If you are looking for an experience full of partying, enjoyment and revelry, you cannot stop enjoying mapalé in San Antero. This Afro-Colombian dance rhythm is known for its overwhelming energy, short steps, fast pace, and the constant clapping that accompanies it.
The mapalé has its roots in the Colombian Caribbean Coast, where African slaves brought during colonial times influenced its development. It arose in palenques, like the famous Palenque de San Basilio, where runaway blacks escaped from their captors and gathered to celebrate and express themselves. The dance used to take place at night, when the maroons finished their daily shift.
The dance begins with two rows of men and women facing each other. The men perform individual and free exhibitions, trying to impress their partners, who take turns reciprocating. The rhythm of the dance is dizzying and ends in a frenzy of movements full of eroticism. The dancers drag their feet to the beat of the percussion, while making movements of the pelvis, especially intense in the open legs of the dancers, and more sensual in the case of women.
The mapalé represents an erotic encounter between man and woman, loaded with exaggeration and gestures. Quick and jerky movements are combined with unexpected moments, creating an atmosphere of passion and sensuality. The traditional clothing of the mapalé includes short skirts with fringes and washers for women, while men wear fringed, bare-chested, knee-length pants.
In short, the mapalé is an energetic and vibrant dance that celebrates Afro-Colombian culture in San Antero. With its fast pace, explosive movements and flashy costumes, this artistic expression represents a passionate and erotic encounter between a man and a woman. If you are looking for an experience full of joy and sensuality, the mapalé awaits you with open arms in San Antero.
