Mambo In New Zealand
Origin:Mambo originated in Havana, Cuba in the 40s. The Mambo was originally played as a Rumba with an emphasis on 2 or 4. Once introduced, it fast led to other variations. Although Mambo did not last long and is only danced by advanced dancers today, it led to other styles that became popular such as Salsa and Cha-cha.Music:Mambo is an up-tempo dance rythm, usually around 200 bpm. Mambo, like Salsa is played in 4/4 with all 4 beats being evenly accented. Like a lot of Latin American rythms, per...
Smash Hits Rest In Peace
Smash Hits RIPIn 1978 former NME writer Nick Logan birthed Smash Hits on his kitchen table. The first issues cover star was Plastic Bertrand, and Logan so unsure of the magazine he edited it under the pseudonym Chris Hall. He shouldn?t have worried as the Magazine went on to both mirror and shape the pop music of the 1980?s. Its colour posters became wallpaper for teenagers bedrooms. The real revolution was securing the rights to print the lyrics to ?Smash Hit?of the day. These lyrical crib shee...
10 Tips For Succesful Production Of Dance Music
1. Get the right monitoring.For dance, bigger monitors = better monitors. Bigger recording room = better room. Remember that dj in club will play your track on big loudspeakers. If you mix your track on a small monitors or headphones, it may happen that your track won't be good for club and dj will not play it.2. Make adaptation of your recording room.Your producing/listening room has to be well damped, otherwise you will hear a lot of reverberation and sound coloration when mixing. It is very i...
Linear Style Salsa
Origin:Linear Style Salsa originated in America, and was mainly developed for the purpose of performing on stage. In Linear style, dancers stay aligned to the same line which makes it easier for viewers to watch. Linear Style is now fast gaining popularity around the world, with two main styles: LA Style and NY Style from Los Angeles and New York respectively.Music:Linear Style Salsa has exactly the same music as Cuban Salsa. The music is played in 4/4 with beats 4 and 8 representing a pause and...
Rumba In New Zealand
Origin:Rumba has two origins: Spanish as well as African. Rumba was first danced by African slaves as early as the 16th century. The Rumba folk dance had sexual connotations with the male having a sexually agressive attitude and the female having a deffensive attitude. It gaining popularity in Latin America in the 1920s.Music:Like Salsa, Rumba music is played in 4/4 but the music is much slower at just over 100 bpm. Traditionally, Rumba is danced on the second beat with a pause on the first beat...
Cumbia In New Zealand
Origin:Cumbia is a variant of the African Guinean Cumbe music. It originated in Colombia in the early 19th century, when African slaves arrived into what was a Spanish colony at the time. The dance also turned into a courtship ritual. Although originally interpreted with drums and claves, the music was soon Europeanised with guitars and accordians added. Apart from Colombia, Cumbia is also quite popular in Mexico and Chile.Music:Cumbia rythm is often classified as Salsa, as it is played in 4/4 a...
Bachata In New Zealand
Origin:Bachata, like Merengue originated in the rural neighbourhoods of the Dominican Republic. Bachata is a sensual romantic dance with romance, heartbreak and sadness being the prevalent themes for the music.Music:Bachata music is played in 4/4. Dancers who are new to Latin American Dancing can often confuse this for a slow Salsa. The main difference between the two (apart from the pace of the music) is the use of bongo drums to provide syncopation, with an amplified guitar being the other mai...
Mambo In New Zealand
Origin:Mambo originated in Havana, Cuba in the 40s. The Mambo was originally played as a Rumba with an emphasis on 2 or 4. Once introduced, it fast led to other variations. Although Mambo did not last long and is only danced by advanced dancers today, it led to other styles that became popular such as Salsa and Cha-cha.Music:Mambo is an up-tempo dance rythm, usually around 200 bpm. Mambo, like Salsa is played in 4/4 with all 4 beats being evenly accented. Like a lot of Latin American rythms, per...
Rueda In New Zealand
Origin:Rueda de Casino originated in Havana, Cuba in the 60s. Rueda is a particular style of Salsa where dancers form a circle and dance in pairs (leaders and followers). All dancers perform the same moves as they are called by the caller and dancers swap partners quite a few times during one dance.Music:Rueda's music is exactly the same as Salsa music, as it is just a variation for the dance and not the music. The music is played in 4/4 with beats 4 and 8 representing a pause and the other beat...
African American Music The History Of
When I saw this title, I was afraid and Im still afraid regarding my opinion about the subject. The subject is complex and difficult so I cannot resolve it overnight. I am an African. I do things the African way. I cannot write about African American music like a Western scholar. In my culture we live the past and the future in the present. When I listen to some African American music I can feel the past, the present and the future all at the same time. Now, the best way for me to handle this su...
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