Cuba and the Dance

Cuba and Its Different Dances
Name
Institution
Cuba and Its Different Dances
Introduction
The structural reforms in Cuba did not replace the different connection of cultural, religion and ethnic identity the country have been facing for the past decade. Many marginalized groups in Cuba welcomed the idea of structural reforms that was aimed at eliminating all forms of cultural practices. The idea behind the structural reforms was to unify all Cubans regardless of their race and culture. Not everyone welcomed the move; due to their complex cultural believes they continued maintaining their identity especially the mixed African dances and music as a sign of solidarity and defiance of other cultures (Lievesley, 2004). For years, Cubans have been practicing the culture of dances, which vary depending on ethnicity.
Background
Music and dance play an important role in Cuba. The Caribbean Island country is full of multiple music and dance styles with its roots originating from the African slaves who were bought to the island in the 18th century (Lievesley, 2004). Calabildos, a group of different African associations, has since preserved their cultural way of life with Santeria as their religion. Santeria spread to other parts of Cuba and influenced music. Danzon is a type of ancient dance involving pelvic movement that became famous and acted as a model which organized social patterns of behavior especially on the dance floor. The dance was structured in a way that enabled dancers to socialize, listen to the orchestra, converse and watch other at such gatherings. It later incorporated other afro-Cuban features including hip isolation. One of the famous dances was called the Mambo, developed in 1940. Later, Cha Cha Cha became famous in 1950 (Lievesley, 2004).
Types of dances
Salsa is one of the dances still practiced even today in the country. It involves vibrant energetic swings accompanied by an intense beat as it is a blend of Mambo and the Latin jazz. This gave the dancers a freedom of expression, making the dance be incorporated as part of Cuban identity. Salsa became a unifying factor in the 21st century as it broke barriers of ethnicity and class to become a national identity (Cazares, 1997). In Cuba, the African ritual dances were performed in large groups reflecting the main groups of Africans who came to Cuba, for instance, the Kongo-Angola coming from both the west and central Africa.
The Santeria a mixture of African and Roman Catholic became a religious practice, which formed part of the dances in Cuba. Men and women sung and danced, but men had the upper ro...