The Latin Hip-Hop Dancers get moving with an up-dated version sonidero, a  traditional dance from Columbia

The social dance of Latin America were born in blood and fire, during the periods of conquest and colonization. Latin American countries are highly multiethnic with populations varying in proportions of European, mestizo (indigenous and European), and mulatto. Just as the African American vernacular dance was most heavily influenced by the inherited cultural legacy of West African and Central West African dance in the United States of America, so it was also in formation of the popular vernacular dance identified with Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.  Whereas the United States of America received about 523,000 enslaved immigrants, Spanish America received 1.5 million and Brazil by itself received 3.5 million. The national dances tango-Argentina, bomba-Puerto Rico, samba-Brazil, rumba-Cuba , punta-Honduras all have names of African origin. 

Learn more on  the African heritage of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central  America and South America

In the United States, eighteen Latin American countries are grouped together under the term “Hispanic,” in truth each country has had its own history and traditions. Today, modern technology and communication have made the world seem smaller. We can see this process in the evolution of popular Latino social dances. Almost every traditional popular dance today has a techno version or hybrid version incorporating elements from rock, pop, reggae, rap, and R& B. Dances like the merengue and bachata (bah-cha-tah) that originated in the Dominican Republic are danced around the world. It has become common to have a rap or reggae sections in the middle of a partner dances. It is common place to find a rap or reggae section in the middle of a merengue, salsa, and samba where dancers break away from their partners and momentarily grove to the beat. 

The world of Latin American music and dance include a wide variety of genres representing a multicultural inheritance from many countries and many ethnicities. The 1965 Nationality and Immigration Act changed the face of face of the United States of America as the largest wave of immigration ever entered our borders. Today Latinos in the United States of America enjoy a wide variety of musical forms ranging from blues, jazz, rock, R& B, to traditional music from many Latin American countries, as well as the many hybrid emerging musical forms.

Salsa is probably the most widely recognized Latino musical genre around the world. Salsa dance clubs can be found around the world. Salsa is more than a dance, it is also the generic term for baile tropical  (tropical dance).

Some of the dances of this genre are the merengue, bachata, son, cumbia, guaracha, songo, mambo, rumba, cha-cha-chá, and timba. The term salsa became popular in New York in the late 1960’s.  The origin of the term salsa has remained controversial. On one side of the argument are those who believe that “Salsa” was a marketing strategy to sell updated Afro-Cuban rhythms as performed by New York Latinos. On the other side of the argument are those who believe that “Salsa” represents a distinctive New York Caribbean style with strong R&B and jazz influences.

Although Salsa is the most recognizable Latin dance today, it does not lead the Latino music industry in sales and popularity. Mexican Americans that listen and dances to Tejano (tay-ha-noe) music are the largest market for Latino music. Tejano is Spanish for Texan. Like country or rock, Tejano has evolved.  Its roots can be traced to the U.S. Mexican War (1846-1848).  When the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848, the cultural backdrop for the emergence of the conjunto style of music from which Tejano evolved was in place.

Banda (bahn-dah) a horn-driven Mexican musical genre also originated from the brass bands brought to Mexico by German beer makers to celebrate October Fest. This musical style genre is especially popular in western Mexico and California.  Today there is electro-banda or techno-banda that use keyboards, electric bass and smaller horn sections. A spectacular dance called quebradita (keh-bra-dee-tah) meaning small break refers to the woman’s backbend position in many steps.  This is one of the dances to banda music. Quebradita combines dance elements from the lambada, country-western, cumbia, huapangos, taconeo (stomping heelwork), with swing style partner lifts.

Three of the most popular dance rhythms enjoyed by the Mexican Americans in the United States of America: cumbia ( cum bee ah), Vallenato (va-yeh-na-toe) and sonidero (sun-y-de-row) originated in Colombia. All three have pop and techno forms. The cumbia (cum-bee-ah) that developed on the Atlantic coast of Colombia is an example of the fusion of indigenous, European and African cultural elements.  The cumbia has been especially influential in Mexico and Central America. With its loping rolling rhythm similar to “riding a horse,” the cumbia is one of the most popular Latin dance rhythms today.  Its popularity among many different Latino groups has resulted in the Cumbia taking many forms including: Colombianas, Tejano cumbias, Norteña Cumbias, and techno-cumbias. The legend of the cumbia is that the feet slide on the floor because the slaves feet were bound in chains.

Rock en Español is an umbrella term for a genre of music that emerged in Mexico in the mid 1960’s and soon after in Argentina and came of age in the Spanish-American world in the 1980’s.  Rock en Español combines elements of Anglo rock, hip-hop, ska, punk, techno, rap, but also indigenous styles such as cumbia and sonidero. 

As we pass into the 21^st Century the musical and dance forms reflect the changes in our societies and the globalization of the world. Many Latino songs have enjoyed popularity inside and outside of the Latino culture.

Terms

Salsa is used as an umbrella term for tropical music as well as a specific dance.  The salsa danced in the USA looks nothing like the Cuban Salsa.  The USA Salsa is believed to have developed from the Puerto Rican Salsa, which in turn developed from mulatto dance called yambú. Today there are several distinct styles developing in the USA—LA Style, New York style, and Miami style.  

Bachata a dance from the Dominican Republic believed to have originated from the Conga.  In an evening of dance, its slower tempo and smooth style offer a break from the fast tempo of the merengue and salsa.

 Cumbia, a traditional Colombian dance.  Its shuffling steps are attributed to African slaves who wore leg irons and chains during the eighteenth century.  Cumbia unlike merengue and salsa does not require a partner. The cumbia is one of the most popular dance rhythms in Latino community.  The cumbia is performed in many styles including tropical, vallenato, sonidero, banda, and Tejano/conjunto..

Conjunto means, “group,” or “ensemble,” This music is the American equivalent to Mexican Norteño (folk music from northern Mexico) This country music is the predecessor of the modern Tejano genre of music.  It is typically happy dance music lead by the accordion.