Music and Dancing

Argentines love to dance! People your age love nothing more than going to the boliche [boh-leach-ay], or "discotheque." There are many different types of music in Argentina. Many of the people enjoy American music, but most like the various types that exist in Argentina. Here is a sampling of the three most prominent music and dancing styles in Argentina.

This first one is cumbia [coom-byah]. There are different kinds of cumbia, but young people love to dance to all of them. It usually has a strong beat and an interesting mix of instruments, like an organ for example. This is a dance that people can dance alone. Watch this video of Argentine soccer player Carlos Tévez dancing to cumbia music.



The second example is called cuarteto [quar-tet-oh]. It uses more traditional instruments like the accordion, the violin, and more. It is fast paced and so is the dance, which is done by a pair. Watch this video to see and hear cuarteto.



The last example is called folclore [fohl-clore-ay] and is a more traditional dance and music style. It has specific steps and is danced usually in traditional clothing. The music includes a variety of instruments and a strong lead singer. Some would argue that cumbia and cuarteto are sung by people who can't sing very well, while folclore includes a singer with a better voice.


Dancing is a way for Argentines to express themselves. Most love to do it and are not ashamed by an opportunity to get on the dancefloor. This makes the culture rich and creates an Argentina of many different types of music, dancing, and entertainment.