La cueca is the Chilean National Dance

 

La Cueca is the folk national dance of Chile and Declared in September 1979 as the national dance. La Cueca is influenced by African and indigenous cultures. Dancers have been performing in social and family events and competitions since then.

The outfits is unique and colorful. Ladies from all ages have their beautiful and flowering dresses. Boys wear special horse rider clothing. The dancers wave handkerchiefs in the air during the dance. These handkerchiefs can symbolize the feathers of the bird or the rooster’s comb.

Years back la Cueca was danced on the Chilean’s Independence Day but today is very popular during the whole year. This dance is a parody of the courtship of a chicken and rooster. Learning cueca is to know the structure and movements, timing and turns.