OLYMPICS /
Cultural Olympics
Latin American Night—From Mayan civilization to Latin Flavor
Chinculture.org
Updated: 2008-08-19 10:01
Argentine Tango
Argentine Tango is a social dance and a musical genre that originated in Argentina and moved to Uruguay and to the rest of the world later on. In the US, it is commonly confused with Ballroom Tango, though this is a later derivation. Argentine Tango is danced in an embrace that can vary from very open, in which leader and follower connect at arms length, to very closed, in which the connection is chest-to-chest, or anywhere in between. Close embrace is often associated with the more traditional styles, while open embrace leaves room for many of the embellishments and figures that are associated with Tango Nuevo.
Columbia Salsa
Salsa is usually a partner dance, although there are recognized solo steps and some forms are danced in groups of couples, with frequent exchanges of partner. Improvisation and social dancing are important elements of Salsa but it appears as a performance dance too.
Andean music comes from the general area inhabited by the Incas prior to European contact. Andean music comes from the general area inhabited by the Incas prior to European contact. It includes the countries Chile, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Cuban music and tropical dance
Reciprocally, Cuban music has been immensely influential in other countries, contributing not only to the development of jazz and salsa, but also to Argentinian tango, Ghanaian high-life, West African Afrobeat, and Spanish Nuevo flamenco. Cuban music of high quality includes classical music, some with predominantly European influences, and much of it inspired by both Afro-Cuban and Spanish music.