The Lion Dance emerges during the Dynasty Tang.  According to the legends, the Emperor had a nightmare in which a strange looking creature saves him.  The next morning, the Emperor realized the strange creature of his dream resembled a habitant of the west:  the lion.  Quickly, the lion became a symbol of good luck across all China.  It was believe the lion kept away bad spirits.  Today, the Lion Dance is an important part for opening ceremonies of businesses and important events in China.  The real meaning of this dance is that the lions are the ones in charge of opening the gates of heaven for all God’s blessing can reach all of those who watches this dance.

The lion’s dancers, who came from China to Panama, had an average age of 17 years old.  With a great display of agility and skills they dance around moving the lion’s head at the same time they executed the dance movements and Kung Fu steps at the rhythm of the drum.  The most skillful part of the dance was when the lions danced on top of posts.  Dancing on posts is a lion dance characteristic of the Chinese where the Chinese dancer put on display they great ability and hard work.

Recently, Atlapa Convention Center was the venue for the celebration of the Chinese New Year, with the participation of folkloric dance teams, Chinese dancers, ballet, karaoke, and a delegation from China who performed the Legion Dance and the Dragon Dance.  This group came from the city of Zhanjian, province of Guangdong, and they were part of the dance team performing on the opening of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.

Panama has received visits from many celebrated people in its history and it has had several notable celebrities decide to remain here as residents.  One such notable was the prima ballerina assoluta Dame Margot Fonteyn of the Royal Ballet of Britain.  Dame Margot was born Margaret Hookham in Reigate, Surrey on May 18, 1919.  As a child, she studied at dancing schools in the London area until she made her way to school attached to the Vic-Wells Ballet the precursor of the Royal Ballet.  Dame Margot made her debut in 1934 with the Vic-Wells as a snowflake in “The Nutcracker.”  She initially borrowed her mother´s maiden name and danced as Margot Fontes, but soon modified her stage name to Fonteyn.  In 1935, Dame Margot received her first solo in “The Haunted Ballroom,” a ballet by Ninette de Valois, the founder of the Royal Ballet.

Dame Margot most memorable portrayal came at age 30 in the Sadler´s Wells Ballet production of “Sleeping Beauty” as Princess Aurora, which stunned the audience at the Metropolitan Opera House with her youthful performance.

In 1955, Dame Margot married Dr. Roberto Arias, a Panamanian diplomat to London and a philanderer.  Their marriage was tumultuous due to his frequent infidelities. In May of 1964, Dr. Roberto Arias was elected to the National Assembly, his first foray into active politics.  A year later tragedy struck the Arias family, as a rival Panamanian politician, Alberto Jimenez, shot Dr. Arias on a street corner in a suburb of Panama City.  Dr. Arias was treated for 18 months in British hospitals and spent the rest of his entire life as a quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair.

Due to the enormous medical cost amassed by Dr. Arias´s medical care, Dame Margot continued to dance until 1979, her sixtieth year, despite from suffering from an arthritic foot.  She remained loyal to Dr. Roberto Arias until his death in 1989.  The artist that too many represented “Eternal Youth,” and whose blend of refinement and passion redefined 20th-century ballet passed away at age 71 on February 21, 1991 in Patilla Hospital in Panama City.

Panama is known as the “crisol de razas” or “melting pot” and that’s why it has adopted many of the traditions from these cultures, special in its dances. Dancing is not just a way of expression and sensuality but it is also a way to make dreams become true. With many competitions worldwide, Panama couldn’t fall behind and brought in “Bailando por un Sueño” or Dancing for a dream (for its English translation, which is a Mexican show produced by Telemetro in Panama.

In this television show, the contenders are coupled with national and/or international stars to dance and win the chance to fulfill the contestant’s dream. Many different dances are presented throughout the show, such as: mambo, tango, bolero, salsa, samba, hip hop, pop, rumba flamenco, disco, merengue, Reggaeton and many more.

Each couple has a choreographer who trains them all week long until the day of the show. Each season lasts about 8 weeks and each episode are presented among 1 to 3 different rhythms. There was even a special show dedicated to Celia Cruz on the last season of this contest.

As we all know, the dance in Panama has achieved great popularity; reason why contests such as “Bailando por un Sueño” are a total success in our country. There is no doubt that dancing is the biggest form of sensuality, eroticism and expression worldwide.

For more information about this contest in Panama, log into http://www.telemetro.com/bailando

Today I bring you an exciting dance to learn, it is called Capoeira. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that ritualizes movements from martial arts, games and dance. This art was brought to Brazil from Angola some after the 16th century in the regions known as Bahia, Pernambuco and Rio de Janeiro. Participants form a roda or circle and take turns either playing musical instruments (such as the Berimbau), singing, or ritually sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, and extensive use of sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Less frequently used techniques include elbow-strikes, slaps, punches, and body throws.

Rhythm is the heartbeat of Capoeira and song is the soul. Music can make a game play fast and hard, without music Capoeira is not complete. This is the excitement that Capoeira brings to you. Capoeira continues to grow in popularity and here in Panama you can also learn these fascinating steps and movements in their prestigious schools.

As 2008 draws to an end, I like to take the time to reminisce over my indulgences and travail into the sexy dances Panama, in the past year and ponder what the future holds.  As the great Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius once said “study the past if you would define the future.”  Reviewing our past look into danza, will give us a glimmer of what the future holds.  In 2008, we have covered many of the different varieties of erotic dances available here in Panama.  The sultry Congo dance imported to Panama by immigrants from the West Indies. The truly Panamanian ‘little drum’ dance the Tamorito. We discussed the eroticism of pole dancing available in gentlemen clubs originally from England.  Born in Panama’s night life, the country´s own vibrant and energetic Reggaeton (even if Puerto Ricans try and take credit for it). Aerobic dances such as Hip-Hop; that will not only work up a sweat but burn calories in the process. My dance training that introduced me to carnal but toiling world of Brazilian Samba and belly dancing.  We covered the wonderful Salsa opportunities here in Panama, the Argentine import, the beautiful eroticism of Tango and the quintessence of the Dominican Republic, the Merengue.    Some of the final dance styles we encountered were the classical ballet born in royal courts of France, and both the raw eroticism of Bullerengue and Bunde from deep in heart of the jungles of the Darien.

All of these dances, like the people with different backgrounds that compose the population and hot dancers, mesh and merge here to create this wonderful melting pot we call Panama.  That is one of the beautiful aspects of this country, for such a small country, it contains so much of the best eroticism of the rest of the world.

I leave you with a glimpse of Panama´s future, the children- in step with the traditions of the past.

Happy New Year and keep dancing, even if it is not in the night clubs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I60AClqRqg&feature=channel

The Nutcracker is the all time favorite Christmas ballet and the most popular ballet among children.  The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same; the story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.  When Marius Petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet, it was actually based on a version by Alexander Dumas.   Lev Ivanov was Petipa assistant and finished choreographing the ballet after Marius got ill. 

The music of the Nutcracker was composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. An interesting footnote to the score of The Nutcracker is the famous use of the celesta in the Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy. The celesta was a new musical instrument which had just been created by Auguste Mustel.  Tchaikovsky premier in March 1892 an eight part concert of the ballet and become so popular the music score was published even before the opening of the Nutcracker.

December 18, 1892 was the grand first performance of the Nutcracker Ballet at the Maryinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Choreography by Petipa/Ivanov, music by Tchaikovsky, décor by Botcharov, Antoinette Dell’ era as Sugar Plum Fairy, Paul Gerdt as the Prince, Stanislava Belinskaya as Clara, Sergei Legat as the Nutcracker-Prince, and Timofei Stukolkin as Drosselmeyer.

In Panama City we will have presentation in Anayansi Theater, Atlapa, the 27 and 28 of December.  Saturday the 27 the function is a 7:30pm, and Sunday the 28 at 10:30am and 4:30pm.  Tickets can be found at Blockbuster and cost range is from $10 to $50.

In last week show in La Huaca of Rasheda Arabic Dance Studio a special guess took everyone breathed away.  In an amazing display of beauty and strength the aerial dance group Gramo Dance.  Gramo Dance has been promoting art appreciation since 1997 through shows, workshops and classes.  They are actively   involved in promoting and sharing this dance form in children with economic need from Chorrillo, in Panama City, Panama, through scholarships provided with the help of Club Kiwanis and General Bank.

Ximena Eleta de Sierra was the opening act dancing in the hoop together with shadow box belly dancing, a truly lovely combination.

Later on, Raquel Arrue, former ballet dancer and belly dance instructor, solo performance in exquisite display of precision and beauty.

Finally, Bestlie Pineda performed in the hoop together with fire dancers Mitchelle Quiñones and Carol Espinosa.

Gramo Danse is the Aerial dance foundation that takes you to another dimension, breaking boundaries, full of energy and unconventional beauty of modern dance.

Las night was the annual dance show for Rasheda Arabic Dance Studio in La Huaca Theater.  It was a very good show with the girls from beginning belly dance to the advance group.  Of course, I was there dancing!

“La Danza Encendida” means “Dance on Fire” and it was the tale of how, like the Phoenix, we can reborn from the ashes after things go wrong and keep going on with our life with even more strength.  La Danza Encendida was created with a mix and fusion of rhythms with belly dance that left the public excited.  In the opening number there were candelabras and candle dances and shadow and even Aerial Dance! It was an exhilarating night for me and I’m sure it was also for all the girls participating.

We got veil dance, candle dance, Saidi, ballet dancers, African dancers, fire dancers, tribal style belly dance, Egyptian style belly dance, and even a Chinese Lion! This was truly an exotic night to remember.

But, it was a very special night for me.  It was the first time I belly dance in my own country, Panama, and it was also the first time my family saw me dancing.  I cannot have enough words to express what I felt last night.

Thanks to everyone who helped get the show going.

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.

The Bullerengue is a sensual dance that means happiness and movements; the dance is originally from the Darienita black race. This kind of dance is made up only of turns and a dance step call “seguidilla”, where the main character is the women, the one who make with attitude and concentration the different displacements the make up the dance. The Bullerengue is danced by the women with their body in a straight position, doing slowly movements with lots of coordination and the man display all his energy in acrobatics steps and sensual gests. This folkloric dance has small and sliding steps, where the feet are leaning on the floor. The displacements are done joining the feet and bending the knees in order to maintain the grace and the posture of the body. The choreography is made up of straight lines and sometimes circles. This dance ends up in a huge whirl of couples. The instruments that are use in this dance, el Bullerengue are: the song accompanied by drums, the music box, maracas and slaps.

The Bullerengue is maybe one of the dances who puts more emphasizes on the black race culture. The Bullerengue is a ritual dance. This is a special dance that is danced especially when young people have the higher age. The Bullerengue also symbolize women fertility and its music was created for the pregnant women who couldn’t assists to the different dances. The costume is made up of “polleras” or skirts, barefoot women and a flower on their hair.