Cultural Dancing

Most of us know little about the official and complicated dance techniques that dance organizations have set up during the years. But there are many good dance gurus with plenty of experience that have a vast amount of knowledge in their own kuleanas.

"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome."

The Internationals more than the American Style because it is more concise and unanimous by Style. A third group has been emerging lately in which there are many opinions, many of which are very good, short and to the point.

Many millenniums ago, even before we became "modern man" there was some type of movement to a rhythm that was not straight walking. The great apes have something like this and many have seen it in this day and age.

 

"Young At Heart" by Frank Sinatra

But it was not until the beginning of Agriculture and the start of villages and the advent of the drum that dancing began. If the drum just went boom, boom, boom the people learn to walk in just slightly different way but keeping time to the drum. A little extra move of the shoulder, or the hip, or the knee, whatevah.

And from there evolved the most basic movement that exists to this day. You have all seen how they dance in Africa, just jumping up and down, one, two, three, four. And some do not need any count because it has no accent. All this voodoo about dance influence from Africa on Latin dance is just lack of documentation and misinterpretation. In the US, it is well documented that Jazz evolved from the Negros "after" the emancipation, from the Indian music and the marches of the day. Not from Africa.

"In My Life" by the Beatles

 

If Agriculture began 10000 years ago, about 8000 BC, the Indian Villages in Mexico began their similar trek into dancing as others all over the world. By 3000 BC, they had large towns that could afford professionals in many things. Religion, Astronomy, Mathematics, Music and Dance.

Now came the variations in movement all according to the same step, step, step of the no accent dance. With music it was easy to develop the One, two, One two with the accented beat. A famous movement even in the North American Indians was the toe on One, and the full foot on the two. You can see those to this very day.

The most famous remains the Milonga, an original South American cat dance with a pounce at the end of a short run. All step, step, step. Gradually accepted by the "illegal aliens" and it gradually evolved into the Tango.

So we come to the present day social cultural dancer. The street dancer with some school learning. Yes, it certainly helps, they have to learn standard movements so as to facilitate the lead and follow. These people just enjoy moving to music. Others have a different slant. No hu hu, we should attempt a little understanding and everyone should have a right to "their" way.

No truth to the rumor of a keg of beer and six cases of champagne.

The line dancers want to dance their way at their gatherings. Why not? The Salsa dancers want to dance their way at their gatherings. Why not? The Tango dancers want to dance their way. Why not? The only annoying thing is when any one of them start to look down their noses at the rest of us. Then it can become bothersome. Auwe!