Danzón

Pedaling around in the neighborhood where I took photos and videos of the folks dancing to Cuban Son, I came across another, much bigger dance event some days later.  A big crowd of people, mostly older, dressed to the nines, gathered for the 29th annual Plaza del Danzón, dancing this traditional dance to an orchestra from Sinaloa playing danzón music. From Wikipedia:  Danzón is the official musical genre and dance of Cuba It is also an active musical form in Mexico, and is still much loved in Puerto Rice. Written in 2/4 time, the danzón is a slow, formal partner dance, requiring set footwork around syncopated beats, and incorporating elegant pauses while the couples stand listening to virtuoso instrumental passages. The danzón evolved from the Cuban contradanza, or habanera (literally, 'Havana-dance'). The contradanza, which had English and French roots in the country dance and contredanse, was probably introduced in Cuba by the Spanish.  To tell you the truth, danzón is pretty boring itself but seeing the dancers in their costumes performing in perfect synchronicity, thoroughly enjoying themselves strutting their stuff, I find very entertaining.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw4kuMxAwmU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyTmpZU-mQY

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8TRWIaysP8&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss4nsYfj9F8&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OQgQE_OWvU