habanera

Noun

habanera (countable and uncountable, plural habaneras)

1. A style of music from Cuba.
   • The programming was far from random. The habanera is a hybrid seed of great potency. An adaptation of the European contradanza by slaves from West Africa, it is not only an early version of a New World rhythm that took over the globe, but also a direct ancestor for much of jazz and rock ‘n’ roll.2018 March 5, Brian Seibert, “Review: Tapping Out Some New World Rhythms”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 09 Nov 2020
2. A dance performed to this music.
   • The music of Cuba has had a worldwide influence on forms of song and dance. René Buch who conceived and directed a musical “collage” called “¡Habana!” at the Repertorio Español on East 27th Street, points out the influence on Spain, for example, which received ‘habaneras’ and ‘contradanzas’ from...1982 December 27, Edward Rothstein, “Music: 40 Songs of Cuba”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 03 Sep 2023, page C12