saoco
Rhythm, style, or a specific kind of soulful flair. (In the Caribbean, it describes an infectious energy or grace, especially in music and dance).
Black people have saoco.
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Tag: ritmo
Definitions tagged ritmo in the street dictionary.
República DominicanaRitmo
The perfect combination of harmonious sounds, voices, or words, incorporating the pauses, silences, and breaks required to be pleasing to the senses.
Rocio and Jorge do not lose the Ritmo to the beat of the dance.
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Perúsaoco
saoco is a term used to describe rhythm, soul, or a contagious flavor in music and dance. Originally rooted in Afro-Puerto Rican traditions like Bomba and Plena (percussion-heavy musical styles with African roots), it refers to a unique swing or energy that makes people want to move. While younger generations use it more broadly, it traditionally describes a combination of musical rhythm, vocal style, and a sensual physical presence.
That orchestra has such saoco: that singer has incredible saoco: that girl has so much saoco when she walks: girl, you look amazing, I love your saoco.
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Puerto RicoRaspa Canilla
A fast-paced, catchy genre of folk music and dance from the Venezuelan Andes. It is characterized by a style where partners hold hands and move their arms vigorously up and down (it is traditional party music from the mountain regions of Mérida, Táchira, and Trujillo).
It is time for some great Raspa Canilla. / Look at those two, dancing Raspa Canilla.
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VenezuelaChuín
Traditional folk music from the Baní region performed during community work parties or social gatherings (juntas, convites, and combés are traditional cooperative labor events where neighbors help each other with harvests or construction).
Chuín is only very popular in Baní.
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changanacuy
A traditional music rhythm and dance from the Peruvian Amazon (the name comes from a Quechua word meaning to cross or entwine legs).
A typical rhythm from the Amazon jungle: changanacuy.
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masucamba
A catchy musical rhythm or groove that makes your body vibrate (this term is strongly associated with the infectious swing of Afro-Peruvian music).
In a club, the music and the dancing are more masucamba.
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tumbao
The rhythmic swing, swagger, or natural grace in the way someone walks, especially referring to a woman's sensual hip movement. (In Colombia, this flow is often associated with the soulful gait of Afro-Latin women.)
That woman has tumbao.
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Colombiasalve
A style of merengue with religious or rural themes, popularized by Elenita Santos starting in the early 1950s (a traditional folk music genre often performed at religious festivals).
Elenita Santos, the Queen of the salve.
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Alibabá
A high-energy Dominican musical genre and dance style featuring fast-paced, marching band style percussion and heavy brass. It is the signature sound of the country's Carnival celebrations (Dominican Carnival takes place throughout February).
It is not even February, why are you dancing Alibabá?
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Mambero
A performer of urban merengue, a genre often called mambo (in the Dominican Republic, mambo refers to a fast-paced, street-style version of merengue).
Pioneer mamberos of the 90s: Raul Acosta (Oro Solido), Tulile, Nelson de la Olla.
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Cruzao
Out of sync, off-beat, or uncoordinated when dancing or singing. (The term literally means crossed, suggesting that your feet or the notes you are hitting are getting tangled up).
That live band sounds more cruzao than the 17th Street Bridge (a major bridge in Santo Domingo notorious for its chaotic traffic). If you dance cruzao, hide in the middle of a crowd so people do not see you.
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