By Federico Basilon, Ewa Beach
Latin music and dance still coming in strong from the US. Much of it is choreographed in the US for the US market. Salsa had been doing very well for three or four decades but now getting competition from Bachata which is getting acceptance in social dance circles. Lambada and Reggeaton came and went 20 years ago and now we have Zouk, Kizomba and Zumba waiting in the wings. And some still say it all comes from Africa. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
The people of the Caribbean did not suddenly appear when the Spanish got there. In their mass migrations south after crossing into Alaska from Asia, many of these "new" inhabitants got to Florida perhaps 25000 years ago, and from there, it was only ninety miles away to Cuba. They may have been the first ones. When the Indians got to Yucatan in Mexico perhaps 5000 years later, it was only 90 miles to Cuba, and naturally, many had to go. Those two groups had to meet eventually somewhere later. That automatically makes Cuba the most advanced area culturally because the ones coming from Mexico were very much ahead in human culture.
In each plantation they had a couple of slaves from North Africa, a couple from South Africa, a couple from West Africa, a couple from East Africa and so on. Many could not even speak to each other. They were very young teens and someone expects a common culture from these kids? The comparisons are ridiculous for the people that know. The slaves were not permitted in the upper class drawing rooms so they could not witness what was happening there. But they could see what the Indians were dancing and they learned. They did not teach, they learned, and very well indeed. Big difference.
Latin music and dance still coming in strong from the US. Much of it is choreographed in the US for the US market. Salsa had been doing very well for three or four decades but now getting competition from Bachata which is getting acceptance in social dance circles. Lambada and Reggeaton came and went 20 years ago and now we have Zouk, Kizomba and Zumba waiting in the wings. And some still say it all comes from Africa. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
"Social dancers know that in the beginning they may start with Minuet bodies
but they gradually get molded into Rumba bodies."
The people of the Caribbean did not suddenly appear when the Spanish got there. In their mass migrations south after crossing into Alaska from Asia, many of these "new" inhabitants got to Florida perhaps 25000 years ago, and from there, it was only ninety miles away to Cuba. They may have been the first ones. When the Indians got to Yucatan in Mexico perhaps 5000 years later, it was only 90 miles to Cuba, and naturally, many had to go. Those two groups had to meet eventually somewhere later. That automatically makes Cuba the most advanced area culturally because the ones coming from Mexico were very much ahead in human culture.
"Sobre Las Olas" por Juventino Rosas
In each plantation they had a couple of slaves from North Africa, a couple from South Africa, a couple from West Africa, a couple from East Africa and so on. Many could not even speak to each other. They were very young teens and someone expects a common culture from these kids? The comparisons are ridiculous for the people that know. The slaves were not permitted in the upper class drawing rooms so they could not witness what was happening there. But they could see what the Indians were dancing and they learned. They did not teach, they learned, and very well indeed. Big difference.
Note to the Republican Attack Dogs:
"War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left."
"War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left."
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