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Description of similarities and differences inherent in the dances
One similar strand characteristic of the three dances is opposite gender involvement where all instances have a man and woman dancing. In both the country-dance and Cuban salsa, the partners strive to dance in unison and harmony while connecting to a larger group of couples taking part in the same dance. However, in the CookIsland dance, the dance partners try to out do each other with little or no focus on the harmony and unison. All the dances especially the country-dance and CookIsland dance exhibit feelings of extreme happiness and a carnival atmosphere. There is an ardent element of vigor in the Cuban Salsa and the CookIsland dance where vigor is associated with skill while dancing. The Cuban Salsa takes it to a climax with varying foot moves and techniques consistently changing. In contrast, the Country-dance involves the participants dancing a predefined sequence. Of the three dances, the Cuban Salsa emerges as a sensual dance where the couple has to exhibit a higher level of oneness complimented by skill. Thus, the age group engaged in this type of social dance is likely to be young. Conversely, the country-dance is less vigorous thus encompassing participants that are more diverse.
Cultural themes and backgrounds represented by the dances
The Cuban salsa chiefly involves shifting one’s weight on a set number of beats usually eight. This is in tune with music characteristic of the Cuban culture namely the son and rumba. As evident in the dance, the leader is the male dancer who signals the female dancer using movements of the arms. In real sense, the Cuban culture places leadership roles on the male figures and depending on responsiveness to the leadership, the female either created a feeling of harmony or disharmony. The country-dance is more socially enhancing since the entire couples dance to a similar dance sequence. This can be traced to the historical instruments used in producing relevant music, the Shawm as well as sackbut. These instruments were loud and thus were used for outdoor festivities where everyone from the western village was involved. This meant incorporating as most people into the dance, thus a simple routine or sequence was developed and couples would dance to it. This manner of dance traditionally was characteristic of Christian communities explaining less public physical contact. On the other hand, the Cook Island dance is historically meant to bring out the difference between a woman’s harmony and a man’s erotic character. The woman is to display harmony by gracefully swaying the hips while feet are wholly on the ground or flat while the shoulders are held up and still. The man makes jerky movements with the body and knees knocking simultaneously with the beat. This dance is known as the hura and the songs have lyrics telling a story or tale with a moral teaching. This explains why one or few couples dance while the rest watch since the dance is meant to attract and retain the audience’s attention.
Men-women interaction in the dances
The Cuban Salsa has men lead the women while dancing to form the open or closed positions. The responsiveness of the women brings out the harmony of the couple especially if in tune with the man’s prompting. The interaction in this social dance is intimate where the woman “reads” the man’s next move and anticipates for fast and graceful response. Given this level of interaction, it is suited culturally suited for adults. The CookIsland’s hura has the man following the woman’s as if to compliment the graceful sways with the vigorous upper body and knee jerks. This places the woman as the center of the dance with her gracious sways. There is little or no physical contact thus the dance was cultural practiced from early childhood. The country-dance is not strictly an opposite gender interaction dance, the vital requirement is having a partner. Consequently, the interaction between man and woman is least sensual of the three dances in country-dance.
Work cited:
Country Dance Cotton Eyed Joe &BB Polka Draguignan, Youtube.com, November 2006.
Chris Wins Cook Islands Dance Contest, Youtube.com, September 2007.
Cuban Salsa Dance Styling, Youtube.com, December 2006.
(Teachers name), Social dance, Arts and architecture, October 6th 2011.
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