Colombia is a country rich in culture and traditions.
With African, Indigenous, and European influences, Colombia has created its own rhythms and dance styles.
With the cadence of movement of Colombian cumbia, Cali-style salsa, Caribbean champeta, mapalé, and bullerengue, you will engage in physical exercise while also enjoying moments of relaxation through dance.
Through the tools that allow us to explore these dances, body awareness is developed: posture, support, breathing, rhythm, and balance.
Through technical exercises, sequences, and improvisation, you strengthen your body while gaining precision and freedom. Technique becomes a tool at the service of expression and inner transformation.
Inspiration:
Mapalé is an Afro-Colombian dance that takes its name from a fish known for its fast and agile movements. Originally, this dance symbolized the struggle and celebration of Black fishermen who imitated the movements of the fish when it was caught in nets, out of the water. The lively, powerful, and rhythmic movements of Mapalé reflect the strength, resilience, and joy of life of Afro-descendant communities. It is a dance full of energy, combining flexibility, speed, and expressiveness, representing a rite of passage and a tribute to life. Today, Mapalé is not only a cultural expression but also a dance technique that requires coordination, rhythm, and body control, while also inviting freedom and creativity.
Bullerengue is a dance originating from the Colombian Caribbean coast, characterized by its sung form. Traditionally, it is passed down from generation to generation, although Western methods are also used today for its learning. This dance was part of puberty initiation rites, symbolized the resistance of enslaved people, and celebrated their freedom. Today, it is also a highly appreciated festive musical form. Beyond being a ritual dance, Bullerengue plays a role in midwifery practices, where it is used to guide childbirth and relieve menstrual pain. It is even said that this dance begins in the womb. Thus, Bullerengue embodies a deep connection with femininity, life, and cultural resistance, blending song, rhythm, and movement into an authentic and powerful expression.
Colombian cumbia requires a rhythmic hip movement in every step. Born on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, it quickly spread throughout South America, with each country adapting the rhythm to its own cultural influences. Cumbia is a lively dance that combines sensuality and joy for life. It reflects a unique blend of African, Indigenous, and European influences, visible in its movements, rhythms, and colorful costumes. This traditional dance is much more than entertainment: it is a true cultural expression, a living link between past and present, celebrated in festivals and popular gatherings.
Cali-style salsa was born in the streets of Cali, where music and dance are part of everyday life. Inspired by Afro-Cuban rhythms, this style evolved into something unique: fast, precise, and full of energy. More than a dance, it is a cultural tradition that reflects the identity of a city. With its agile steps and stage power, Cali salsa has reached stages around the world while remaining rooted in its popular origins. Today, it is still alive in schools, streets, and in the hearts of those who feel it as part of their history.
Champeta was born on the Colombian Caribbean coast, especially in Cartagena and Palenque, as an expression of Afro-descendant communities. Inspired by African music brought by ships in the 1970s and 1980s, it blended with local sounds to create a unique style full of rhythm, strength, and joy. “Picós,” massive sound systems, brought champeta to the streets and turned it into a symbol of identity, resistance, and cultural pride. What was once seen as marginal is now a living celebration of Afro-Colombian roots.
To conclude:
Dance is a creative and transformative act that reconnects us with ourselves and with others. It is also a discipline learned through practice. The word DANCE is used in its broadest sense. The elements of our inspiration offer many tools to dance from a holistic and integrative perspective.
Discover Afro-Colombian dance classes in Fribourg, Switzerland, for children, youth, and adults. Learn cumbia, salsa, champeta, and bullerengue with Haragati, in person and online.