The native Rumba folk dance is based on sexual vibes between partners with exaggerated hip movements, and a sensual aggressive attitude on the part of the man and a defensive attitude on the part of the women. The popular dance of the middle class Cubans was the "Son" (a slow and courteous version of the native Rumba), and the dance of the wealthy Cuban society was the "Danzon", which included very small steps with the women's producing subtle tilting of the hips by alternating bending and straightening the knees. ... The American Rumba was a modified version of the "Son", which was the...

• Word Count: 1167
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Forced to labor long and hard on the plantations against their will, African slaves would sing and chant in their native tongues as they worked. ... "Pioneers such as Charley Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson, and Mississippi Fred McDowell helped to create a unique and powerful sound that is still popular today." ... With the help of the African culturally influenced beats form drums, rhythms, and themes of songs a great and powerful style was born which was adopted by "Americans" and then called "American music". ...

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Among the contributing blues pioneers were Son House, Charles Patton and Robert Johnson. ... Jazz and Blues instruments came about after traditional African instruments were not allowed by the American slave owners so gradually their native songs and melodies were lost. ... According to Michael Tanner, a writer on musical history said, "Technically the field holler was the first musical style to move away from religious themes and concerned its self with work only (and much can be said about the double meanings of many gospel songs, such as Swing Low, Sweet Chariot which on the surface is abou...

• Word Count: 2036
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School