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= Dancing =   Dancing is a very popular activity among Chileans. They enjoy dancing many traditional Chilean dances because they have such a brilliant history in Chile. It is such an enjoyable pastime that many Chilean young people go to clubs that open at 11:00PM and stay open until dawn (Spotlight on Chile). The national dance of Chile is the cueca. Its origin comes from Chile’s former peasant class. Many people consider the cueca a symbol of the newly-formed Chilean republic after a rebellion against the Spaniards’ rule. The steps are meant to look like a male chicken trying to get the attention of a hen, or of a horse being cornered by a huaso, a Chilean cowboy. This dance is obviously a couples’ dance, and men and women dance to it traditionally with handkerchiefs in the air. (Chip Sites) When people dance the traditional dances of Chile, they wear traditional clothing. Men normally wear a Chilean shirt with a flannel poncho and a short jacket, riding pants, riding boots, a hat, and spurs. Women usually wear a flowered dress with an apron. The basic dance steps to most traditional dances, especially the cueca, involve lots of turning and weaving in and out with your partner. (Chip Sites)

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