Sanjuanero

" El Sanjuanero" is a traditional Colombian bambuco song. Its music was written in 1936 by Anselmo Duran Plazas and its lyrics were written by Sofía Gaitán Yanguas.^[1] It was first performed on July 12,1936.^[2] It's one of Colombia's most recogniceable folkloric songs, and it is the anthem of the Festival Folclórico y Reinado Nacional del Bambuco.

Accompanying dance

The traditional Sanjuanero coreography was created by folklorist Inés García de Durán^[3] in 1960 and consists of three basic steps (caminado, bambuqueado, and contradanza), eight basic figures and five or more adornment figures.^[2]

Basic steps

• El Caminado: in every step, the tiptoe touches the floor first.
• El Bambuqueado
• Los Tres Cuartos: walking on the tiptoes, the triple metre is marked.

Role in festivities

El Sanjuanero is commonly associated with Huila's Festival Folclórico y Reinado Nacional del Bambuco celebrated each year in Neiva during the feasts of Saint Peter and Saint John. The Reinado Nacional del Bambuco is a contest similar to beauty pageants in which contestants, each representing a Colombian Department, are judged on six parameters, one of which is performance of the Sanjuanero dance.^[4]

References

1. ^ Historia del Sanjuanero Huilense
2. ^ ^{a b} Sanjuanero: Visión estética y amatoria del bambuco.
3. ^ Mapa folklórico Colombiano.
4. ^ REGLAMENTO GENERAL REINADO NACIONAL DEL BAMBUCO, The Reinado's Official Rule Book.