Have you ever heard of upbeat Latin dance music and wondered what it’s all about? If so, you’re one of many listeners who are simply fascinated by the invigorating combination of beats, rhythm, melody, and tempo of Latin dance songs that makes the audience want to get up and move their feet. It’s a whole genre of feel-good music that often has romantic undertones to it. As most of them feature lyrics in Latin American languages, not everyone can understand what the songs mean.
Latin dance songs continue to gain popularity across the globe. Music is a universal language and one of the most popular forms of human art and expression. As such, Latin music is appreciated everywhere in the world. They’re played and danced to in movies, theatre, and other types of performances. Key features of this genre have evolved and adapted into many contemporary songs as well. Altogether, Latin dance music has been and will remain to be a great part of the global culture.
Whether you’re a music enthusiast or simply a fan, you may be wondering how could you enrich your experience listening to Latin dance music. Here are a few suggestions you can consider to elevate your Latin dance music appreciation:
1. Join A Latin Dance Class
Apart from listening to dance music, you can further enhance your experience of Latin art and expression through their world-renown dances. Dancing is a great part of their culture and it’s an excellent way for you to have a first-hand experience of Latin dance music.
Nowadays, many dance schools offer various Latin dance classes and cater to all levels of learners. For instance, Zoltan’s Ballroom and Latin Dancing offers classes in Latin dances such as Rumba. Paso Doble, Cha-Cha, and Samba. These dances are popular in social gatherings, so you may find it useful to learn some of them.
2. Watch How Dances Are Performed
Watching a live performance of cultural dances can be a fascinating and memorable experience that allows a deeper appreciation of traditional dance music. This way, you’re able to associate the different movements with the rhythm and tempo of the song and their meaning.
You can also enjoy watching various Latin dance performances online through many video-hosting channels. This is also a good way to learn how music has evolved and how the Latin community incorporates traditional music in contemporary arts.
3. Search For Them In Movies
Another interesting activity that encourages Latin music appreciation is watching how they’re danced to and performed in movies. There are many films created with the main purpose of featuring different dance styles as a way to appreciate them and the music they use as well. For instance, the 1998 film “Dance with Me” by Sergio Mendez featured the song “Magalenha” which falls under the Batucada genre of Samba music. The combination of dance and music in the scene shows the audience the distinct beat, rhythm, and tempo of the highly-energetic Brazilian dance melody.
4. Learn About Their Origin And History
There are many kinds of Latin dance music, and each variety has its origin and history. For example, the world-famous Cha-cha dance is of Cuban origin and is danced to the music of the same name written by Enrique Jorin in the 1950s. The dance is named after the shuffling sound of the dancers’ feet when they make two quick steps one after the other which was the signature move of the dance.
Learning about the history behind each genre is a good way to understand and appreciate their unique qualities. Also, this may make it easier for you to identify the main differences between each type and distinguish them from one another.
5. Learn About Traditional Latin Musical Instruments
Learning about Latin music instruments can be an informative and enjoyable experience. This is because the musical instruments commonly used in Latin dance music have rich cultural and historical backgrounds. Many of these instruments came from various parts of greater Latin America, such as the La Marimba and the La Antara, which originated from the ancient Mayan civilizations in Central America, and the Nasca and Paracas civilizations of ancient Peru, respectively.
Apart from their origin and history, you can also find out how it’s used in different Latin music genres and what distinct sound they make on their own. This way, you can distinguish them as you listen to music which can be a fun and interesting activity as well.
Conclusion
It could be a great experience for anyone to explore the lively, colorful, and captivating world of Latin culture through their artistic musical expression. Apart from listening to it, you can enrich your experience of Latin dance music by learning more about its background and the different ways it can be enjoyed.
Through modern technology, listening to and appreciating music nowadays has become more convenient than ever. This is why it may be wise to take advantage of gadgets and technology that allow access to every Latin dance music genre for you to explore and enjoy.
