Using Hispanic Dances to Teach Historical and Social Context Embedded in ‘Flamenco’, ‘Bomba Caribeña,’ and ‘Reguetón’ Dances - Resistance andRebellion : Engaging Passive Learners of Hispanic Culture to Make them Active Learners through Hispanic Dances View Digital Media

Workshop Presentation
Chita Espino-Bravo,  Victoria Escaip,  D Nicole English  

Our workshop will be divided into three dances, ‘Tango Flamenco, Bomba Caribeña,’ and ‘Reguetón.’ These three dances will help attendees learn about the origin and country of the dance, the meaning of the steps and movements, how to execute the steps correctly, and some specific Spanish vocabulary used to teach and learn these dances. Some of the ‘Flamenco’ steps are charged with historical and social meaning that tell us about the troubles and situations Gypsies had to endure in the past. Some of the steps have the powerful meaning of resistance, challenge, and rebellion against oppression or oppressors. This is also the case for ‘Bomba Caribeña,’ which was danced by the African slaves in Puerto Rico to resist the status quo. Finally, resistance and rebellion are also imprinted on some ‘Reguetón’ dance moves, in our case to denounce the abuses by the forces of public order, violence against women and economic crises, and inequality in the distribution of wealth in Latin America. Attendees will experience firsthand what marginalized groups lived throughout the time in some Hispanic societies through the dance steps, body movements, and music (lyrics).