Latin dance

Intermediate level international-style Latin dancing at the 2006 MIT ballroom dance competition. A judge stands in the foreground.

Latin dance is a general label, and a term in partner dance competition jargon. It refers to types of ballroom dance and folk dance that mainly originated in Latin America, though a few styles originated elsewhere.

The category of Latin dances in the international dancesport competitions consists of the Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble, and Jive.[1][2]

Social Latin dances (Street Latin) include salsa, mambo, merengue, rumba, bachata, bomba and plena. There are many dances which were popular in the first part of the 20th century, but which are now of only historical interest. The Cuban danzón is a good example.[3]

Perreo is a Puerto Rican dance associated with reggaeton music with Jamaican and Caribbean influences. Argentinian folk dances are chacarera, escondido and zamba, also tango used to be a popular dance until the mid-20th century. Cueca is Chilean folk dance. Uruguayan folk dances are pericón, polka, ranchera, etc, also candombe is a common street and parade dance in the cities. Typical Bolivian folk dances are the morenada, kullawada, caporales and the recently created tinku. In Colombia, one of the typical dances is the cumbia.[4][5]

  1. ^ Lavelle, Doris 1983. Latin & American dances. 3rd ed, Black, London, p108.
  2. ^ The reason jive is included with the Latin dances is that its dance style is similar: "... a non-progressive dance which can be danced in a small space when the floor is crowded". and "The hold is similar to Latin dances" [meaning, it is quite different from the modern or ballroom dances]. Silvester, Victor 1977. Dancing: ballroom, Latin-American and social, 105/6. ISBN 0-340-22517-3. Teach Yourself Books
  3. ^ Santos, John. 1982. The Cuban Danzón (liner notes). New York, Folkways Records FE 4066
  4. ^ Box, Ben (1992). South American Handbook. New York City: Trade & Travel. At the beginning of each chapter (except the Guianas) is a section on "Music and Dance" written by Nigel Gallop, an Englishman, fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, who lived and worked in almost every country of South America.
  5. ^ Box, Ben; Cameron, Sarah (1992). Caribbean Islands Handbook. New York City: Trade & Travel. Dance information is provided under "Culture" headings.