Guaguancó
Encyclopedia
Guaguancó is a sub-genre of Cuban rumba, a complex rhythmic music
and dance
style. The traditional line-up consists of:
Other instruments may be used on occasion, for example spoons, palitos
(wooden sticks striking the side of the drum) or guagua (kind of woodblock).
Some historians have suggested that the guaguanco may be derived from the yuka, a secular dance of the Bantu people. It became distinct from other forms of rumba, such as yambu and Columbia, in the mid-19th century. Usually danced by a male-female couple, it represents a flirtatious, sexual game and includes a distinctive body movement called vacunao (pelvic thrust) performed by the male dancer (also found in other African-based dances from Latin America).
During a number, dancers, lead vocal and quinto interact in a complex manner:
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
style. The traditional line-up consists of:
- three drums, similar to congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
drums: the tumba (lowest), llamador (middle, playing a cross-clave counter rhythm), and quinto (highest, solo drum). These parts may also be played on cajonesCajónA cajón is a box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru, played by slapping the front face with the hands.-Origins and evolution:...
, wooden boxes. - clavesClavesClaves are a percussion instrument , consisting of a pair of short Claves (Anglicized pronunciation: clah-vays, IPA:[ˈklαves]) are a percussion instrument (idiophone), consisting of a pair of short Claves (Anglicized pronunciation: clah-vays, IPA:[ˈklαves]) are a percussion instrument (idiophone),...
- a solo singer
- the coro (chorusChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
) - two dancers, one male, one female.
Other instruments may be used on occasion, for example spoons, palitos
Palitos
A palito is a Puerto Rican musical instrument typically 25 cm long and 3 cm in diameter made of wood. One palito is held in one hand, loosely resting on the palm, and is struck by the other palito in order to create a resonating sound. There are many variations, many of which...
(wooden sticks striking the side of the drum) or guagua (kind of woodblock).
Some historians have suggested that the guaguanco may be derived from the yuka, a secular dance of the Bantu people. It became distinct from other forms of rumba, such as yambu and Columbia, in the mid-19th century. Usually danced by a male-female couple, it represents a flirtatious, sexual game and includes a distinctive body movement called vacunao (pelvic thrust) performed by the male dancer (also found in other African-based dances from Latin America).
During a number, dancers, lead vocal and quinto interact in a complex manner:
- "The couple begins to dance -- the male dancer is more active as he circles around her without touching her. The dance climaxes as the male attempts to give the vacunao when the female is unprepared to avoid it. Much of her dancing expertise resides in her ability to entice the male while skillfully avoiding being touched by his vacunao."