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.

Chitre is one of the most important regions in Panama. A very famous place and well known because of the Spanish heritage and it´s  that popular dances from the Province of Herrera came from the Spanish flamenco in the colonial age, as well as Los Santos, Cocle, Veraguas, Chiriquí and Colon. This colonization brought an endless variety of foods, celebrations, music and ceremonies. Panamanians captured this cultural baggage and adapted all of them and made their own.

Even though we have lots of dances in our country, there is a special magic from a Panamanian dance called Dirty Devils (Diablicos Sucios) that comes from this province and that has a greater importance for all Panama girls that usually practice this discipline.

Panama dancers try to adapt this dance as a special interpretation from the old Spanish priests that remarkably split the two orientations:  “Dirty Devils” and “Clean Devils”.

CLEAN DEVILS

This is the most traditional dance of the festival of Corpus Christi. It is constituted by diverse hierarchies and the devil is the main character. The Devil emphasizes his rank by wearing the most luxurious clothes. Then the Angel comes (in the old plays was Saint Michael, but is no longer like that) dressed as a little boy with a veil that covers the face to him.

Then the Devil Captain appears and has some participation in the central dialogue. Other important character is the Diabla (Lady Devil), the only hilarious character at this dance. There are some other feminine dancers within this dance such as Virgin Mary and some minor devils.

The idea of this dance is to represent the fight between the good and the evil within a soul. The Angel defends Virgin Mary from the Devil´s offenses. And tired of this situation he proposed to the Devil build a gallows/hangman to destroy the soul. But of course that was not the original ideal of the angel, but to build a cross to save it, and that´s how the Devil was cheated by the angel in a “clean fight”.

DIRTY DEVILS

The main difference between this dance and the “clean” one is mainly in the clothes. The Dirty Devils dance uses dark colors and generally dance by pairs and in groups up to 12 dancers. During these executions the Diablico (Dirty Devil) must dance to the rhythm of the guitar, clapping the castanets that take in the hands.

The masks are done of paper, covered and painted by local artists.

Both dances celebrate the good and evil fight between the human souls.

CULTURAL EXPRESSION

Diablitos Sucios (Dirty Devils) dance is a cultural expression of a Panamanian dance that without any doubt girls in Panama like to participate due to the lack of sexual content.

Most Girls in Panama City usually go to a Dancing School in Panama to learn this specific dance and also La  Mejorana, Panamanian Cumbia, Panama Indian dances, Cumbia from Chorrera and some other beautiful dances from the Azuero region.

Once these dances are learned, it is common to see men and women in Panama performing these exotic movements in celebrations like Carnival, Corpus Christi, Holy Week and many others.

Definitively is a remarkable experience to enjoy these dance live, one in a lifetime experience!