Chilean Dance

The link to the article would not open, so I used the following article which may or may not be the right one. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2006/12/11/279943/-

The cueca was named the national dance of Chile by Pinochet for nationalism, but it was reincarnated as a protest dance by simple acts by the people. This was one of the simplest and safest ways to protest the dictatorship since the dance was approved by the government. The cueca was used as a way to remember the friends and relatives that disappeared during the dictatorship and following Pinochet’s death, the tap portion was a way to dance on his grave even though he was cremated. When I first watched the video, the first thing I noticed was that no one was touching their dance partner. This was weird to me because Latin dances are usually intimate with the dancers being an extension of the other. The second thing I saw was the handkerchiefs that everyone was holding. I thought they were a symbol of submission because of the wave the white flag notion in war meaning surrender.  The final thing that I noticed during the dance was that half of the pairs spun more than the other but everyone ended with a hug. From the article I learned that all these small parts of the dance had its own contribution to the meaning for the people. I feel as though the cueca sola probably has much more of an impact on those watching because the absence of the loved one is much more visible so, like protest art, it forces people to confront the history of the country. I guess this is the type of protest that an oppressive government would prefer since it doesn’t not have any violence, but the awareness that it brings makes sure that the government’s atrocities are not withheld from those that were directly affected by them.
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Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 25, 2017 at 7:13 PM

    Viewing the dance as an outsider and not knowing anything about it is cool and anyone can appreciate a dance, but I appreciate the dance a lot more knowing the social and political significance behind the dance. I think the message behind the cueca sola is very powerful and another unique way of protesting and sending a message.

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  2. catlyf3December 26, 2017 at 9:05 PM

    I agree with Hannah. Art is cool to look at, but getting the history behind it makes me appreciate it more. It's so powerful and meaningful to Chileans. I think it's interesting on how powerful Chilean women are, they take no ones crap and protest regardless if they see their husbands, sons, brothers, and fathers getting kidnapped and murdered.

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  3. UnknownDecember 26, 2017 at 9:20 PM

    I agree that this dance is pretty odd because salsa and tango are so close and intimate dances. I did not notice this until you pointed it out; great eye! I also like how a lot of Chilean forms of protesting, or so we've seen, are not violent at all. They use art and dancing to express their dislikes and struggles. It is amazing that it is so nonviolent. I think it's amazing.

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