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LA DANZA

One of the oldest typical dance from P.R.   This music was used in our  National Anthem, "La Borinqueña".

The origin of the Puerto Rican danza is not clear, but most scholars agree that it began around the middle of the 19th century (around 1840). During the first third of the 19th century it was very popular in the island of Puerto Rico the Spanish "contradanza" or "counter dance" (a word derived, according to some, from the English "country dance"). This was a very rigid dance, a "figures" dance, in which the dancers had to do specific movements according to the directions of the "bastonero". The "bastonero" was some kind of director who decided how many couples would dance on each dance and the position of each dancer. The first dancer, who was usually one of the most experts on dancing, performed whichever complicated movements or "figures" he wanted and the other dancers had to imitate him on their turn. It is said that many of these dances ended in fights or great discussions when some of the dancers didn't faithfully follow the leader's movements. The bastonero was suppressed from 1839 on and the change began to take place.
Reference:   http://www.ladanza.com/danzanet.htm

Reference:   http://www.ladanza.com/danzanet.htm

The Danza Dance

Reference:   http://www.ladanza.com/bailar.htm#video

 

LA PLENA 

Our "Plena" dance comes from El Barrio San Antón, Ponce;  Loíza Aldea and Carolina, P.R.  It is another Puerto Rican typical music.

 

Reference:  www.jibaros.com

 

 

 

Plena de Loíza Aldea

 

 

Reference:  www.jibaros.com

 

 

LA BOMBA
This is another Puerto Rican typical music.

            

Reference:  www.jibaros.com

COUNTRY MUSIC 
(MUSICA JIBARA)

You most hear this music in our mountains, but all Puerto Rican like this music, specially for Christmas time.
Without this music, Puerto Rico is not Puerto Rico.
(aguinaldo, mapeyé, seis chorreao, marillandá, etc.)

 

  
Reference:  www.jibaros.com



Country Dance

 

Reference:  photo provided by Aurye

 

SALSA

"Salsa" is not easily defined.  Who invented "Salsa"?  The Cubans, Puerto Ricans?  "Salsa" is a distillation of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances.  Each played a large part in its evolution.  "Salsa" is similar to "Mambo" in that both have a pattern of six steps danced over eight counts of music.  The dances share manby of the same moves.  In "Salsa" turns have become an important feature, so the overall look and feel are quite different form those of "Mambo".  "Mambo" moves generally forward and backward, whereas "Salsa" has more of a side to side feel.
Reference:  http://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/salsa.htm

Reference:  http://www.justsalsa.com/detroit/salsacongress/6-8-02/html/42911.htm