NATIVE DANCE: CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The native dances are dance styles created in a region that represent the culture of the people living there. These dances do not include ritualistic dance, since it is considered religious and is in another category. Likewise, it is not limited to dances rooted in culture for hundreds of years, although the term often refers to these.

The indigenous dances of each region can represent the traditional culture and the current culture of the country to which they belong. Different countries have different appreciations of the types of dances that can be considered as autochthonous, but in general this term is used to cover all styles of traditional or folk dance.

Tango, Argentine native dance

Characteristics of autochthonous dances

Native dance is not a dance genre per se, nor does it encompass any type of dance that presents the same type of movements or patterns.

An autochthonous dance is typical of each country, region or area to which it belongs and, in general, is inherited from generation to generation, which gives a cultural touch to those who practice these regionalist dance styles.

Informal execution

These dance styles are usually accompanied by traditional music and those who dance it have little or no professional practice.

They are dances that are not designed to be performed in theaters or large presentations and their execution is linked to an intercultural tradition rather than innovation, the latter being irrelevant in indigenous dance.

In many European areas, a dance that has been in force since before the 20th century is considered a traditional or indigenous dance. This concept is not accepted throughout the world, but it is usually agreed that indigenous dance is the product of several human generations of evolution.

Exceptions

Certain styles of dance that have been generated recently tend to be excluded from the autochthonous classification given the nature of their origins.

Such is the case of hip hop, which although it evolved spontaneously and partly meets the characteristics of indigenous dance, it is considered a street dance.

The term autochthonous or traditional dance is linked to some extent with tradition, since in general they are dances that existed when social differences between the different strata were more marked, and indigenous dance and music was seen more commonly among people belonging to the popular classes.

Indigenous dances in the world

Each country has particular indigenous dances from its region, and some have reached such a high degree of popularity that they are practiced in various parts of the world. However, it will always be in their land of origin where the practice of dance is most common.

Among the most popular indigenous dances in the world, the following stand out:

Tango (Argentina)

Tango is a style of dance that was created in the late nineteenth century in Río de la Plata, Argentina. It features exotic movements and has African, European and indigenous influences. It is very popular today and is danced in various parts of the world.

Tarantella (Italy)

About 500 years ago, the city of Taranto in Italy developed a dance whose purpose was to scare away spiders.

For this reason, the dance consisted of moving quickly to the rhythm of accelerated music. Its tradition lasted for centuries and today it is a very popular dance in southern Italy.

Casino sauce (Cuba)

This style of salsa is native and traditional from Cuba and has become widely popular worldwide. Casino salsa schools abound in the United States, Europe, and America.

However, for Cubans this style of salsa is part of their lifestyle and is rooted in their traditions.

Samba (Brazil)

Samba is one of the most popular indigenous dance genres in the world, partly because of the follow-up to Brazilian carnivals, where this dance is mainly practiced.

Each region of Brazil has a different way of performing this dance, but in general it is a happy dance with fast movements.

Cumbia (Colombia)

Cumbia is a style of dance native to the Colombian coast, mainly practiced by Africans who inhabited the beach regions of the country hundreds of years ago.

By the mid-1940s, cumbia had begun to spread throughout Colombia, along with other typical styles of the region such as the vallenato and the porra.

Lion dance (China)

The lion dance originated in China, but it is practiced in several Asian countries. It consists of imitating the movements of a lion while wearing a giant costume of the creature.

It is usually practiced during the Chinese New Year and the beliefs of the region ensure that it brings its dancers fortune and good luck.

Main indigenous dances in Mexico

Traditional Mexican dances are influenced by the mixture of cultures that gave rise to the society of Mexico. For this reason, it is possible to appreciate African, European and indigenous elements in the dances of this country.

Before the Conquest the indigenous dances of the country were merely pagan. After the Spanish invasion, the missionaries sought to adapt these dances and give them Catholic meanings. The most popular indigenous dances in Mexico are the following:

Concheros

This dance was developed in the early 1500s, after the Conquest, to preserve elements of the pre-Hispanic culture in the country.

Dance of the flyers

This popular dance that is practiced today had its origins in central Mexico, and consists of 5 people climbing a 30-meter high tube and then dropping, with only a grabbing rope.

The dance of the old men

Perhaps one of the most recently created indigenous dances in Mexico, the dance of the old men originated in the middle of the last century. However, she uses ancient instruments and clothing that adhere to the cultural traditions of the country.

Eight vices

This traditional dance is performed by 12 dancers. Eight of these represent vices, while the others are disguised as an angel, a demon, a doctor, and a priest; respectively.

In addition to the particular movements of this dance, it is customary to use dialogue to narrate a story while dancing.

References

1. Folk Dance, (nd). Taken from britannica.com on February 20, 2018.
2. "Dances of Mexico", Cultural Institute "Raíces Mexicanas". Taken on February 20, 2018.
3. Samba (Brazil), (nd), December 25, 2017. Taken from wikipedia.org
4. Folk Dance of Mexico, (nd), January 28, 2018. Taken from wikipedia.org
5. Lion Dance, (nd), February 19, 2018. Taken from wikipedia.org
6. Tango !: The Dance, the Song, the Story (New York: Thames and Hudson, 1995), p. 46–47, Simon Colier.