The performing arts on Puerto Rico have been an important form of cultural expression throughout the history of the island, particularly dance and music. Theater has also played an integral role in shaping the culture of this Caribbean

Caribbean

The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...

 commonwealth. Puerto Rico's dance and music has emerged from the ritualized celebrations of the island's indigenous people to a diverse range of blended genres adapted from all over the world.

Before the arrival of European explorers, the Taíno

Taíno people

The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. It is thought that the seafaring Taínos are relatives of the Arawak people of South America...

 Indians, who were the island's first inhabitants, used music and dance for traditional celebrations. These celebrations included events like religious ceremonies and other festivities. The styles and genres of dance and music on Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

 have been highly influenced by countries like Africa, Europe, and the United States. Because Spain was the first country to colonize Puerto Rico, it had the most impact on the island's culture. Some of the most popular forms of dance originated in Spain, and have evolved into dance movements that are unique to the island. Forms of dance that originated in Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

, Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

, and other parts of the Caribbean include salsa, merengue, danza, plena, bomba, and cha-cha. Puerto Rico's Caribbean neighbors that have had the most influence on the choreography of the island's dance genres are Cuba and the Dominican Republic. There is also an infamous Puerto Rican dance which is, in fact, called the Puerto Rico. Theater is also a popular form of performing arts on Puerto Rico. There are several performing arts theaters on the island, mostly in the capital city of San Juan

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...

.

External links

• Puerto Rico Dance - Dr. Ana Maria Maynard, Director, Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center
• Música - Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña