Perreo is a Puerto Rican dance associated with reggaeton music, that focuses on grinding, with the man facing the back of the woman. The word 'perreo', meaning dancing doggystyle[1], derives from the Spanish word perro, meaning "dog". This is also known as "booty dancing" or "grinding" in the United States of America. There was also an associated Puerto Rican music genre called perreo, which was the precursor to reggaeton. In Puerto Rico, youth perreo parties are a common part of regular nightlife.[2]
Contents |
Perro is a front-to-back dance, that is, the man faces the back of the woman. The moves focus on grinding and pelvic thrusts. They can be seen in music videos and night clubs.
Perreo was also the first type of back-to-front dancing seen in Cuba. It is also common in the caribbean and is the primary form of dancing at clubs and parties.
It is a rare form of dance in which the woman takes the lead. The idea of being in charge of the sensual experience of both parties was appealing to some women. Drawing on research conducted in Cuba by ethnomusicologist Vincenzo Perna (see his book "Timba, the sound of the Cuban crisis", Ashgate 2005), author Jan Fairley suggested that this style of dance, along with other timba moves such as despelote, tembleque, and subasta de la cintura, in which the woman is both in control and the main focus of the dance, can be traced to the economic status of Cuba in the 1990s and to the choreographic forms of popular music dancing of that period, particularly in relation to Afro-Cuban timba. As the US Dollar (which functioned as a dual currency alongside the Cuban Peso until 2001) became more valuable, women changed their style of dance to be more visually appealing to men; in particular, to yumas ("foreigners"), who had dollars. This tension between use of the female body as both an objectified commodity and an active, self-created persuasive tool is one of the many paradoxes reggaeton dancing creates in Cuba.[3][4]
According to an article about reggaeton in Cuba, some youngsters see this risqué dance as a way to grow and learn about sex.[5] According to the article, the main reason why perreo is so popular among people aged 12 to 22 years, is that it radiates something "forbidden" and "wicked". Some people claim this may be harmful for childhood.
Perreo was the subject of a national controversy in Puerto Rico as reggaeton music and the predominantly lower class culture it derived from became more popular and widely available. Velda González, a well known senator and public figure in Puerto Rico, led a campaign against reggaeton and specifically attacked the perreo style of dancing, which she marked as overtly erotic, sexually explicit, and degrading to women.[6] She attempted to regulate reggaeton lyrics and videos, which she also implied could lead to criminal acts. Implicit in her campaign, which she outwardly described as related to women's rights, was an attempt to call out and control what was seen as deviant and transgressive sexual behavior. It speaks to the importance of themes of sexual politics both in the production of and reaction to reggaeton music, especially since the music and the accompanying dance styles are strongly tied to American hip hop and Jamaican dancehall reggae.
Perreo has also been much criticized in Cuba. Part of the criticism may be due to its association with reggaeton, which, while very popular in Cuba, has also been heavily criticized.[4] Perreo has been seen as a departure from classical from front-to-front dancing (salsa etc.) to back-to-front dancing. Some Cuban dancers argue that this puts women in control. Others have argued that it is un-Cuban, and the Cuban government seems to agree.[7] [8]