Punta is a type of Afro-indigenous music and dance. This dance is a celebratory dance from the St Vincent and Dominica Islands in the Caribbean region. This “Latin American” dance form is said to have been developed by a community called “Garifuna”. Apparently, this dance is commonly performed in countries such as Honduras, Belize and Guatemala. The traditional music used for this dance style was first composed in 1955 in Honduras.
Garifuna funerals, beaches, and parks all feature the Punta dance. This dance, which unites traditional rhythms and cultures with contemporary sounds, is a symbol of Garifuna modernity and ethnicity. Punta is frequently combined with the circular dances chumba and hungu hungu, which have a triple rhythm. Furthermore, the lyrics of the songs used in this dance may either be written in English, Garifuna, Criol, or Spanish.
a. History/origin of Punta Dance:
There was a large influx of migrants (basically slaves) from Western Africa in the St Vincent and Dominic islands around the 15th century. It was during this period that a Western African rhythm called “Bunda” (meaning buttocks in a language called Mande) became extremely popular on these islands especially among the people belonging to the “Garifuna” community. It was then for this rhythm that a dance style called “Punta” was developed.
The Garifuna language shares features with both African and Arawak languages. The Garifuna community’s most well-known traditional dance is called Punta. Before the first arrival of the Garifuna people in Punta Gorda, Roatan, Honduras on April 12, 1797, it was also known as banguity or bunda.
The “Garifuna Nation,” also known as the diaspora of the Garifuna people, originated with the admixture of West African slaves and the Arawak and Carib Amerindians. Through cultural art forms like dance and music, Punta is used to reaffirm and express the struggle felt by the indigenous population’s shared heritage, to highlight their strong sense of endurance, and to re-establish a connection to the ancestors of the Garifuna people.
b. Costumes used in the Punta Dance:
Since this dance is performed by both males and females the costume worn varies accordingly, and they are as follows:
1. For women:
The attire worn includes a colourful sleeveless top covering the upper body, a colourful long skirt, and a form of headgear.
2. For men:
The attire worn includes a colourful top that covers the upper body, a colourful pajama, a pair of anklets, and a colourful and heavy headgear.
c. Music involved in the Punta Dance:
Although there are many instruments used in producing music for this dance such as bass guitars, congas etc there are two instruments belonging to the “Garifuna” community that are mainly used. They are as follows:
- Primera: Is a lead tenor drum which is used by the drummer to produce a few major rhythms required by this dance.
- Segunda: Is the bass drum which is used by the drummer to repeat a “single duple meter ostinatio” in the music played for this dance.
d. Training availability and technique involved in Punta Dance:
In terms of the technique, this dance involves rapid movements of the buttocks, hips, and feet. In addition, it also requires the dancer to maintain a motionless upper body while performing. Furthermore, in this style of dancing the audience forms a circle around the performers. As for training centres/schools, there are few available especially in the United States of America for those interested in this “unique” style of dancing.