Figure 1.--e Bambuco, Cumbia, Merengue, Salsa, and Vallenato. Cumbia seems particularly important throughout the Andes. Traditional dance seems more strongly connected with Spanish styles and very limited Native American influences. The girls commonly wear swirling, very Spanish-looking dances and surely are the centerpiece of the dance. You do not see this in Native American dance. The boys tend to wear very basic white campesino outfits, often with neckerchiefs. Rgese children in Cali are performing a traditional dance, wearing white clothing and in bare feet. We see similar dance in other Latin American countries. The Colombian Sierra (Andean region) is home to more than 100 indigenous groups whose native music was used in rituals for healing and magic.

Both music and dance are very popular in Colombia. There are numerous popular and vibrant styles. The most popular local musical styles are Bambuco, Cumbia, Merengue, Salsa, and Vallenato. Cumbia seems particularly important throughout the Andes. Traditional dance seems more strongly connected with Spanish styles and very limited Native American influences. The girls commonly wear swirling, very Spanish-looking dances and surely are the centerpiece of the dance. You do not see this in Native American dance. The boys tend to wear very basic white campesino outfits, often with neckerchiefs. We note children in Cali performing a traditional dance, wearing white clothing and in bare feet. We see similar dance in other Latin American countries. The Colombian Sierra (Andean region) is home to more than 100 indigenous groups whose native music was used in rituals for healing and magic. One source insists that they have influenced many of Colombia's traditional styles of music and dance. The traditional dance we have noted seems, especially the dances performed by women and girls, show little connection with Native Ameican culture. Native American influences seem more important in music. African influences are clear in drums and Native American influences in flutes. Cumbia is a music and associated dance that is commonly viewed as a national tradition in Colombia, believed to have originated as a courtship dance during the Spanish colonial era. [Mauleon] The drums and flutes used in Cumbia music are largely nin-Spanish influences.

Sources

Mauleon

Created: 9:46 AM 9/9/2015
Last updated: 9:47 AM 9/9/2015