Product Description
When John Charles Chasteen learned that Simón Bolívar, the Liberator, danced on a banquet table to celebrate Latin American independence in 1824, he tried to visualize the scene. How, he wondered, did the Liberator dance? Did he bounce stiffly in his dress uniform? Or did he move his hips? In other words, how high had African dance influences reached in Latin American societies? A vast social gap separated Bolívar from people of African descent; however, Chasteen’s research shows that popular culture could bridge the gap.

Fast-paced and often funny, this book explores the history of Latin American popular dance before the twentieth century. Chasteen first focuses on Havana, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janeiro, where dances featuring a “transgressive close embrace” (forerunners of today’s salsa, tango, and samba) emerged by 1900. Then, digging deeper in time, Chasteen uncovers the historical experiences that molded Latin American popular dance, including carnival celebrations, the social lives of slaves, European fashions, and, oddly enough, religious processions. The relationship between Latin American dance and nationalism, it turns out, is very deep, indeed. ... Read more

Product Description
Arsenio Rodriguez, composer and musical innovator, made an indelible impact on a broad range of musical styles from the Caribbean and Latin America to West and Central Africa. The son montuno style that he created and his innovative conjunto ensemble inspired other Cuban musicians and played a key role in the development of salsa, yet Arsenio achieved only intermittent commercial success. Drawing on the testimony of family, musicians, dancers, and other contemporaries, David Garcia traces Arsenio's early career in Cuba, his influence on Cuban and Latin popular music in the 1940s, his struggle for recognition at the height of mambo-mania in the 1950s, and his importance to Puerto Rican and Cuban communities in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Garcia shows how matters of race, class, and identity as well as the transnational Latin music industry shaped Arsenio's music and career. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Arsenio Rodríguez bio
The book all of us Arsenio-ologists have been waiting for, the discography and sidemen info are worth the double its sale price alone....

Great Resource and Interesting Read
What a treasure to have an English-language resource that shines light on this important figure, a man who was, and is, simultaneously revered and neglected.The source of many of salsa's most enduring innovations, Arsenio Rodriguez' contributions spanned the mambo era and found resonance when this music re-emerged later as "salsa."Garcia does a fine job of illuminating this for the reader.It should not surprise Americans, as Garcia points out, that these innovations were inspired by Arsenio's profound understanding of Cuba's African traditions.Most refreshing, however, is finding an author who also understands the importance of Arsenio's music as "music for dance."Garcia engages his reader on this point and drives home the critical relationship between Arsenio's music and the dancers, and the importance of this rapport in energizing and sustaining his innovations.Arsenio emerges in this biography as a critical voice in dispelling an entrenched notion that music for dancing cannot be serious music (I am reminded of Ned Sublette's "dancing is an intense listening state," from Cuba and its Music.)And Garcia makes this statement forcefully.

I also applaud Garcia's dissection of this musician/dancer connection--one that is enlivened by interviews with musicians and dancers.He missteps, however, in his definition of the son montuno "basic step."What he describes as the "basic step" is more likely a "variation"--one that reflects the inventive styling and footwork of dancers responding to the push and pull of Arsenio's "clave feel."Son montuno was indeed danced using timing that Cubans call "contratiempo."The timing presented in Garcia's analysis, however, is simply too idiosyncratic for partnered dancing.

Overall, this book is substantive.It presents English-language readers with another important resource in moving the discussion of Afro-Cuban music and dance (including salsa), and its West African roots, forward. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Origins of Cuban Music and Dance: ChangY' is the first in-depth study of changY', a style of music and dance in Guant_namo, Cuba. ChangY' is analogous to blues in the United States and is a crucible of Cuban Creole culture. Benjamin Lapidus describes changY' and its relationship to the roots of son, Cuba's national genre and the style of music that contributed to the development of salsa, in Eastern Cuba. He also highlights the connections between Afro-Haitian music and Cuban popular music through changY', connections with the Caribbean that have been largely overlooked in the past.After an initial historical discussion about the region of Guant_namo and the inter-connectedness of its various musical styles with a focus on changY', Lapidus discusses the technical aspects of the genre as practiced within the region and beyond. He considers the socio-historical importance of its lyrics, presenting numerous musical transcriptions that explain how the music is structured, as well as providing background stories to songs. In a chapter unique to this book and a first in Cuban musicology and ethnography, Lapidus describes years of festivals and musical competitions to show how local musical identity takes shape, particularly when encountering national narratives of music history. The volume concludes with a comparison between changY' and son, as well as a bibliography, discography, and videography. ... Read more

Product Description
Tonight They All Dance can serve as a primer to the composition of Latin verse and, as such, can lend students and scholars alike insight into the intricacies and joys of writing poetry in a non-native language. Haiku, with its short form and engaging content, is the ideal instrument for a first exploration of Latin poetic composition. By modeling the composition of Latin haiku and translating both the substance and the form into English haiku, students will begin to understand the challenges of accurate and beautiful translation. It is only through such intimate experience that a true sense of Latin verse can be gained.

Special Features

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Introduction with tips on composing Latin Haiku
92 Latin Haiku
English Translations
Four sections: Caelestia, Terrestria, Animalia, and Humana
Vocabulary
Illustrated throughout

Also available:

Shock-Headed Peter: In Latin-English-German - ISBN 0865165483
Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus in Latin!: Vere, Virginia, Sanctus Nicolaus Est! - ISBN 0865165068

For over 30 years Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers has produced the highest quality Latin and ancient Greek books. From Dr. Seuss books in Latin to Plato's Apology, Bolchazy-Carducci's titles help readers learn about ancient Rome and Greece; the Latin and ancient Greek languages are alive and well with titles like Cicero's De Amicitia and Kaegi's Greek Grammar. We also feature a line of contemporary eastern European and WWII books.

Some of the areas we publish in include:

Selections From The Aeneid
Latin Grammar & Pronunciation
Greek Grammar & Pronunciation
Texts Supporting Wheelock's Latin
Classical author workbooks: Vergil, Ovid, Horace, Catullus, Cicero
Vocabulary Cards For AP Selections: Vergil, Ovid, Catullus, Horace
Greek Mythology
Greek Lexicon
Slovak Culture And History ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good Book!
I bought this book thinking I might use it in my Latin classes.Some of the vocabulary is unusual--not the common words found in the Cambridge Latin Course! I'm going to have to think about how to incorporate it in alesson or unit--maybe with uses of the ablative or something.I love thefact that the translations are also Haiku!The font and illustrations arevery pleasant.This book puts me in a relaxed, peaceful mood. ... Read more

Product Description

Why was the waltz once thought to be a shocking dance? How did the lindy hop get its name? What is the paso doble? Latin and Ballroom provides a detailed look at the development of Latin and ballroom dancing, from the earliest social dances to the competit

... Read more

Product Description
For everyone who has fallen in love with Latin music, a guide to its many styles that also traces its place in American music and culture.

The Latin explosion of Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, and the Buena Vista Social Club may look like it came out of nowhere, but the incredible variety of Latin music has been transforming the United States since the turn of the century, when Caribbean beats turned New Orleans music into jazz. In fact, we wouldn't have any of our popular music without it: Imagine pop sans the mambos of Perez Prado and Tito Puente, the garage rock of Richie Valens, or even the glitzy croon of Julio Iglesias, not to mention the psychedelia of Santana and Los Lobos and the underground cult grooves of newcomers like Bebel Gilberto. The Latin Beat outlines the musical styles of each country, then traces each form as it migrates north. Morales travels from the Latin ballad to bossa nova to Latin jazz, chronicles the development of the samba in Brazil and salsa in New York, explores the connection between the mambo craze of the 1950's with the Cuban craze of today, and uncovers the hidden history of Latinos in rock and hip hop. The Latin Beat is the only book that explores where the music has come from and celebrates all of the directions it is going. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Worse book on Latin music EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book is so badly written and full of errors and misconceptions that it should be banned, this should be used on how NOT to write a book. One star is way too high a rating...............

A Broad Overview
This is a good, basic overview of Latin music, heavy on the Cuban/Puerto Rican scenes past and present. It is unfortunately marred by naive, right-wing political comments that fit pretty well into the George Bush I and II's view of Latino realities. But for those 'cumbancheros' who look beyond the politics there is lots of info here. For Cuban music, however, one might be better served by the bargain 'Cuban Music' by Phil Sweeney or by the erudite works by Fernando Ortiz.

Excellent quick and detailed overveiw for a north american like me
Also I have some friends who are espanol and some friends from Brazil. Not only are the languages very different but so is the music;anyway my two types of friends refuse to associate if i invitethem to my house together so I think Mr Morales may be forgiven for not understanding Brazil.Brazil is a very special country unto itself.
Also I didn't read it for political history or festival information but I learned alot about Caifanes, Mana, Soda Stereo, Cafe Tacuba, Los Tres, even Juanes andLa Ley!which was most delightful and unexpected!Did you know Juanes is the son of a rancher?

Gross historical/musical inaccuaracies
First, I am basing my poor review mainly on the sections on Brazilian music, which are a significant part of this book.
Contrary to the Editorial review stating Mr. Morales' "incredible depth of historical and musical knowledge" I found the author's lack of knowledge of some of the more basic elements of Brazilian history and music culture downright ingnorant.
As an example of some of the minute details that may seem insignificant, the famous pre-lenten Carnaval celebrations are not "winter" celebrations since the entire southern hemishphere has opposite seasons from North America. In other more significant areas, the migration of laborers from the north was not due to the "failure of northern coffee plantations" as the coffee regions were all part of southern Brazil. A basic reading of any decent history of Brazil, such as Skidmore's "Five Centuries of Change" would have taken care of such innaccuracies.
Erroneous uses of traditional instrument names and the reference of samba as "a call to wild, mass movement, an (...) of percussion, not the structured rhythmic base for improvisation that came from the fusions of African rhythms and courtly European dances in Cuba...samba is more like 'chaos in tempo'" reek of the typical non-Latin view from insensitive writers who knew little about Latin American culture. It is surprising that a latino, especially in 2003, would be subscribing to the exoticism that permeated the work of scholars (and non-cholars) from the early 20th century.
The author uses no citations, although he does include a rather short bibliography of sources. Perhaps the auhtor should have focused on the music and history of the parts of Latin America that he is more familiar with, rather than attempt to be all-emcompassing at the risk of demonstrating such utter lack of basic historical and musical knowledge of Brazil. ... Read more

Product Description
In this great dance/song book one will visit Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Panama and Mexico. All will enjoy Fado Blanquita * Huyano * El Llanero * Marinera * Palapala * Vos Viejitos * Si Señor * Tamborito. Text background on many songs is included. ... Read more

Product Description
The purpose of this book is to attempt to get agreement from ballroom dance teachers in college and universities on content for a beginning class and standardise names for variations. The core curriculum agreed upon by CBDA is identified by an asterisk preceding the name of the variation in the contents page. Additional steps for each dance are included following the core. Suggested musical selections are listed at the end of each dance. Classics that have been popular through the years were chosen over current 'pop' songs. ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive account of the Latin American debt crisis. It includes case studies of Brazil, Peru and Costa Rica, examines the role played by the IMF and the World Bank, describes the impact of debt-induced austerity on the poor and considers the implications of the debt for future development. ... Read more

Product Description
Tonight They All Dance can serve as a primer to the composition of Latin verse and, as such, can lend students and scholars alike insight into the intricacies and joys of writing poetry in a non-native language. Haiku, with its short form and engaging content, is the ideal instrument for a first exploration of Latin poetic composition. By modeling the composition of Latin haiku and translating both the substance and the form into English haiku, students will begin to understand the challenges of accurate and beautiful translation. It is only through such intimate experience that a true sense of Latin verse can be gained.

Special Features

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction with tips on composing Latin Haiku
92 Latin Haiku
English Translations
Four sections: Caelestia, Terrestria, Animalia, and Humana
Vocabulary
Illustrated throughout

Also available:

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus in Latin!: Vere, Virginia, Sanctus Nicolaus Est! - ISBN 0865165068
Shock-Headed Peter: In Latin-English-German - ISBN 0865165483

For over 30 years Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers has produced the highest quality Latin and ancient Greek books. From Dr. Seuss books in Latin to Plato's Apology, Bolchazy-Carducci's titles help readers learn about ancient Rome and Greece; the Latin and ancient Greek languages are alive and well with titles like Cicero's De Amicitia and Kaegi's Greek Grammar. We also feature a line of contemporary eastern European and WWII books.

Some of the areas we publish in include:

Selections From The Aeneid
Latin Grammar & Pronunciation
Greek Grammar & Pronunciation
Texts Supporting Wheelock's Latin
Classical author workbooks: Vergil, Ovid, Horace, Catullus, Cicero
Vocabulary Cards For AP Selections: Vergil, Ovid, Catullus, Horace
Greek Mythology
Greek Lexicon
Slovak Culture And History ... Read more

Product Description
This is a thoroughly modern series looking at all aspects of different styles of dance, including choreography, performance and presentation, history, costumes, and music.The stunning design and beautiful photography offer a cultural perspective on dance. It promotes an alternative to traditional sports subjects that will appeal particularly to girls. It covers a high-interest topic to get girls reading. ... Read more