The Influence Of El Gueguense Dance In Nicaragua

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In 1524 Nicaragua was colonized by Spain, everything changed for the indigenous people because the Spaniards flipped their world upside down, taking their belongings away from them and colonizing them in brutal and abusive ways. “El Güegüense” is a play whose purpose is to demonstrate a pacific resistance against the Spanish rule. The name comes from its main character: “El Gueguense” meaning “wise man” It was not until 1942 that the play was published into a book and it took eight years for the music to be recorded. Now days, El Gueguense dances are part of cultural expressions during festivities, honoring the saint of the city of Diriamba; “San Sebastian”. Professional folkloric ballets now include the Gueguense dance in their repertoire. …show more content…

(dictionary.com) Within Nicaragua’s Folklore we find El Gueguense, which is very particular and special because of the customs people wear. Typically people dress up as either indigenous or Spaniards and use the typical Gueguense mask. Even with the customs used in the dance we see the strong influence of these different cultures blending as one in a cultural dance. The basic steps in this folk dance include hopping, which is placing the weight on one foot and then the other. Chassé: to get the dancer in a new position. Schottische is the most important because it is unique to folklore dances only; it includes alternating stepping and hopping. El Güegüense combines not just dance and music but also the ornate craft work of its masks that give the piece powerful and picturesque plastic folkloric effects.(telesurtv.net) The accessory of the mask has had a huge impact in the population because when people say that you are acting like “a gueguense” it means that you are acting like you are following authority but in reality you are doing the opposite, therefore we can see how the Spanish authority still continues to have a symbolic impact in Nicaraguans culture. Works such as El Gueguense are absolutely indispensable reference points as part of the region’s cultural inheritance. The Spanish culture was the main influencer of this satirical dance because the indigenous were trying to rebel against these tyrants through a satirical play. It is said in my country that the Gueguense will never die in our culture because it has always been passed from generation to generation. Definitely celebrating this dance in the city of Diriamba is also a symbol of freedom from the Spanish culture, and a reminder of how the Nicaraguan people were able to free themselves and create their own culture, although greatly influenced by Spanish

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