized style of the dance was later developed for ballroom dance purposes. Former dictator Rafael Trujillo named Merengue the official dance of the Dominican Republic.

Rumba

There are two distinct forms of rumba. Ballroom rumba is actually a derivative of son. It seems that rumba was deemed a more appealing name when the dance was imported to the U.S. in the early 20th century. Cuban rumba is another Latin dance with a heavy African influence. It is difficult to say when this dance first began, but African dance and rhythms first made their way to the island in the 16th century.

Cha Cha Cha

The Cha Cha Cha began in Cuba in the early 1950s when Enrique Jorrín composed the first piece of music in the genre of the same name. It was rhythmically similar to the Mambo in some ways. The dance became the Cha Cha and experienced a slight change in rhythm when it was introduced into ballroom dancing a few years later.

Bachata

The Bachata is another dance whose history is more aptly described by the history of the music from which it takes its name. Bachata is a style of guitar music played in the Dominican Republic. The first song in the genre was recorded in 1961 by José Manuel Calderón. It was a music of the common people and the down-and-out, which unfortunately gave it a seedy reputation. With its frequently bitter subject matter, it has been compared to the American blues tradition. The dance was created to accompany these tales of love and woe.

Samba

Samba developed in Brazil from a long line of traditional dances and music forms, including Choro, the Mesemba and the Maxixe. Its earliest influences arrived when Portuguese colonists brought slaves from Africa in the 16th century. The samba's African roots give it both rhythm and form. The dance is typically associated with Brazilian Carnival celebrations.

Into the Future

The history of Latin dance isn't necessarily all in the past. Considering that some popular dances weren't created until the mid-20th century, there's no telling what dances are currently percolating in the clubs and streets of Latin America. The next big dance craze could be just around the corner.