The History of Afro-Cuban Dance
Afro-Cuban dance, like many other Latin dances, has a driving beat and makes you move your body rhythmically. It has become popular all over the United States and also in Europe. There are many schools and organizations that offer classes and fiestas where you can show off your skills.
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Afro Before Cuban
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Dance in Africa began before the onset of recorded history. According to African Dance-Music.com, tribal dances were an expression of feeling love, they were used in courtship and before war. They also had religious implications and were used to help cure illnesses. The one truly unifying factor in African dance is the strength of the drums and percussion instruments as a background to the movement of the dancers' bodies.
How Did African Dance Get to Cuba?
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Christopher Columbus actually landed in Cuba in 1492. He claimed the island as a Spanish colony. Originally, the Amerindians, who were natives of Cuba, worked the sugar and coffee plantations. However, as the Indians died and the need for labor grew, slaves were imported from Africa to fill the void. They brought with them their native African rhythms.
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Spain And the Flamenco
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The Flamenco was introduced into Spain in the 15th century by gypsies who came to the Andalusia region from eastern Europe. These gypsies had a rich history of expressing themselves through music and dance. Once in Spain they intermingled, and a new vibrant dance form developed. It was this Flamenco which the Spanish conquerors brought with them to the new world.
How Afro-Cuban Dance Began
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The Afro-Cuban dance was originally developed with the intermixing of the African dance of the slaves and the flamenco of the Spanish masters. Both dance forms are enthusiastic and require the participants to move their bodies vigorously.
Afro-Cuban Dance Today
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Cubans have been coming to the United States for many years. Since 1959 when Fidel Castro took power in Cuba, the stream turned into a river. As these Cubans arrived, KET.org notes that these immigrants introduced part of their culture, including the Afro-Cuban dance, into the mainstream of American life.
Where You Can Learn Afro-Cuban Dance
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Afro-Cuban dance is in no way restricted to the Latin community. You can take classes at community centers and dance studios. Many universities, such as Humboldt State University, offer classes in Afro-Cuban dance for college credit. There are also clubs dedicated to the history and practice of the dance.
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- Photo Credit Reed Dance in Swaziland - young girls dancing for their king image by Elzbieta Sekowska from Fotolia.com
