Social Dance: The Music

[IndyLady]

@Purr covered some of my "most important" items.

I tend to prefer mainstream pop songs - that's not to say I don't have some traditional favorites, but my entire reason for starting dance lessons, and in part for continuing, was/is to learn to move to songs I like in a manner other than flailing. I don't care how "authentic" or easy the beat is, if the song is soul-sucking or you'd never listen to it or play it outside of a social, delete it from the playlist. Songs need to inspire dancing, not just meet a checklist of academic criteria.

One thing I don't like: when songs are re-purposed and re-mixed for other dances. I've heard a Beatles song made into a salsa, Lady Gaga/Madonna songs done up as foxtrots, etc. I'd rather just hear the original Sinatra "Fly Me to the Moon" for the millionth time.

Also, for DJ's and pros... please don't be a song snob. I get it, Rihanna does not produce properly pure cha cha music. But if I happen to like that song and I dance to it when it's played, I'm not impressed with your condescending observation that it's not "really" a cha cha. I don't care, it's not going to make me like it any less or not dance to it next time. It just makes me think you're a [fill in the blank with insult].

 

[opendoor]

..songs announced as "swing" should have been announced as "foxtrot"

Swing is a rhythmical pattern, foxtrot a dance style.

 

[Steve Pastor]

This happened at a recent social when a few songs announced as "swing" should have been announced as "foxtrot" or maybe "swing dancers move to the inside of the dance floor, foxtrot dancers move to the outer lap".

THIS sounds familiar...

 

[Purr]

Swing is a rhythmical pattern, foxtrot a dance style.

Perhaps I should have said WCS.

 

[Purr]

Also, for DJ's and pros... please don't be a song snob. I get it, Rihanna does not produce properly pure cha cha music.

What? You mean Rihanna's S&M isn't a pure cha cha??!! LOL myself silly right now.

 

[FancyFeet]

Lol. My current favourite cha to practice to is a remix of "Please Don't Stop the Music". It's not traditional, and I don't care. I like the song, and it makes me want to dance.

 

[Purr]

Exactly. There is a relationship between how much I like a song, and how well I dance to it.

 

[opendoor]

You mean Rihanna's S&M isn't a pure cha cha??

Of course there is a difference between can or want dance to it, and what originally was meant as an appropriate style. (Cha cha traces back to the cuban musican Enrique Jorrín and all those who were involved in the developement of this music).
So in relation to the OP´s question concerning students and not experienced dancers. Should they learn to identify rhythmical patterns and musical traditions? What do you think?

 

[tangotime]

So in relation to the OP´s question concerning students and not experienced dancers. Should they learn to identify rhythmical patterns and musical traditions? What do you think?

What I know is that, if one ( to beginners particularly ) uses music that is as a substitute, then the chances are they will identify the latin genre as 'Pop' style .

I do know it's a matter of personal choice but I believe it is a slippery slope especially when there is an abundance of great song in the latin genre for ALL purposes be it social or comp work .

Here's more to the point ; Popular music does not have the instrumentation upon which the latin genre is founded, and after all. is that not the very reason the variety of steps were invented ? .

 

[IndyLady]

What I know is that, if one ( to beginners particularly ) uses music that is as a substitute, then the chances are they will identify the latin genre as 'Pop' style .

I call b.s. on this statement. I know literally no one (beginner or otherwise) who thinks Latin = mainstream pop music. There are a variety of songs, both current and traditional, for both Latin/rhythm and smooth/standard, and every venue/studio I've ever been to includes both. I have yet to see someone puzzled when a "traditional" rumba or cha cha comes on, like "that's not Latin".

Here's more to the point ; Popular music does not have the instrumentation upon which the latin genre is founded, and after all. is that not the very reason the variety of steps were invented ? .

Most people who start dance lessons do so because they want to dance to their favorite songs or at social functions like weddings, which tend to be mainstream pop or other type of non-traditional music. If you're going to restrict Latin to traditional music, prepare to lose a lot of these folks to hip hop or something else. I will re-iterate what I said in my previous post, the whole reason I started ballroom/Latin was so I could learn to dance to the music I liked. I wouldn't be here now if I hadn't seen that was possible. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate traditional music at times, but I'm not buying the notion that pop music is some sort of dangerous gateway drug. Music evolves, steps can be adapted.

 

[tangotime]

I call b.s. on this statement. I know literally no one (beginner or otherwise) who thinks Latin = mainstream pop music.

There are a variety of songs, both current and traditional, for both Latin/rhythm and smooth/standard, and every venue/studio I've ever been to includes both.

I can tell you that in the UK, Salsa clubs ( I know, it's not BR but a great ex. ) have been , in some towns, overtaken with DJs playing Pop among other styles ..Also, there are still studios, from my experience that shy away from more traditional style latin .

The UK has always been behind in adopting latin music. Reasons are most likely because of the absence of a latin population , and no radio stations to develop that style . And I do know that , in the States there are studios who do use both trad. and modern style music but the influx of modern seems to be growing. One has to only look at the song choices on this site, chosen for various reasons ( showcases comps etc ) and seldom if ever, do I see a post with tradit. music as a choice.

 

[opendoor]

..know literally no one (beginner or otherwise) who thinks Latin = mainstream pop music.

This defines what latin actually means to the world outside..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Grammy_Award

 

[tangotime]

This defines what latin actually means to the world outside..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Grammy_Award

That program ( Its annually ) does a great dis service to all the other latino performers/ Bands in other latin genres . It's all about music " sales " .

IF the producers had one ounce of common sense, they would add another category. There is a world wide audience for Salsa, Cumbia Merengue and Son etc .
There a quite a lot of Prof. musicians on salsa forums who have in the past complained about the program .

I also wonder why no one in those other genres don't produce their own version . The number of world class bands, singers and dancers would put that program to shame !!.. Even Senegal and other African countries are putting out some of the best music in years, from salsa to bolero's and rumbas .( of which I use in my teaching and for DJing )

 

[IndyLady]

I can tell you that in the UK, Salsa clubs ( I know, it's not BR but a great ex. ) have been , in some towns, overtaken with DJs playing Pop among other styles ..Also, there are still studios, from my experience that shy away from more traditional style latin .

The UK has always been behind in adopting latin music. Reasons are most likely because of the absence of a latin population , and no radio stations to develop that style . And I do know that , in the States there are studios who do use both trad. and modern style music but the influx of modern seems to be growing. One has to only look at the song choices on this site, chosen for various reasons ( showcases comps etc ) and seldom if ever, do I see a post with tradit. music as a choice.

That makes sense, UK vs. US (good observation on the prevalence of a Latino population) and strictly salsa (etc) clubs vs. ballroom studios. I figured on some level we were coming from different environments.

I think there is always going to be a tug-of-war on the balance between "traditional" and current. You can't hold on to the past forever (otherwise phones would all still have cords and be strictly used for verbal conversations) so I think some influx of modern is inevitable.

I will concede the last point - much of the music discussed here is modern. I've only chosen "traditional" songs for performances maybe a handful of times. For me personally, a lot of it comes down to what music moves me - I'm sure much of what resonates with me is considered the equivalent of candy or Wonder Bread, compared to the complex multi-grain of some of the more traditional, but c'est la vie.

 

[tangotime]

You can't hold on to the past forever

I think some influx of modern is inevitable.



.

I should have been more specific as to musical style when declaring' traditional '
.
Todays latin music is distinctively different than that of yesteryear .There have been very big changes on HOW music is written and played compared to that of the 40/50/60 and even 70s .I do still like much of the old stuff and use some on certain occasions .

This is not to say that all Latin bands have changed their formats, but there are so many new bands ( and old ) who have embraced the newer concepts .Do 'they' still retain foundation aspects ?...of course they do but its a 'new' sound and not because of recording. improvements.

Cha cha's recordings today are light years ahead of the way they originally were . Samba has also been re energised with some fab music from Brazil .

So, time did not stand still with the latin genre but in some ways was ahead of the BR style music .

Where I will agree about modern music, is for Demo's and Showcases

Here's a true story ;
There is a top latin coach who has been in favor of more tradit. songs for teaching for many years. They were offered to DJ at a major English comp ( in the late 70s ) . After the band took a break he played tradit Cha cha but NO one got up to dance !! . Some commented to him that they did not understand the music !!.. Ya cant make it up !