Dancing to another beat?

Diana says on Aug 20, 2004, 10:51:

There are to types of vallenato: romantico y de paranda. Then there is Carlos Vives, I refer to his vallenato as "rock vallenato." Examples of vallenato are Diomedes Diaz, Los Hermanos Zuleta, Veto Galvez, Silvestre Dangon, Los Betos, Ivan Villazon, and my personal favorite Los Inquietos.

Explaining how to dance vallenato can be quite a challenge. The only thing I can say is that you don't lift your feet off the ground. When in Colombia, I felt that the only people that could dance vallenato correctly are in Barranquilla or Santa Marta.

Aaron from what you have said about salsa dancing I gather that you are from Florida?

Coming from a Cuban-Colombian family, I would say that salsa cuban style is just alot more twist and turns because we are accustomed to dancing casino style. And Colombians seem more laid back when dancing.

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elmodefoque says on Aug 20, 2004, 11:11:

Diana, you are absolutely right; the only people who truly know how to dance Vallenato are from Barranquilla (me), Valledupar and Santa Marta. Vallenato is one of the most exiting and sexual dances to do, you dance so close that you feel the woman’s heart beat, but if you get one with Ana Nichole Smith chest it might be a little more difficult. This dance originated from “corronchos” or low life from my favorite neighborhoods in Barranquilla like el Barrio Abajo, El Boston and best of all “La Chinita”
This dance I would recommend to be done only between engaged or married couples because you dance so closed that in some cases girls have lost their virginity smack in the middle of the dance floor. Don’t’ do this dance with the mother in-law.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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santiago says on Aug 20, 2004, 15:27:

Heh!!!! What about Medellin for Vallenato I danced Salsa, Merengue, Vallenato, Cumbia, 13 out of 15 nights in Medellin this month and I saw some of the best and sexiest Vallenato ever.

Yes, Valledupar is the Capital of Vallenato but WOW, there are some great dancers in Medellin.

Aaron, Diana is so right that it is hard to explain because of the various Vallenato music.
The more romantic songs have the most simple steps in my opinion.
I bet if you watch for awhile you could pick up the steps if you already dance Salsa.
Good Luck
Santiago

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litost says on Aug 20, 2004, 16:06:

Vallenato is similair in its speed and rythm to Bachata, although it can get faster and generally has more instruments playing. I've actually heard here in the US vallenato songs transformed into bachata, an awful thing IMO because I find vallenato far superior, they should just play the original ones but for some reason vallenato hasn't really broken through here yet (Carlos Vives aside).

Aaron, if you have an email account with a lot of capacity I could send you a vallenato song...

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lozza says on Aug 20, 2004, 16:28:

There are actually 4 main styles of Vallenato music, different rythms, and accordian style, so you can dance a more up-beat variation. It is a very close dance, but it is not complicated. I do love to dance Vallenato, but after a couple of years living in Valledupar where there is little else it does get waring, and you crave a bit of variation. At the moment Vallenato is very popular all over Colombia and i have noticed the change over the last few years - 3 or 4 years ago in Cali = Salsa with bits of other music, now it seems there is as much Vallenato as anything, it is definately 'la moda' at the moment. although you will hear it all over, away from the coast and Valledupar it is far more commercial. There are definately websites on Vallenato, just a question of finding them.
I must admit, accordian music never seemed attractive to me before, but it did grow on me and it is an impressive sight to see a 9 year old play the accordian live like Jimmy Hendrix played the guitar. Check out festival Vallenato - end of April.

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CarlosBogota says on Aug 20, 2004, 16:37:

Vallenato is in my blood Carlos Vallenato suprisely is not only pouplar in the coast but also in Bogota. Bogota is regarded as a city whose love for Vallenato surpasses even Barranquilla. I remember the times with cousins in Barranquilla on my frequent visits to colombia how I listen to Vallenatos on weekends till 3AM especially Jorge Onate and Binomio De Oro drinking Aquilla Beer and Aguardiente Tres Esquinas. Even In Bogota there many Vallenato clubs and with the other side of my family we would get together drink Nectar talk laugh and enjoy life as family. colombia is wonderful Colombia is good Our politics is what brings us down as people as a nation. I love Colombia I love USA I love Life because at any moment I will have have none

Carlos

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CarlosBogota says on Aug 20, 2004, 16:45:

Colombian Unity Colombian Pride I feel as Colombians we have certain pride in our culture in our nation in our people. We are hard working people whose talents are undermined by other other and by ourselves at times. We are a strong people we are people of diverse culture within our own country. I've been all over Colombia from Riochaca Guajira to Impiales Narino and I would say that all Colombia is diverse and different from one region to the other but in all we are one nation we are Colombianos. Sea Bogotano Sea Paisa Sea Barranquillero Sea Pastuso somos Colombianos somos una nacion aunque con problemas aunque pobre pero con coraje con caracter con sentido de ser Un Colombiano Un Colombiano de verdad

Carlos

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elmodefoque says on Aug 20, 2004, 17:27:

nojoda hermanito, que paso parece que se metio un over dose (OD) de arepa, pan de yuca con kola roman. i'm as petriotic as the other guy but you sound like my late great grandfather, that sob farted to the tune of the colombian national anthem.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Wingman says on Aug 20, 2004, 21:07:

Warning: Brain Damage-!!! Hey there Aaron,
Reading over your “Other Beat” topic, I found your stance rather amusing just as you claim to be a “US Born White Guy”. And what do you know? Heck, Salsa & the wide array of Latino Beats (in my opinion) are all correlated in a unique way. Honestly, it is rather nice of you to be interested on this culture aside from the fact that you appear to be well informed which is rather flattering. As I see it, Salsa’s origins swing mostly around the Panamanian, Colombian, Puerto Rican & Cuban musical theater. As for Bachata and Merengue, these are strictly Dominican genre. (Important Note: It has been said that just 3-minutes of this music causes brain damage). As to “Vallenato” (and Cumbia for that matter) these are all obviously Colombian in nature. At any rate, I was rather shocked & surprised once for while doing business in Philadelphia, sipping on a drink at the hotel lounge where I was staying, I heard Salsa in the background. When I went to find out where the music was coming from, I found and all “White” American crowd doing some fantastic/impressive Salsa dancing. Curious as it was, found out the only Latinos there were the Puerto Rican-DJ & myself. Question: Did you know there are over 1-million American Citizens from the Commonwealth State of Puerto Rico that do not understand or relate to Salsa music? Guess over 100-years as an integral part of the United States (since 1898) has had its toll. I don’t dislike Salsa BUT believe me, wouldn’t spend a dime on it. Just a matter of personal taste. Whatever happened to Bach, Van Halen, Mozart, Sting, the Beatles & the Atlanta Rhythm Section anyhow-??? Cheers…… how about Jimi Hendrix, the Guess Who, BTO, ELO, Saga & Asia??? BTW: Boston - LIVE in concert, 27th of August. Right here in San Juan, Puerto Rico-USA !!!

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 20, 2004, 21:45:

What are you saying, Wingman? That 3 minutes of merengue causes brain damage? Well call me terminal, I love Elvis Crespo!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Wingman says on Aug 20, 2004, 22:42:

Just Kiddin' Cowboy... How’di there Cowboy,
Look Dude, it was just a friendly point of view, that’s all. It just reminds me of my older brother. You know, every time we'd hear some Bachata or Merengue he'd always tell me: “Young man, stay away from that music – it’s hazardous to mental health - “Giggles” - Truth is that Elvis Crespo music IS “touchy-contagious” – Sounds like a lot of fun indeed. Nonetheless, (and I’m 46) none of that sort of music was ever heard in the household. The way I grew up, as with many other Americans in the Island - Dad always had his Big Band music, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, that sort. Mother played the Franz Peter Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven & Johann Sebastian Bach's type. As for my brother: Beatles, Chubby Checker, Elvis, Animals, Beach Boys…….. but anyway HEY – t’was just a viewpoint. Remember Peter, Paul & Mary? How about Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tower of Power, even Barry White???

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ShazCas says on Aug 21, 2004, 05:59:

Brain Damage Wingam, I laughed when you said that merengue and bachata cause brain damage! Have you ever heard the merengue song that's just got dogs barking? You reminded me of this! :-) I do love merengue though, even though it can get a bit much sometimes, and I think that if you listened to it 24 hours a day, you'd definitely have brain problems!!

Utopia, I used to love Elvis (despite his hilarious name!) but my Salsa Aerobics teacher plays him over and over, and his classes are REALLY hard, I end up nearly falling on my ass, so Elvis reminds me of that now! :-)

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British Paisa says on Aug 21, 2004, 10:37:

if you want to hear some vallenatos you can log into www.lavallenata.com, it is a colombian radio station that only plays vallenatos.

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aaronfromus says on Aug 21, 2004, 13:11:

so much music, so little time Diana,
From my "vast", "far-reaching" and "all-encompassing" mastery of the spanish language, I was able to decipher that some vallenato is romantic, but what does "paranda" mean. :P

Ya, I guess it does seem like I would be from Miami or something. That seems to be the "Cuban Hub" of the US. Actually though, I am from Michigan; world renowned home of cuban dance. lol
Question: when you say you are accustomed to dancing the casino style I'm not sure what you mean. I have heard casino applied to the cuban style itself or to dancing casino de rueda (which is also very fun).
It is funny that there are so many great cuban dancers here in the the middle of Michigan. I thought that maybe it was the combination of factory work with colleges and universities that was attracting them. Last night though, I was told by the DJ (who has been here for a while) that the US tends to distribute the immigrants to areas with fewer large urban populations. He said the slower pace encourages acclimation to the culture, language, and education and discourages criminal activity.

Thanks for the names of some vallenata artists. I'll see if I can track any of them down. Barranquilla huh, hmmm....

On a side note Diana, I'm also trying to pick up some of that Guaguanco. I guarantee ain't no US white guy doing that around here. But, it has an earthy quality that I find appealing. Not to mention that it is incorporated into some of the cuban salsa. By the way Diana, where the heck is that beat? Or better said... which one is the beat?... I have yet to break the 10 drum code. ;)

Elmo: yet another good reason for doing the famous "chicken dance." I will not violate any woman's virginity, therefore, not be drawn into any colombian street fights:)

Santiago: I'm going to have to watch some vallenata during any trip to Colombia, (maybe even get a lesson or two). I would love to pick up some of it and bring it back home. From the sound of it, the great white north doesn't know what it's missing:D

litost: I would love it if you would send me a song. I'm sure I've got enough capacity on Yahoo... 2GB. It's encouraging that it is similar to Bachata because that just means less to learn. I wonder why it hasn't broken into the US yet? Is there not enough demand from the Colombians here? alackie at yahoo.com

lozza: Jimmy Hendrix on the accordian?.. Whoaa. That sight might take some getting used to. I'll probably have to dance with my eyes closed. ;)

Wingman: I have to disagree, I don't think Bachata and Merengue cause brain dama...... well.... ok... maybe some of those Merengues. I was telling some people last night that if I were King there would be no playing of those Merengues that have the "dopey beginnings." Is it just me? :)

I didn't know that there were so many Puerto Ricans unfamiliar with salsa. I guess anything's possible. Funny you mention it though, because I did have the opportunity to teach a lovely Puerto Rican lady how to do some salsa. Hmmm....

As for Jimmi Hendrix the Beatles and all those others. I grew up listening to classic rock. It was kinda a progession for me. First I started with the 50's like "rock around the clock." Then it was the 60's with the Beatles, then it was the 70's with Led Zepplin, then it was the 80's with -insert any of the generic pop groups here-then it was the 90's with Metallica. After a while I just needed a change of pace I guess. I think Salsa, Bachata and all the others are so refreshing. I've been enjoying the Latin music for a few years now, and I'm still not tired of it. I'm sure I'll be listening to it for years to come.

Speaking of seeing a club that is full of US folks dancing salsa, I've seen plenty of those. The one's I've been to seem a bit uptight to me though. Ironically, the places I like to go have very few US folks in them. Usually the population of the places I like to go are made up of Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Colombians (on occassion), Venezualans, Mexicans, Hatians, Dominicans, and Panamanians...(Geez... That list was probably long and unnecessary.) I think that makes it all the more funny that I don't know spanish:) It felt funny at first being the only blond haired blue eyed guy in the building. But, I got used to it after a while. Now people I've never known seem to know me as "That white guy," or "The Americano with the glasses." I don't mind though. Everyone's pretty generous with their handshaking and beer buying. On a side note, I find there's nothing like having a latina ask me where I learned to move like a latin guy. One of the simple pleasures in life ;)

British Paisa,
Thanks for the suggestion. But I went to lavallenata.com and wasn't able to get any music. I tried both the "audio" button and the radio link with the scolling text. I kept getting the error message that the link was not valid. Bummer...


Thanks for all the input,
Aaron

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 21, 2004, 19:28:

I wasn't offended, Wingman - I thought your comments were funny. Hell, my brain probably IS damaged from listening to too much merengue music. Que locura!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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litost says on Aug 21, 2004, 22:13:

Barranquilla ciudad de cantores... Ok aaron, I just sent you a song called "Obsesion", which is one of my favorite vallenatos. It was a very popular song a few years ago in Colombia, I enjoyed it many times combined with shots of aguardiente and a special lady ;-)

I am no guru on the subject, in fact I barely ever listen to tropical music, but it's a song that brings me special memories and is very fun to dance and sing to!

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aaronfromus says on Aug 22, 2004, 08:47:

hundreds of gringos . . . litost,

I recieved the song, thanks. I must admit it is different hearing an accordian, but it does have a nice melody though. Also, it is hard to belive there is something that could be referred to as "rock vallenato." It's even harder to concieve of an electric accordian:)

That does sound like a line, but if something is true is it really a line? Well, now there is one less gringo ;)

Thanks again, you rock.... or better, you vallenato.
Aaron

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Diana says on Aug 22, 2004, 20:44:

Parranda means party, this type of vallenato is very lively and upbeat. Where vallenato romantico is more melow and slow.

When I stated that I am use to dancing casino, I am refering to the cuban style itself as well as la rueda. But I have become more accustomed to the Colombian style because of my boyfriend.

I have attempted to track some of the vallenatos I listed, but have been unsuccessful so far. I will continue looking for them. Looking for Carlos Vives should be fairly easy, you might want to try his song 'La Gota Fria'.

Its great that you are learning to dance guaguanco, but honestly I have no idea about the beats because I only danced it as a child. I tend to stick with dancing vallenato, salsa, merengue, bachata, reggeaton or champeta.

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aaronfromus says on Aug 23, 2004, 08:22:

rock vallenato Diana,
Thanks for the translation. I was able to find Carlos Vives on Amazon with a clip from La Gota Fria. I listened to the clip and was surprised to find out that I had heard the song before. Apparently, they've been playing it every now and then at the club I like to go to in between the salsa, merengue and bachata. Go figure? :) I remember thinking to myself... "That sounds cool, but what the heck is it? What dance goes with that"? It reminded me of a cross between cumbia and some kind of Andes music. I was thinking somehow Mexico and Peru got together or something ;) But now I've got the real scoop. Thanks for looking for the vallenatos that you listed.

This is all very informative. Too bad no one in my vicinity seems to dance it though :(

Aaron

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