Colombia’s Most Popular Dances

Colombia‘s dance tradition ranks among the most vibrant in the world. Internationally recognized for their musical skills, Colombians have created and developed several dance styles throughout history. While there are dozens of regional traditional dances, some are extremely popular across the country and are highlights at public festivities or parties.

To immerse yourself in the Colombian dancing spirit, here are five iconic and popular dances originating from Colombia.

Cumbia, an iconic dance from Colombia

Cumbia is one of Colombia’s oldest and most emblematic music and dance styles. Originating from the Colombian Caribbean Coast, Cumbia is a fusion of African rhythmic beats and Native Indigenous instruments, such as the flute. Colombian Cumbia has given rise to Mexican and Peruvian variants of the genre and has a distinctive visual identity. Female dancers wear elegant skirts called ‘polleras,’ which are prominently featured in their dance.

Salsa, Colombia’s finest dance

Salsa and Colombia are as inseparable as coffee and mornings. Although salsa originated with Cuban and Puerto Rican immigrants in New York City, Colombia has left an indelible mark on this music and dance style. In fact, Colombia has made salsa its own. Two regions have contributed to the development of Colombian salsa: the Caribbean Coast, with artists like Joe Arroyo, and the city of Cali. The latter is the birthplace of a distinct style known as Cali-style salsa (Salsa Caleña), which is characterized by a much faster rhythm and more impressive dance moves. It is primarily a partner dance.

Champeta, the rhythmic dance from Cartagena

Champeta is a relatively recent dance that quickly captivated dancers along the Caribbean Coast and across Colombia. This dance is the latest result of centuries of cultural exchanges between Africa and the Caribbean. Directly derived from Congolese rumba, Champeta originated in Cartagena de Indias during the 1970s. Blending African and Caribbean melodies, Champeta is a highly rhythmic dance, characterized by its rapid hopping and movements. Champeta is both a solo and partner dance.

Salsa Choke, a Cali-made rhythm

Known as the World Capital of Salsa, Cali has given birth to various subgenres of Salsa music. One of the most recent and famous examples is Salsa Choke. Originating in Tumaco on the Pacific Coast, but developed and formalized in Cali, Salsa Choke is a fusion of Cali-style Salsa and Reggaeton. It is characterized by significant drum beats borrowed from Reggaeton, while maintaining the fast rhythm of Cali-style Salsa. Like Champeta, Salsa Choke values individual dancing performance.

Vallenato, the Colombian soul

The most emblematic Colombian music genre is Vallenato. Declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, Vallenato originates from the Colombian Caribbean Coast and might be the most representative genre of the cultural blending that occurred in the country. Indeed, its melody is based on three instruments: the African drum (the ‘caja vallenata’), Native Indigenous percussion (the ‘guacharaca’), and the European melodeon. Whether slow or fast, Vallenato is almost always danced in pairs, in a sensual style, body to body.