Here we will share with you a brief description of Bolero history.
As we like to share the passion for dance, we also want to make sure we share the knowledge of its origins, evolution, and whatever information we know and find interesting.
Here we will share with you a brief description of Bolero history.
As we like to share the passion for dance, we also want to make sure we share the knowledge of its origins, evolution, and whatever information we know and find interesting. Some of you might not be so interested in this matter, but as we read and listen to a lot of mis-information, for us it is important to not just share steps, but also share the culture related with a particular dance. All the dances and music around the world are tied to a piece of history & culture, and it is the artistic manifestation of a collective or group, so we can’t forget about that, as we also have to acknowledge that it is an ever evolving entity, specially in our times, where things can change so rapidly.
Bolero, regarding of its roots, is definitely something Latino, part of their life and traditions, played in every home, and although mainly linked to Cuba or the Caribbean, it is a collective heritage that touches all Latino countries, from Mexico to Argentina and reaches also Brazil and Spain.
In the case of Bolero, its origins hold many theories, most states in Europe as the birthplace of the genre. Some believe, the Bolero comes from Spain and initially was a dance of light movement. There is also the theory that the name comes from the word Volero from the verb Volar, which means to fly, since the movement of the Spanish Bolero had some jumping that look like the dancer was flying. But the rhythms that come from Spain, which are 3/4, has nothing to do with what we know as Bolero today. Eventually, Bolero comes to America, specifically to Cuba, where the fusion of African rhythms in that wonderful magical area: the Caribbean, resulted in the rhythm of Bolero as we know it today, in its classic accompaniment: with a guitar and bongos and congas as percussion.
In Cuba, already in 1792, there are mentions of Bolero in a local newspaper: Hoja de Cuba. But what most agrees with, is that the first Bolero was written by Cuban Jose “Pepe” Sanchez in Santiago de Cuba in 1885, or around that time, and it was called Tristezas. Some historians don’t agree at all and it still creates a lot of controversy, but it is probably the first more widely known Bolero, so it is accepted that this piece gave the formal origin to this genre, it is classical style, which means accompanied by guitar and percussion, evolving from music in canteens to serenade music. So much so, that in 1985, in Miami, Florida, the Museum of Cuban Art & Culture celebrated the 100 years of the creation of the Bolero.
Jose “P