Musical Instruments
Panama’s traditional music features several distinctive instruments, including the mejorana (a five-stringed guitar), the socavon (a four-stringed guitar), tambores (wooden drums), and the guaracha (a stick played across notched wood). The tamborito dance uses the caja, repujador, and repicador drums. Additionally, the accordion and the violin are also prominent in Panamanian folk music.
- Mejorana: A string instrument similar to a guitar, the mejorana is essential in folk music. It is often played in groups during celebrations.
- Congas: These tall, cylindrical drums bring rhythm to Panamanian music, especially in genres like salsa and cumbia.
- Maracas: These percussion instruments are used to create lively rhythms, often played during dances and festive occasions.
- Socavon: A four-stringed guitar, the socavon is also used in traditional music.
- Tambores: Wooden drums are a staple of Panamanian folk music, used in various genres like tamborera and tamborito.
- Guaracha: This instrument is played by running a stick across notched wood, creating a distinctive sound.
- Accordion: The accordion is a popular instrument in Panamanian folk music, particularly in música típica.
- Violin: While the folk violin is being replaced by the accordion, the classical violin is gaining international recognition.
Dance
Panama's cultural dances are rich and diverse, reflecting the country's blended Hispanic, African, and Indigenous heritage. The most prominent dances include the tamborito, cumbia, and punto panameño. These dances are often performed during celebrations, festivals, and cultural events, showcasing elaborate costumes and intricate choreography.
- Tamborito: This is considered the most iconic Panamanian dance, a courtship dance with a lively rhythm and provocative movements, typically performed by a couple. The dance involves a series of shuffling steps, with the female dancer twirling and the male dancer performing kneeling movements.
- Cumbia: Cumbia is a vibrant and energetic folk dance that embodies the joyful spirit of Panamanian fiestas. It is a mix of Hispanic and African music and dance styles, with simple, repetitive melodies and accented drum beats. The cumbia dance is known for its spontaneous, free-flowing style and the use of costumes like the pollera, a fancy dress with elaborate hair pieces and gold chains.
- Punto Panameño: This elegant dance is considered one of the most beautiful and refined Panamanian dances, typically performed by a couple. The punto involves intricate footwork, movements, and is characterized by its detailed choreography and use of instruments like the mejorana (a guitar-like instrument) and drums. (See figure 2)
- Zapateo: A dance style where dancers showcase their footwork and skills through intricate steps and movements.
- Escovillado: A dance where the couple moves away from each other with a short backwards-running movement.
Figure 2
El Punto (Panamanian dance)
Clothing (Madariaga, 1992)
In Panama, traditional clothing worn during cultural dances includes the montuno for men and the pollera for women. The montuno consists of a white shirt, black pants, a traditional hat, and black and white shoes. The pollera is a vibrant, handmade dress, often adorned with embroidered flowers, and is worn during festivals and celebrations.
Men's montuno:
- Camisilla: A white, long-sleeved shirt with a closed neck.
- Black Long Pants: Worn with the white shirt.
- Sombrero Pintao: A traditional straw hat with black lines.
- Chácara: A small bag worn on the left side of the body.
- Chinelas: Black and white shoes.
Women's pollera:
- Handmade Dress: Often made of cotton or linen.
- Embellishments: The dress is often adorned with colorful flower designs.
- Variety of Styles: Polleras can be worn for formal events like festivals or celebrations.
- Labor Intensive: Creating a pollera can take several years and involve many skilled craftspeople.
The pollera is known for its elaborate jewelry and ornaments. Traditional jewelry includes long necklaces, elaborate hair combs, and "tembleques,” which are decorative hair pieces resembling flowers. Gold jewelry, especially, is a hallmark of Panamanian traditional dress.
Elaboration:
- Pollera: The national costume of Panama, the pollera, is a vibrant and intricately designed skirt. (See figure 3)
- Tembleques: These are non-jewelry ornaments placed in the hair, often resembling flowers, animals, or other symbolic designs. They are made of various materials, including wire, pearls, and crystals. A properly dressed woman in a pollera may wear 12-15 pairs of tembleques. (See figure 4)
- Hair Combs: Ornate gold hair combs are a key part of the overall look, complementing the pollera and other jewelry.
- Necklaces: Long, solid gold necklaces are also a traditional element, often worn in conjunction with the pollera.
- Gold: Gold is a prominent material used in Panamanian traditional jewelry, reflecting its cultural significance.
Figure 3
La Pollera (Luxury dress)
Figure 4
Los Tembleques (hair ornaments)
