25 TYPICAL DANCES OF CHILE (NORTH, CENTER AND SOUTH) - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The typical dances of Chile are folkloric expressions with religious-festive or recreational motivations that were gestated during the formation process of the Chilean nation. The typical Chilean dances and dances are grouped by zones; these are the north, center and south zones.

Among the typical Chilean dances, the cueca (which is the national dance of Chile), the pequén, the pericón, the mazamorra, the sombrero, the cachimbo, the pericona and the torito stand out. Other typical dances are the huachitorito, the rin, the sajuriana, the trot, the rib, the porteña and the trastrasera, among others.

The cueca, national dance of Chile.

Through these popular demonstrations, national identity is expressed. Before the Colony, the typical dances were the ancestral Mapuche dances. During the Colony and in the 19th century, Spanish dances, such as the fandangos and the seguiridillas, which were later adapted to Creole folklore, gained popularity.

This is how the so-called “land dances” were created, which were performed by the lower classes of the population and which were distinguished from ballroom dances, such as the minuet and the quadrille. Likewise, the Argentine zamba was popularized, which became the refalosa zamba.

Later, in the nascent Chilean republic, a process of cultural miscegenation took place through which indigenous dances from the Andes were incorporated and adapted. Later, in the 20th century, other dances, such as the corrido and the Colombian cumbias, were incorporated into the national folklore.

The cueca, the national dance

It is the national dance of Chile; Therefore, it is popular and has been danced in all regions of the country since 1824. Each region performs the cueca with some variations of its own and is accompanied by a joyful sung melody that is performed with guitar and harp. On September 18, 1979, it was declared the national dance of Chile.

During the dance, the huaso (a man from the center or south of the country) looks for the girl of his liking and offers her his arm. Then she gets up and accompanies him on a walk around the room. Then they face each other, keeping a handkerchief in hand, and begin to dance.

Suddenly the huaso turns insinuatingly and chases the woman, who runs away from him. To catch her, she uses the handkerchief as a loop, with which she surrounds her but without touching her, bringing her to her side.

It is danced with measured and slow steps while the handkerchiefs are gently shaken and they are tracing circular figures that include turns and half turns. The dance is interrupted with various types of flourishes.

The woman approaches the huaso with arrogance and flirtation, lifts her skirt slightly with one hand and gracefully waves the handkerchief with the other, fleeing again.

Origin and types of cueca

There is no agreement about the origin of this dance, although it seems to have African, Spanish and indigenous influence. There are several types or modalities of this dance, the best known are the following:

- Cueca nortina.

- Cueca chilota.

- Cueca stolen.

- Long cueca.

- Creole cueca.

- Cueca porteña.

- Peasant cueca.

- Cueca valseada.

- Comic cueca.

Typical dances of the north area

The dances and dances of this area are characterized by their religious and festive nature. They can be observed during the celebration of traditional festivals.

This is the case of the Fiesta de la Tirana, the Fiesta de la Cruz, Ash Wednesday, the Clean of Canals and the Fiesta de los Muertos.

The carnival

It is a dance from Bolivia, but it is danced throughout the northern area of ​​Chile and Argentina during Carnival and other festivities. This dance is performed with a musical genre called huaino, for which musical instruments such as the bass drum and the quena are used.

It is danced in a group with the participation of many couples, who perform colorful and joyful choreographies, whose most prominent figures are: the bridge, the streets and the wings.

Hookah

It is a festive dance that is danced in pairs and wearing handkerchiefs. It has a great similarity with the cueca, because turns are also made to the rhythm of the music.

Pursue the same goal of love conquest. The lady remains aloof and flirtatious and the young man struggles to woo her. The music is performed with guitar and accordion.

The bull

It is danced during the religious festival of San Pedro (June 29). It is a group dance in which two men dressed in black and white, respectively, dance to the center wearing a large bull mask.

Both pretend to go goring, while the other participants surround them singing, clapping and dancing at the same time. The dance continues until the man in black falls.

Northern cueca

It differs from the cueca in the central area because it has no lyrics and only has one melody. This dance is accompanied with instruments such as the bass drum, the box, the trumpet and the tuba. It is also a joyful dance that is danced as a couple.

The huachitorito

It is a typical dance of the Christmas season, in which instruments such as quena, violins, guitar, bass drum, box and accordions are used for its execution. The dance involves several couples formed in rows of two or in circles, which surround the couple dancing in the center.

This danced carol is staged while the Christmas shepherds visit Christmas nativity scenes in different houses. The man imitates a bull while the woman fights him with a red scarf. The dance is led by a caporal who rings a bell.

The trot

Its name is due to the fact that the dancing couple performs a kind of trot. They go back and forth rhythmically, holding hands and turning in different directions.

The dance is accompanied by guitar music, quena, box, panpipe and bass drum. Very colorful clothing is used, predominantly made of vicuña or alpaca wool.

Typical dances of the downtown area

The sajurian

This dance is also known by the name of sajuria and secudiana, and is danced in Ñuble, in the eighth region. The music that accompanies this dance as a couple has a couplet and a chorus.

The dancers dance apart while happily waving their handkerchiefs up and down and improvising movements. It is danced by stomping and brushing the ground at a rhythm similar to that of the cueca.

The mazamorra

The choreography of this dance represents two hawks surrounding a dove. The origin and meaning of the dance is not known for sure.

The dancers execute graceful and incessant movements as they try to win a woman's love. This mazamorreo at the dance perhaps was what gave it its name.

The little

It is danced in various ways, depending on the area where the dance takes place. In the central zone the pequén gañán is danced and in Chiloé the pequén gañán is danced; both are similar in terms of steps and movements.

In this area this dance takes place between Colchagua and Ñuble. The dancers dance imitating the flight of the pequén, a variety of birds from the field.

The dance begins with the man's choice of a dance partner. Then follows a ritual of conquering the man and the flirting of his partner.

The little hat

This traditional Chilean dance is practiced from La Serena to Concepción. It consists of a dance in which the dancers, wearing hats, intertwine their arms briefly.

To start the dance, the hat is taken with the right hand and then different movements are carried out: turns and semicircular movements.

During the chorus the hat is placed on the ground in front of the dancers, then they perform a figure eight. Then they raise their hat again and take rhythmic steps.

The porteña

In this dance, the melody of which is part of the cueca family, the man dances with only one type of step, taking small leaps. He makes crosses alternating his legs while the woman performs a gentle brushing with her feet.

Typical dances of the southern area

Zamba refalosa

It is a festive dance performed with a headscarf and in pairs, but both are loose. The choreography is developed with the couple facing each other; each one performs a simultaneous turn with a brushing step, first to the right and then to the left. The dancers perform a spiral to the left and then return to the place of origin.

They both greet each other, while the man holds the handkerchief in his hand and the woman holds it with both hands, crossed over the skirt.

Then comes a stomping with the handkerchief held with the left hand to the side, and a shaking is performed in the same previous position. This sequence is repeated throughout the dance.

The ribs

It is a very popular dance in Creole festivals and celebrations because competitions are held, which arouses more enthusiasm.

It is generally performed only by men, although sometimes it is danced in pairs. This dance represents the Chillán area; for its execution a bottle is placed in the center of the dance floor.

The performers must jump, dance, and stomp around the bottle. Whoever knocks down the bottle loses and must pay penance, "throw a garment" or withdraw from the dance.

The sirilla

This is a dance of Spanish origin also popular on the island of Chiloé. The two dance couples are located face to face, forming a square. It is executed with various movements that include twists and changes of position diagonally, alternated with stomping on the spot. Dancers generally wear a scarf.

The rim

It is a dance originating in Europe that arrived on the island of Chiloé in the 19th century. Its name comes from the English word reel (reel).

It consists of a dance of two couples "in room" that dance singly and are led by a baton player (currently this has changed). The man has his partner on the right side.

The dance begins on that side, but it can be varied using the left hand, walking around with the partner and returning to the post.

Then a braid is made, also with the right hand. The lady rotates in the stall as the knights cross each other as they advance towards the other couple's lady, without touching.

Then, the ladies go for a walk and are accompanied by the gentlemen, who stomp to the rhythm of the music.

The pericone

This dance typical of the Chiloé parties is very popular on the island of Chiloé. In general, four people participate in this dance, who perform a brushing while they go around six times from right to left.

The trastrasera

This other dance is said to originate from the Island of Chiloé. It is a simple dance that can be danced as a couple or in large groups.

The woman shyly follows the man, holding his hand, as they both enter the court. Then two lines of pairs are formed, facing each other.

The steps consist of a fixed trot at three beats; on the fourth, couples raise one knee. Then they jog another three times and raise the other knee.

Chocolate

It is a dance in pairs with a marked Spanish influence in terms of posture and some turns that the dancers give. There are several versions of this dance, even in one of these Spain and the brave festival are mentioned.

The ship

This is a collective Chiloe dance that all the participants execute successively. Movements are made that imitate the oscillating movement of a boat when sailing, a characteristic of the life of the inhabitants of the island.

Mapuche dances

Among the dances of this indigenous ethnic group are:

- Mazatum - Machipurrum.

- Kuimin - Purrum.

- Wutrapurrum - Choique Purrum.

- Lañkañ - Machitum.

- Awumpurrum.

Other dances (extreme south - Aysén region)

Ranchera

It is derived from the mazurka of Polish origin. It consists of a dance in pairs, in which passes are performed to the beat of 3/4. During the choreography, the figure of a wheel or ellipse is marked, which is interrupted at intervals according to changes in speeds or music.

Waltz

This dance is practiced in the commune of Coyhaique and has some differences with the European waltz. Here the steps are shorter, but it resembles the turns and the corporal hauteur of the dancers.

Creole polka

There are two versions to execute it: one taking long steps and another that resembles the steps of the Buenos Aires milonga. It differs in the turns and incorporates some figures of the pasodoble.

Two-step

Although it is not a Chilean dance but a Spanish one, it is very popular in this region.

Chamamé

It is a dance originating in Corrientes (Argentina) that is derived from the chamamé pot (slow). In turn, the latter comes from the Paraguayan polka. However, it differs from Corrientes in the pass.

Ancestral dances

Mapuche dances of a ritual nature have remained as native dances of the southern area. These dances are used for religious ceremonies and are manifested through guillatunes (ceremonies).

The purrun (dances) were used to ask the gods for good weather. On the other hand, in the Machitun ceremonies, the machis (medical-religious figures) and choiques danced to ask for the health of the sick.

Chilean ancestral dances have always fulfilled the objective of thanking the indigenous gods and Catholic saints for the favors received. Also to worship. Such is the case of some dances in the north of Chile, which are performed during the celebration of La Tirana.

Another traditional expression is the Chilota minga, which is performed after work or to celebrate a harvest or the construction of a house.

References

1. Typical dances of Chile. Consulted on April 25 from icarito.cl
2. Dancing in the south of Chile. Consulted of educarchile.cl
3. Chilean History: Art and Culture. South Zone dances. Consulted of biografiadechile.cl
4. Chilean Folklore. Consulted of folklore.cl
5. El Rin. Consulted of folkloreyculturatraditional.weebly.com
6. The musical folklore of Chile and its three great roots. Consulted of memoriachilena.cl