Episode 102: Traditional Dances of Latin America

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Paige: You are listening to “Coffee with Gringos.” I’m Paige Sutherland.

Ian: And I'm Ian Kennedy.

Paige: And so today we are going to talk about dance. Mostly we're going to stay in South America where they are the best dancers, so that's the place to talk about it because in the US, as Ian will tell you, we're not the best dancers. We just don't have much rhythm. It makes it hard when you travel in South America and you try to dance because you kind of stand out.

Ian: Exactly, right. In the US, I'm a terrible dancer, but most other people are terrible dancers so we all blend in together. And when I go dancing here in Chile or wherever I am in South America, I'm always a little bit self-conscious because I have that ritmo gringo really bad, you know? So, I have to explain to people and they say, “you know, come dance!” And I'm like, alright, we’ll let me take a couple shots first. Let me get a little drunk first because my inhibitions are a bit looser and I think in my mind, at least. I dance a little bit better with that liquid courage. But yeah, it's funny. I've definitely had my Latino friends and my girlfriend help me a lot to try to shake off that ritmo gringo that we have and try to adapt to the great dancers here in South America.

Paige: I know, I'm so jealous I just feel like people in Latin America just have so much rhythm, that they hear the music, they can easily sway to it and I'm like, I don't know what to do with my arms, my hips—like, I have no idea what I'm doing. And, like you said, after a few shots I think I know what I'm doing and I probably just look the same, but feel less embarrassed.

Ian: Exactly. It's interesting that you mentioned too that it's like here in South America I feel like music is such a part of life. It's like the background music to the entire day. When you go out, you hear music playing in the streets, people in their houses listening to music. I think we listen to music in North America, but I don't know if we listen to it to the same degree to where it's infused into our everyday lives and rhythms, right? It seems like in Latino culture your body moves with the music throughout the day. And I think it's a really great thing but it's a really stark difference between North American and South American cultures.

Paige: Yeah, I couldn't agree more because I think music it's part of all life. I mean, when you're in Latin America you go to a party with family and there will be dancing outside at the cookout. That would never happen in the US. You would never go dancing at a party with your parents and uncles and aunts, unless it was a wedding. A wedding is the only function that that happens at, and I feel like in North America it's like you go to clubs and clubs is a very small demographic. Where in Latin America, going dancing, going to the clubs, is going out. It gets synonymous. Where in US culture it’s more like you go to the bar, and you have few drinks and maybe there's dancing but you have to kind of seek it out.

Ian: It has to be the result of a lot of drinking in some cases.

Paige: So, we'll get into the different dances of South America. So, again listeners if you get lost, check out that audio guide and transcript. So, one of the most famous dances of South America, I think a lot of people know around the world is Tango, and that's from Argentina. So, we're going to play a little Tango just so you can hear what it sounds like now: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=-taUfmQL4-w). Ok, that sounds really cool. I actually was in Argentina, last year, and I saw Tango. It’s something that I feel like when you travel to Buenos Aires, you just have to go see. And so, it originated in the 19th century in the working-class districts of Buenos Aires and it just is super famous—the style is very sensual, it's very intimate between the partners. The music is just really soothing. I would highly recommend if you're going to Argentina that you should definitely go see some Tango. You went, right Ian?

Ian: Yeah, so when I went to Buenos Aires last year, it was obviously something you have to do when you go. It's really important, because it's so iconic, it's so well known, especially to Buenos Aires. So, we made a really good point to go see Tango at the San Telmo market on Sunday. So, they always have lots of dancers there in the big San Telmo market, in that neighborhood, and it was great. I mean, I admittedly am not a huge fan of watching or being a part of traditional dances, but I think it's so important to understand a culture—especially the different cultures in South America—that you have to observe it, you have to understand it. So, I was surprisingly entertained, and really happy to see it. And, obviously, it takes a lot of skill. I mean, these dancers are incredible for all the dances we're going to talk about but, you know, just to think about all the practice that goes into these routines and the history behind it, I think it's something really important as a tourist to go and see.

Paige: Definitely. And Tango, like I was saying, since it came from the working class, it's like this really intimate, sensual-like relationship between the male and female dancer, because it's supposed to be this passionate, almost storytelling dance. So, it's really cool to watch. The next dance—Ian, what do we have?

Ian: So, another iconic dance that probably most people in the world can also recognize, it comes from the huge country Brazil. So, the dance style there is the typical dance is called Samba, and it has an interesting history as well. So, the dance actually originates from spiritual Afro-Brazilian religions that existed in the country, basically starting in the northeast part of the country. So, we know Brazil is a huge country and so at first it started up in the northeast, where it had all these Afro-Brazilian origins. And then the rhythms started to sort of change and transform into other different styles and started moving more around the country. And so, it started to spread to more urban areas like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and with the increase of the popularity of Carnaval—the huge celebration every year in Brazil—this really helped transform Samba into the classic popular dance that it's known for now. So, whenever you see images of people celebrating Carnaval with all the colors, all the costumes, all the dancing, they're dancing this traditional Samba dance. It sounds really nice, so let's play a little clip here for the listeners so they can get a listen: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZWPYGbcVR8). So, as you can hear, it's different from Tango. It has its own sort of Brazilian flair to it. And again, it's iconic, if you see or hear anything with Carnaval. And when I went to Rio de Janeiro last year, it was amazing to see all this in person. To see huge groups of people with colors, costumes. People of all different heritages, different skin colors just all dancing together. It was a really beautiful thing to see and I think really encapsulates that Brazilian culture. It's something that we see throughout the world and it really represents the country.

Paige: Yeah, like you said, I mean, most of these dances have such unique costumes that really make it. They are very elaborate and sensual. It's pretty cool. I wish we had kind of a US dance with traditional costumes.  

Ian: Hey, we have country square dancing.

Paige: I was going to say. Yeah, I guess like that. Can we ask for something different?

Ian: We want a change, please.

Paige: Yeah, excuse me?

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Paige: Okay, another one—Cumbia in Colombia. That one also is not as famous as the Brazilian or Argentinian dances but still very popular. And like Ian was talking about Carnaval in Brazil, Colombia also has their own version and this dance is very tied to the African roots in Colombia.  So, it's a mix of African-European traditions and as well as indigenous that really fused together. Because the name Cumbia actually comes from the African word kumbe, which means to dance, which makes sense. And so, it's these elaborate costumes, kind of like in Brazil, and they also use a lot of indigenous instruments and the lyrics are from European descent. So, it's kind of just this infusion of the country's history—which is really cool—but it's a very popular folk dance. So, here's a clip of what it sounds like. So, tune in here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcLSK9mv_mA). So, as you can hear, it's very lively.  It's really great to see live when you go to Colombia—you have to see it. Okay, Ian. Last one, what's one more?

Ian: Okay, the last one that we saved, I think maybe the most important just because of our ties to Chile, we're going to talk about the traditional dance here in Chile that's known as the Cueca. And this is a really iconic and interesting dance that I've seen a lot here in person and I'm sure you have too during your time in Chile and this actually dates back to colonial times. So, it originated back in colonial times all throughout the country and basically, it's meant to represent the courting between a rooster and a chicken. So, it's really important for these two roles. So, you have the male partner who's sort of playing the role of the rooster and supposed to be attempting to seduce the female—the chicken.  And so, they’re dancing back and forth, it's very enthusiastic, there's loud stomping, so it's very loud. They link arms—the partners—they go around the dance floor, they face each other. The men and women they wave white handkerchiefs. It's super iconic and there's incorporations of handclaps and tambourines, and it's just a really iconic sound of Chile. So, we're going to play a clip right here for our listeners so you can get a little taste of what the Cueca sounds like: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz8_KmvqO80).  So, as you can hear, it's got the really iconic loud stomping, the handclaps, and it's something that we hear and see a lot, especially during the Fiestas Patrias here in Chile. If you go to a fonda—basically a carnival or a festival where people are celebrating the independence—it's super common to see lots of people dancing to this Cueca. And again, it's just really iconic to traditional Chile and I love to see people dancing it whenever I'm going around to different parties on September 18th.

Paige: No, so true, because we don't have anything really like that in the US. So, when I was at the "Dieciocho" fonda I was like “What is this handkerchief dance going on everywhere?” And I feel like it's something that as a child in the colegios (elementary schools) of Chile, you learn. I think everyone knows Cueca. Really a part of the tradition which I love. It's really cool.

Ian: Yeah, I love it too.

Paige: Yeah, we just have square dancing. Bummer.

Ian: Yeah, I don't know. I'm not so proud of that.

Paige: The thing about it is it's only for one region of the US, you know. Like you're never going to see really square dancing up in Boston—it's only in the South and Western part. But yeah, maybe one day the US will have some iconic dance. Who knows, not from us.

Ian: Not from us. Not unless we've had a lot of drinks and we have some inspiration.

Paige: Well, thanks, listeners. if you get lost, check that audio guide and transcript. I know times are a little different, but you can still dance inside—whatever dance—you can always learn something on YouTube. So, don't let that stop you.  

Ian: Exactly. And make sure you have a few drinks to help as well.

Paige: Well thanks for listening, guys.

Ian: And we'll see you next time.

Paige: “Coffee with Gringos” was brought to you by Dynamic English, where you can learn English simply by using it. If you’re interested in taking classes or just want to learn more, go to our website at dynamicenglish.cl. Thanks for listening.

Key Vocabulary, Phrases & Slang:

 1.     to stand out (phrasal verb): to attract attention.

a.     I stand out whenever I dance because I have no rhythm.

2.     to blend in (phrasal verb): to appear similar to one’s surroundings.

a.     I try to blend in with the crowd so I don’t attract attention.

3.     self-conscious (adjective): embarrassment or discomfort about oneself.

a.     I am self-conscious dancing with great dancers.

4.     ritmo gringo (noun): Spanish for “Gringo rhythm” used to describe the dance style of North Americans, usually lacking in rhythm.

a.     My ritmo gringo always shows whenever I dance at the club.

5.     shot (noun): a small glass of alcohol.

a.     I like to take some shots before dancing at the club.

6.     inhibition (noun): self-conscious feeling and unable to act naturally and relaxed.      

a.     Alcohol helps take away our inhibitions—especially when dancing.

7.     to shake off (phrasal verb): to get rid of or change.

a.     She can always find a solution when she needs to shake off a problem.

8.     to sway (verb): to move slowly or rhythmically backward and forward.

a.     The dancers like to sway slow and long so that the crowd is amazed.

9.     infused (adjective): to be joined or mixed together.

a.     The dances are infused with many different cultures together.

10.  stark (adjective): significant or noticeable.

a.     The stark difference between the two countries is obvious.

11.  function (noun): a social event.

a.     Weddings are one of the only functions that I go to wearing a suit and tie.

12.  demographic (noun): a particular part of a population.

a.     The drink is popular with a young demographic.

13.  to seek out (phrasal verb): to look for something; to search.

a.     She seeks out trouble everywhere she goes.  

14.  sensual (adjective): involving physical sensations, usually sexually.

a.     The sensual dance styles had the attention of the audience.

15.  soothing (adjective): having a gentle and calming effect.

a.     The soothing music made us feel comfortable in the house.

16.  iconic (adjective): significant and unique to something particular.

a.     The Eiffel Tower is an iconic symbol of France.

17.  clip (noun): a short sequence from an audio or video.

a.     The video clips showed us what we wanted to see.

18.  flair (noun): originality or uniqueness in style.

a.     Each dance has its own flair which makes it unique.

19.  heritage (noun): family or cultural legacy.

a.     Their heritage is very important to the population.

20.  to encapsulate (verb): to include and express the most important and essential features.

a.     The style of dance perfectly encapsulates the people and their culture.

21.  square dancing (noun): an unofficial traditional dance of the United States from Southern and Western “cowboy” culture.

a.      The square dance is definitely not one of my favorite dances from the US.

22.  indigenous (adjective): native.

a.     The indigenous music and dance of the culture were amazing to see and hear.

23.  fused (adjective): joined together.

a.     The dance and music fused together and created something special to represent the country.

24.  elaborate (adjective): detailed and complicated.

a.     The elaborate designs of the clothing took days to complete.

25.  lyrics (noun): the words of a song.

a.     The lyrics of the song are so powerful.

26.  lively (adjective): full of life and energy; active and outgoing.

a.     She joined the lively group of dancers.

27.  to seduce (verb): to attract someone into something, usually sexually.  

a.     The dancers seduced each other with their movements and abilities.

28.  to stomp (verb): to step or hit one’s foot powerfully on the ground.

a.     The dancers stomped on the floor as a part of the tradition.

29.  to link (verb): to connect or hold.

a.     The people decided to link arms and continue to march through the city.

30.  handkerchief (noun): a square-shaped cloth used to clean one’s face.

a.     The white handkerchief is a symbol of the Chilean Cueca.

31.  incorporation (noun): the inclusion or joining of something.

a.     Dancing allows for the incorporation of different cultures.

32.  handclap (noun): the action of hitting one’s hands together.

a.     The handclaps were very loud inside of the festival.  

33.  tambourine (noun): musical instrument played by hitting or shaking with the hands.

a.     The tambourines were playing all day long.

34.  bummer (noun, slang): a disappointment.

a.     You can’t come dancing with us tonight? Bummer!