Danzón in Mexico Week

As part of the University of Southampton’s, ‘Mexico Week’ in November 2015, a danzón workshop was held at Turner Sims, organised by the University’s Music department and led by danzón expert Dr Hettie Malcomson. Danzón is a popular form of Cuban and Mexican dance and music, and a precursor to modern styles such as the mambo and the cha-cha-chá. The participants of the workshop were taught the basic steps before putting their new-found skills to the test with live music provided by the University of Southampton’s Hartley Danzonera. The Danzonera – a group of Music students led by Jamie Wall – performed danzón classics such as ‘Por un Cerro Mejor’, ‘Linda Jarocha’, ‘Massacre’ and ‘Emilio Amarra tu Perro’, finishing with the fast and furious mambo ‘Que Rico Mambo’. Typical of Mexican danzón music, the band consisted of saxophones, brass, piano, bass, timpani, congas, güiro and clave. It was great fun, giving everyone a taste of Mexican music and dance on a wet, winter’s evening.

Nyle Bevan-Clark