Chacarera

The Chacarera (of chacra = field ) is a folk dance and a style of music and is counted in the famous folklore of Argentina.

The exact origin of the Chacarera is unknown, however, the rural areas of the Gran Chaco, stretching to the north of Argentina. In 1850 Chacarera was originally danced in the northern Argentinean province of Santiago del Estero, which also is part of the Gran Chaco, in the rural areas and later in the cities. Furthermore, it is brought to the adjacent pampas and the gauchos who live there that could have brought the Chacarera early 20th century to Buenos Aires, in conjunction. The Chacacera thus belongs to the folklore Pampeano ( from the Pampas ), which is a direct descendant of Spanish folk music and especially the Zarzuela.

Recently, the Chacarera has also won on the Bolivian Altiplano many followers and it now also exist far away from the original distribution area, eg in La Paz, Chacarera groups. Due to the strong contact with the Argentine Chacarera tradition occurred in recent years to a strong stylistic approximation, so that the two regional variants now mainly through a slightly different dance costume ( other hats ), but not by a fundamental difference in the steps differ.

The music is dominated by guitar, violin, accordion and Bombo. The melody follows the Bombo, who plays the rhythm in a 12 /8 time.

Dance

Chacarera is a very cheerful, easy to learn, traditional Argentine folk dance that can be danced as a couple, but worked in a group.

The Spanish influence is not to be overlooked in the Chacarera. The Chaharera is a highly rhythmic dance. Is danced in pairs, but without hand version. Dancers and dancer dance within an imaginary rectangle and run it from different images. Elements of the dance are the basic step ( paso basico ), the rhythmic snap of the fingers ( castagnettas ), hand clapping ( palmas ), steppes ( zapateo ) primarily of the man and skirts swing ( zarandeo ) of the woman. To footwork and Skirts Swing alternate with position changes similar to the Sevillanas.

During the first golden age of tango (ca. 1920-1955 ) eked out the Chacarera in the capital a background of existence, but the popularity of Chacarera rose in the 60s with the resurgence of the Argentine folklore, which is also related to the prohibition of the tango, the emanated from the military government. Inland, the Chacarera, however, has never lost its place as the most important dance of the people. Famous musicians were Los Chalchaleros, Los Tucu Tucu and Carabajal family, emerged from the many generations of Chacarera musicians and singers.

The home of Chacarera is the province of Santiago del Estero. Chacarera is now danced mainly in the provinces of Catamarca, Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Jujuy and in the south of Bolivia. Each province has its own Chacarera style with subtle stylistic differences. The Chacarera is played in three formats: Chacarera simple, Chacarera doble, Chacarera trunca.

In recent years, the Chacarera became very popular again both in Bolivia and in Argentina. Especially progressively adjusted, well-educated young adults from the city they hear. It is part of a return to their own cultural roots. Meanwhile, he is also danced at milongas again (especially in Argentina, occasionally also in Europe).

An important representative in dance and choreography, the Argentine Luis Pereyra.

Topic

Most of the songs tell of the country and its people and the immeasurable love of people to their homeland. Many songs tell of homesickness felt by the Santiagueño, who had to leave his home: " When I left Santiago, I cried throughout the Weg.Ich 've cried, I do not know warum.Ich can say that I am strong, but this day I have become weak. I left the beloved earth and the Rancho, where I was born, where I lived happy and satisfied sang. " Outside his home, the Santiagueño feels like" a wild plant that dies outside their salt desert. "