Originally a Spanish dance in 3/4 time, it was changed in Cuba, initially into 2/4 time, then eventually into 4/4. It is now presented as a very slow type of Rumba rhythm. The music is frequently arranged with Spanish vocals and a subtle percussion effect, usually using Congas or Bongos.

A HISTORY OF BOLERO:

It is said that Sebastian Cerézo (a.k.a. Zerezo), a ballet dancer of court in 1750, used the Spanish folk Boléro as a base for his French ballet. The Boléro is one of the oldest "school dances" known with the name supposedly coming from "Volar" (to fly) because the Manchenga expert had danced the Seguidillas so wonderfully, he seemed to fly (voleras). The Boléro was performed to a guitar and castanets. There are many Boléro compositions written from the 18th. century to present time.

The Spanish Boléro (Spain's National Dance) was one of love and romance. The Boléro would be accepted all over the world for its lovely rhythms. Mexico was a big producer of Boléro music as well. The Boléro was a dance far more noble, modest, and restrained as well as resembling but being shorter than the Fandango (which the Boléro replaced in popularity), and is executed by two persons (originally a single female). The Boléro was danced by a lady and gentleman or by several couples if one so desired. It was also arranged as a Quadrille at times, and used in the Ballet as well as danced at the opening of a ball.

The Original Spanish Boléro was performed to a seguidilla (dance air, in triple time or a national song, etc.), with a peculiar rhythm, in the manor method. The guitar, or the pizzicato, is the instrument demanded by this dance. It being set to the time of 3/4. The music is extremely varied, and full of cadences. The air or melody of this dance may be changed, but its peculiar rhythms must be preserved, together with its time and its flourishes, which latter are also called " 'false pauses". The steps of the Spanish Boléro are performed terre à terre; they are either sliding, beaten, or retreating, being always as it were, clearly struck out.

The Seguidillas Boléras is a name which was given when the Boleros were "sung" and accompanied by a guitar. The great difficulty of this dance consists in resuming the part called the paseo, which is immediately after the first part of the tune in the prelude of the accompaniment, which precedes the estribillo. The estribillo is that part of the couplet, not indeed where the moral is found, but which contains the epigrammatic point or turn. The Boléras is different from the Boléro, although the time is taken from the latter. It was generally used in the theaters when it was wished to represent Andalusians or gay and animated peoples. The Boléras is rather a "dance-song" however, rather than a dance. Some authorities assert that the Boléro is the outcome of the Seguidillas. The Seguidillas (Poem) is a quicker dance than the Boléro and it is generally understood that when the Boléro or Fandango is danced in ballet form by eight people, it is called the Seguidillas.

The SEGUIDILLAS TALEADAS, This dance is a species of the Bolero, mingled with some measures of the Cachucha performed to a Sequidilla (dance or Song).

The Cuban Bolero version came to be around 1883 with José Pepe Sánchez composing 'Tristezas'. The Cuban Boléro is a different dance than the Spanish Boléro version, however the Cuban Boléro was very much derived from the old Spanish Boléro, but the music and rhythms changed (2/4) when it came to Cuba and is danced closer to a Rumba style. The Mexican Bolero came to be around 1921.

The American Bolero was made popular in the United States when French composer Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) wrote his composition in 1928 for Ida Rubenstein which was choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska. The first performance was on November 22, 1928, at the Paris Opera House and Ida danced it on a 'table-top'.

The Columbian Pasillo colombiano, done in 6/8 time closely resembles the Boléro.
The Bolero viejo o parado: A style derived from the seguidilla.
The Valldemosa bolero (Majorca, Spain) is the most popular in the Balearic Islands. The name parado (stopped) comes from the abrupt end of the dance.

The Boléro is still danced today and is a standard dance among the American Style Rhythm dancers and is very exciting to watch.