Danzón is the official musical genre and dance of
Cuba. It is also an active musical form in
Mexico, and is still much loved in
Puerto Rico. Written in
2/4 time, the danzón is a slow, formal
partner dance, requiring
set footwork around
syncopated beats, and incorporating elegant pauses while the couples stand listening to virtuoso instrumental passages, as characteristically played by a
charanga or
tipica ensemble.