Panama has a wealth of music influences on its dances. Its traditional or folkloric dances are very popular among Panamanians and tourists alike. And has gained acceptance as one of the most beautiful dances in the world. Folkloric dances in Panama are staged choreographies that depict a wide range of emotions, activities and feelings. One example among the abundant traditional folkloric dances is called “El Punto” (literally: the point).

Named that way because of the accentuation on the beat. It represents how a man woos a woman until he wins her affection and finally seals their love with a kiss. When executed by dancers that have chemistry with each other, it’s almost a play on its own.

Another folkloric dance in Panama doesn’t require you learning a choreography. The popular “pindin” is what most people refer to as “tipico”. It comes from the Colombian cumbia, played with somewhat similar instruments but with different rhythm and melody.

In Panama, there are places called “toldos” where people gather specifically to move the rhythm of the accordion the whole night. Toldos are usually packed, so people have a chance to romantically fuse each other with the sweet melody. For the tourist visiting Panama who wants to appreciate the beauty of the folkloric dances, places like Restaurante Las Tinajas and Mi Pueblito have shows all year and have accessible prices. If you want to learn how to dance pindin, go to any disco or toldo and pick up a local girl. They’ll show you the simple steps, and then just let the music drive you.

El Bunde is a folkloric Panamanian dance with a sensual and religious rhythm that is danced in Darien province of Panamá City, Panamá. El Bunde is also known as “The Panamanian authentic Christmas” because it is danced during Christmas festivities especially on December 24 and its improvised verses and songs talk about the arrival of the baby Jesus. This Panamanian dance is only danced by couples that are replaced in front of an image of a boy that represents the baby Jesus. El Bunde is a popular religious Panamanian festivity that is celebrated from December 6 to January 6 by the black people of Garachiné Town of Darien Province in Panamá City, Panamá.

The Bunde is a Panamanian dance with religious sense that constitutes a beautiful hybrid where best contents of each ethnic contribution of Panama City, Panama are joined and harmonized.  In Panama City, Panama this dance consists of only one figure, where the couple star dancing in front of the boy, this folkloric dance is a glad religious dance that is continuously animated with real fervor. The instruments that are used in this Panamanian dance are: the drawer, the drum and a pair of maracas accompanied by a singer. The dance of El Bunde is doubtless one of Panama’s typical dances where it is emphasized the grace of the black race of Darién province.

(Picture by: Carlos McNulty) DIA DIA Newspaper

You will find a huge variety of folkloric dances here in Panama City, Panama; among them, you can find the Diablos Espejos dance, originally from Colon Province. The Diablos Espejos dance has become so popular that it has extended to different parts of the country. You can enjoy this dance in school presentations and in different panamenian folkloric manifestations. The young people continue promoting this culture with the confection of the costumes; especially the masks that are purchased by tourists, what has taken this art to go overseas. At the province of Los Santos in the Corpus Christi festivals we can see the dance of the Diablos Espejos.

The Diablícos Limpios or better known as los Diablos Espejos use costumes made with fine silk pieces of multicolor cloths with tiny mirrors that decorate the whole skirt, the animal mask (the representation of the devil’s different transformations), a baton equally adorned and far colorful, gloves, and different figures with mirrors in the chest. This dance is of religious origin and it represents the fight of the good against the evil; the good represents the religious part with the take of the Eucharist and the parishioners attending church; and the evil that represents the devils dancing around the church preventing the mass to take place.

The music of the Diablos Espejos is an instrumental music and is only interpret with the drum and the accordion. Los Diablos Espejos have their own music and musical instruments, demonstrating the cultural and ethnic diversity that Panama City, Panama has. Nowadays, you can appreciate this type of dance in carnivals, in TV commercials, in private parties and in touristic presentations.