- Dances and dances most representative of the Caribbean Region
- Bullerengue
- The farotas
- Cumbia
- They are in black
- The Joint
- Scribble
- References
The typical dances and dances of the Caribbean region of Colombia are intimately related to their rhythms, since most of these are danced. As with the music itself, the dances show the influence of the three cultures that have inhabited the region: the indigenous, the Spanish arrived after 1492 and the Africans brought as slaves by them.
The Caribbean region is located in the north of the country, bordering the sea that has given it its name. It is made up of 8 departments: Atlántico, Bolívar, La Guajira, Cesar, Sucre, Córdoba, Magdalena, and the islands of San Andrés and Providencia.
It is a region with a great musical tradition, forming a fundamental part in festivals and celebrations. The contribution of the descendant population of Africans who came as slaves, maroons, has marked all the typical dances of this area.
The sensuality of the movements, the courtship and the warmth are elements that are always present in these dances. Likewise, there are other elements represented in these dances, such as colonization, trades, miscegenation or traditions.
In short, the inhabitants of the region preserve all their historical and cultural legacy through their dances.
Dances and dances most representative of the Caribbean Region
Although there are many types of dance, this is a list of some of the best known and most representative of the reality of the Caribbean region.
Bullerengue
Born in San Basilio de Palenque, she retains a great African influence. Not surprisingly, that town was the first place where the escaped slaves settled.
At first it was performed by women when they reached puberty, possibly representing the transition to women and their fertility.
The dancers follow the rhythm created by the drums and by the choral singing. It can be danced in loose pairs, although it is still a dance mostly danced by women.
The farotas
In this dance we can clearly see a story that occurred during the colonization, told through the movements of the dancers. Thus, he recounts the mockery and irony against the Spanish colonizers, whom he satirizes.
It is a dance performed by men dressed as women. The rhythm with which it is danced is called Son de Farotas.
Cumbia
The Cumbia is one of the most popular and representative dances in the entire region. It is of African origin, but it was perfectly fused with the indigenous indigenous traditions.
It is a representation of the love attraction, in this case that felt by the black for the Indian.
The woman carries candles in her right hand, dancing with the man who accompanies her gently. He gets closer, without actually touching her and, finally, is pushed away by the candles that she carries.
They are in black
It is another dance intended to make fun of the conquerors. In this case, it was the Africans who danced it, in order to laugh at their enslavers.
He was born in Santa Lucía, where the slaves stayed when they were taken by the Spanish.
Men are the ones who usually dance this dance, sometimes dressed as women.
The Joint
It was a dance danced by the slaves during their festive moments. They danced around the tambora, using indigenous instruments in a show of musical miscegenation. The story that this dance represents is the seduction of man and woman.
Scribble
It was the Spanish who brought this dance to the Caribbean region. His movements are a representation of the fight between good and evil and death appears as one of the main characters.
The dancers, as a couple, try to get rid of its influence, things that in the end they achieve, so life finally wins.
References
- Colombia Cultural Heritage. Characteristics of the Caribbean region. colombiapatrimoniocultural.wordpress.com
- Bell, Christ. Traditional Colombian Dances You Should Know About. Retrieved from theculturetrip.com
- All Colombia. Musical Rhythms of the Caribbean Region. Obtained from todacolombia.com
- Discover Colombia. Cumbia - The Rhythm of Colombia. Obtained from discovercolombia.com
- Ekua. The Untold Afro-Colombian Stories of Colombia's Caribbean Coast. Retrieved from girlunstoppable.com