There are actually two completely different dances known as "bolero." The first is the national dance of Spain, which is fast and lively. I believe it dates back to the late 1700's. This is the "Bolero" Ravel's music by that title was written for. It can be in either 2/4 or 3/4 time. I've never seen it performed, but I'm told it is similar to the the fandango.

American-style bolero, despite the name, does not have any connection to Spain's national dance. It was originally known as the "bolero-rumba," and is still called that in Spanish-speaking countries to differentiate it from the Spanish dance. The dance has the same Afro-Cuban roots as the Rumba, and is thought to have originated from Cuban or Spanish folk dances such as the danzon or beguine. Bolero was one of three "rumba" dances that came to the US in the 1930's. (In the Caribbean, "rumba" is a actually generic term for any of a group of dances - which dances are in the group is suppose vary from island to island.) The three dances were: the slow bolero-rumba is today's bolero; the moderate son-rumba is today's rumba, and the fast guaracha-rumba, which lost popularity and disappeared once the mambo on the scene in the '40s.

R

[This message was edited by Ralph on 05-19-03 at 08:03 AM.

[This message was edited by Ralph on 05-19-03 at 08:04 AM.]