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Latin dances are passionate, fun, and incredibly popular all around the world. The diversity of the region is reflected in the variety of dances, as they tell a rich history of the contexts in which they were born and evolved. Enslavement, colonization, and indigenous culture weave together in vibrant rhythms that tell blended stories of origins. In this gallery, we outline some of the most popular Latin dances, their origins, and the people behind the tunes.
Care to dance? Join us on a tour of Latin dances by clicking through the gallery.
Latin dance has captivated dancers all over the world with its infectious rhythms and energetic beats. It’s no wonder it’s one of the fastest growing dance styles.
Latin dances mix the history of African dance, European partner dancing, and indigenous culture, forming incredibly varied dance styles accessible to everyone, regardless of previous dance experiences.
Unlike many formal ballroom dances, Latin dances emerged from society. They weren’t learned in dance schools or through formal training, but on the streets.
Each country and even region can have a completely different stylistic approach to a dance style.
Salsa is likely the most popular of all Latin dances. Originating from the streets of Cuba and Puerto Rico, salsa dancing really began to gain its groove in New York City in the 1960s.
Cuban and Puerto Rican immigrants fused together a number of Latin dance styles, such as cha cha cha, rumba, mambo, and others, to form what we know as salsa today.
Its historical roots are from traditional Cuban rhythms from the late 19th century, mixed with son cubano, a style that gained immense popularity in the 1930s.
By the 1990s, salsa had spread throughout the world. Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony (pictured), and Frankie Ruiz, among many other famous singers, became household names.
Bachata is one of the most popular Latin dances of our time, especially among young adults. Traditional bachata emerged from the Dominican Republic.
Dominican bachata focuses primarily on footwork to fast rhythms, while more modern versions of the dance are accompanied by slower beats and more sensual movements.
The rise of sensual bachata incorporates more sensual body movements, often quite close to a dance partner. This style has a great deal of Spanish influence.
More recently, a new style has emerged, mixing sensual bachata with Brazilian zouk, a dance form that originated from the lambada dance.
The most famous bachata bands and singers include Aventura, Xtreme, and Monchy & Alexandra. Famous modern singers include Juan Luis Guerra (pictured), Romeo Santos, and Prince Royce, among others.
Merengue is another dance that has origins in the Dominican Republic. Fast-paced music makes the dance captivating to watch as energetic footwork takes center stage.
The dance is not just popular in the Dominican Republic, it is danced throughout Latin America and is also quite popular in Mexico. Famous bands include Los Hermanos Rosario and Grupo Manía.
With historical roots in Spain and Cuba, Argentinian tango has clear influence from traditional European ballroom dances.
Passionate and dramatic, tango is typically danced at a slower pace, with little hip movements and photographic poses.
Cumbia is a Colombian dance that is danced in a circular shape, rather than side-to-side and front-to-back, as in salsa and bachata.
The spread of cumbia is owed largely to Mexican and Peruvian popularity, who made the style their own and transformed a more localized dance into an international sensation.
Cumbia is quite easy to learn and most people begin dancing by observing others.
Slain Mexican-American singer, Selena Quintanilla, took the world by storm with her incredible cumbia hits, making the genre popular throughout the United States, even to non-Latino populations.
Mambo is another Cuban dance that captivated dancers everywhere, especially developing in New York City in the 1960s and 1970s. Rooted in a mix of son cubano and other traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms, mambo is a staple in Latin dances.
The word "mambo" actually derived from the Congo region in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is said that the dance is named after “voodoo priests who thought they could send dancers into hypnotic states.”
If you’ve ever watched mambo, you’ll understand the hypnotic element. Intense hip movements, flicking feet, and dramatic hand movements make it absolutely captivating to both witness and dance. Some famous mambo bands include the Buena Vista Social Club and Tito Puente, among many others.
Although there are many Latin dances that we can’t possibly fit on this list, there’s one we certainly can’t leave out. Probably the most quintessential dance associated with Brazil: samba!
Many people learn samba in their local communities, but there is also a significant culture of samba schools. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of samba schools throughout Brazil.
Closely associated with Brazil’s Carnaval celebrations, it takes serious skills to keep up samba’s crazy quick footwork and mesmerizing hip movements.
Samba schools typically perform during Carnaval, accompanied by live music and incredible costumes. They prepare their performances throughout the year.
There are many other Latin dances like cha cha cha, rumba, son, pachanga, plena, boma, and more, that form the basis of other dances, too.
Sources: (Dance Facts) (Salsavida) (LA Phil) (Britannica) (Jazz Aspen Snowmass)
See also: The many musical styles of the Caribbean
Bachata, salsa, and more: a tour of Latin dances
Passionate rhythms tell vibrant stories of rich cultural exchange
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Latin dances are passionate, fun, and incredibly popular all around the world. The diversity of the region is reflected in the variety of dances, as they tell a rich history of the contexts in which they were born and evolved. Enslavement, colonization, and indigenous culture weave together in vibrant rhythms that tell blended stories of origins. In this gallery, we outline some of the most popular Latin dances, their origins, and the people behind the tunes.
Care to dance? Join us on a tour of Latin dances by clicking through the gallery.