By Roberto Garcia, Makaha
Latin music and dance
Three hundred year ago, the Contredanse from Europe was accepted by the Cuban rulers. Cuba was a Spanish colony at the time, and slavery was still flourishing there. The people took well to this "new" dance, and adapted it to the local styles with enthusiasm. Eventually it evolved into the Danzon. Around 1917 when the Danzon was the most popular national dance in Cuba, a new musical style known as the Cuban Son appeared in Havana.
The Son was accepted with such enthusiasm that soon it became very popular without taking anything away from the Danzon. The Danzon, which had been the national dance of Cuba since 1879, could be found everywhere from the popular dance halls to upper class social clubs. The Son had the same elements as the Danzon but was different in its form. The Son, according to the Cuban musicologists was from its beginnings working class and it was transferred very easily all through the Caribbean by sailors.
The Son was brought to Cuba by sailors and its history doesn't seem to interest many people today. Perhaps because its transculturalisation was due to the efforts of obscure individuals as opposed to a social cataclysm, such as the slave trade, or the Haitian revolution. And the original natives still had a big influence on the music and dance. I mention this business about social classes, demographics, and race because to understand the popularity of Latin Music in the US. all these things have to be considered.
Latin music and dance
Three hundred year ago, the Contredanse from Europe was accepted by the Cuban rulers. Cuba was a Spanish colony at the time, and slavery was still flourishing there. The people took well to this "new" dance, and adapted it to the local styles with enthusiasm. Eventually it evolved into the Danzon. Around 1917 when the Danzon was the most popular national dance in Cuba, a new musical style known as the Cuban Son appeared in Havana.
"Social dancers believe that life becomes an effortless dance as we relinquish control
and limitation and allow our Spirit Within to express itself according to the music.”
and limitation and allow our Spirit Within to express itself according to the music.”
The Son was accepted with such enthusiasm that soon it became very popular without taking anything away from the Danzon. The Danzon, which had been the national dance of Cuba since 1879, could be found everywhere from the popular dance halls to upper class social clubs. The Son had the same elements as the Danzon but was different in its form. The Son, according to the Cuban musicologists was from its beginnings working class and it was transferred very easily all through the Caribbean by sailors.
"Moliendo Cafe" por Asucar Moreno
The Son was brought to Cuba by sailors and its history doesn't seem to interest many people today. Perhaps because its transculturalisation was due to the efforts of obscure individuals as opposed to a social cataclysm, such as the slave trade, or the Haitian revolution. And the original natives still had a big influence on the music and dance. I mention this business about social classes, demographics, and race because to understand the popularity of Latin Music in the US. all these things have to be considered.
"Don't let someone who gave up on their dreams, talk you out of yours."
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