The Bolero was a dance far more noble, modest, and restrained
as well as resembling but being shorter than the Fandango
(which the Boléro replaced in popularity), and is executed by two persons
(originally a single female). The Boléro was danced by a lady and gentleman
or by several couples if one so desired. It was also arranged as a Quadrille
at times, and used in the Ballet as well as
danced at the opening of a ball.
The Boléro is composed of five parts ... namely:
1) The paseo , or promenade (around
the ballroom,) which was kind of introduction.
2) The traversa (traversias)
is a crossing, to alter the position of the places of the dancers, which is done both before
and after the differencias, (a measure in which a change of steps takes place).
3) The differencias, or changes
of steps, the dancers balancing themselves, execute their steps in place.
4) The finales , in which
they go, they come and they pass by, which is succeeded by ...
5) The bien parado , a graceful
attitude, or grouping of the couple who are dancing, in which the gentleman and his lady
assume graceful attitudes, and remain facing each other, holding their partner's hand and
raising it. Then each one rests a hand upon the waist of the other, but this movement is
followed by a profound salute from the gentleman a salut prosterné, and a deep courtesy
from the lady.
The Original Spanish Boléro was performed to a
seguidilla (dance air, in triple time or a national song, etc.), with a peculiar
rhythm, in the manor method. The guitar, or the pizzicato, is the instrument demanded by
this dance. It being set to the time of 3/4. The music is extremely varied, and full of
cadences. The air or melody of this dance may be changed, but its peculiar rhythms must
be preserved, together with its time and its flourishes, which latter are also called "false
pauses." The steps of the Spanish Boléro are performed terre
à terre; they are either sliding, beaten, or retreating, being always
as it were, clearly struck out.
The
Seguidilla's Boléras is
a name which was given when the Boleros were "sung" and
accompanied by a guitar. The great difficulty of this dance consists
in resuming the part called the paseo,
which is immediately after the first part of the tune in the prelude
of the accompaniment, which precedes the estribillo. The estribillo
is that part of the couplet, not indeed where the moral is found,
but which contains the epigrammatic point or turn. The Boléras
is different from the Boléro, although the time is taken from
the latter. It was generally used in the theaters when it was wished
to represent Andalusian's
or gay and animated peoples. The Boléras is rather a "dance-song"
however, rather than a dance. Some authorities assert that the Boléro
is the outcome of the Seguidilla's.
The Seguidilla's (Poem) is a quicker dance than the Boléro
and it is generally understood that when the Boléro or Fandango
is danced in ballet form by eight people, it is called the
Seguidilla's.
The
SEGUIDILLAS TALEADAS: This
dance is a species of the Bolero, mingled with some measures of
the Cachucha
performed to a Seguidilla (dance or Song.)
The Cuban
Bolero version came to be around 1883 with José
Pepe Sánchez composing 'Tristezas'. The Cuban Boléro is
a different dance than the Spanish Boléro version, however
the Cuban Boléro was very much derived from the old Spanish
Boléro, but the music and rhythms changed (2/4) when it came
to Cuba and is danced closer to a Rumba style.
The
Mexican Bolero
came to be around 1921 from Mexico.
The
American Bolero:
was made popular in the United States when French composer
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) wrote his composition in 1928 for Ida
Rubenstein which was choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska. The first
performance was on November 22, 1928, at the Paris Opera House and
Ida danced it on a 'table-top.'
The Columbian
Pasillo colombiano: done in 6/8 time closely resembles
the Boléro.
The Bolero
viejo o parado: style derived from the seguidilla.
The Valldemosa
bolero: (Majorca,
Spain)is the most popular in the Balearic Islands. The name parado
(stopped) comes from the abrupt end of the dance.
The Boléro is still danced today and is a standard dance among the
International ballroom (Dance Sport) dancers and is very exciting to watch.
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