Punto, Folkloric Dance from Panama

Panama is home to a huge number of traditional dances and musical forms. El punto is one of the most famous in the country, and it is still performed to this day.

El punto is a dance for two people, characterized by its elegant movements. The dancers are accompanied by a violin, a Spanish guitar, three drums and an accordion as they perform strictly choreographed movements. If you want to dance it, you’ll have to learn the steps because you can’t simply improvise el punto.

You will most often see el punto performed at parties as an interlude to other styles of music. Keep your eye on the dance floor and if you see a man on one knee with a woman spinning around him, you know they are about to start dancing el punto.

There are also a number of regional variations, but the most important ones are el punto santeño and el punto ocueño. If you really study the dances there are a few important differences between the two, but most people won’t tell the difference the first time they see a performance.

Make a point of watching some el punto on your trip to Panama and you won’t regret it; the dance is known as one of the most elegant in all of Latin America.