Bolero

Bolero, dance in µ time introduced in the late 18th century, considered the national dance of Spain. In the bolero, dancers make abrupt turns and perform complicated steps in syncopated rhythm. Graceful arm and hand movements complement the rhythmic leaping and kicking. The dancers, either solo or in couples, are accompanied by a guitar, and the performers sometimes sing and play castanets. A famous example of the bolero in classical music is the Boléro for orchestra by the French composer Maurice Ravel.

A different form, though with the same name, is the Cuban bolero. It is in duple time and is close to the habañera in style; very often it is a sung form only, and not danced to. It superseded the Spanish bolero in Latin America.