9 DANCES OF THE INSULAR REGION OF COLOMBIA - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The dances of the insular region are of various ethnic origins, just like the whole country in general and its close neighbors.

They received influences from Africans, Europeans and the Caribbean blends that have formed over time in the area.

In the island region, the gastronomy, music, dances and festivities of the locality are defined by the preferences of the populations that mixed after colonization.

All these aspects may reflect part of the tastes and traditions of the Africans, Europeans and indigenous people who inhabited the region after its “discovery”.

Among the sounds and expressions are instruments such as the mandolin, guitar, maracas, and drums.

The most popular festivals in the region are those of the green moon, the crab festival, the reign of the coconut, the day of the race, among other festivals that fill these Caribbean islands with visitors. Each festivity gives place to show the typical dances of the region.

Typical dances of the music of the insular region

The cultural diversity is shown in the musical and dance styles present in the insular region.

Culturally it is very attractive, as the variety satisfies diverse groups of tastes.

Mazurka

This dance originated in Poland.

This ballroom dance that is performed in pairs, the participants make movements of the torso while they move elegantly around the room, making kind of circles when dancing.

Calypso

It is characterized by performing hip movements, it is done in pairs, but separately and it was created in order to represent the weddings of the islanders.

Ment

Not only is the movement of the body considered, all the choreography is accompanied by the costumes.

The women wear very wide skirts that they hold at the sides, making elegant movements.

The combination of gentle movements of the shoulders, hips and feet is called SHIMMY.

Quadrille

He is originally from the aristocracy of the United Kingdom.

The dance focuses on four couples who must perform 5 figures to the beat of the music, although the movement of the body is almost null.

Corridor

It is a side of the waltz, it emerged in the 19th century.

The dance is performed in pairs and in the execution a choreography is created that will be repeated throughout the piece.

Schottische

It is said that its name comes from German, it is translated Scottish.

Each region adapts it to its culture, although the foundation is preserved by performing a choreography of steps to the right and to the left, going around the room until the end of the musical piece.

Polka

In this genre we can find two types, which are: the original European polka and the jumping polka that was adapted in the region.

In the execution, a count and movements of the right foot are made that mark the displacement of the body.

FOXTROT

This dance emerged in North America at the beginning of the 20th century. It is danced by walking back and forth. The steps are very fast and the couple is contagious with joy.

Waltz or waltz

It is a very elegant ballroom dance. The couple maintains an upright posture, without movements of the shoulders, head or arms. Each musical beat is a step of the couple.

References

1. Cultural, CP (23 of 10 of 2017). Island region. Obtained from colombiapatrimoniocultural.wordpress.com
2. DANE, C. d. (23 of 10 of 2017). Population distribution in the territory and Urban-Regional relations. Obtained from geoportal.dane.gov.co
3. Escobar, CP (1997). TO THE RHYTHM OF OUR FOLKLOR. Bogotá: Editorial San Pablo.
4. Geographical, IG (1986). Basic Atlas of Colombia. California: The Institute.
5. Kline, HF (2012). Historical Dictionary of Colombia. Maryland: Scarecrow Press.