La Cucaracha

The exact origins of "La Cucaracha" (Spanish: cockroach) are unknown. It has been suggested that it was composed following the expulsion of the Moors from Spain on January 2 1492, whilst others say it is about Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa's car, which frequently broke down and earned the nickname la cucaracha from Villa's troops.

The lyrics consist of independent verses, often improvised. The one prototypical verse is:

La cucaracha, la cucaracha/Ya no puede caminar/Porque no tiene, porque le falta/Marijuana que fumar.

(The cockroach, the cockroach/He can't walk anymore/Because he doesn't have, because he lacks/Marijuana to smoke)

This version is supposedly about President Victoriano Huerta, who was a notorious drunk and user of narcotics.

To confuse things further, during the Mexican Revolution, the song was frequently given political lyrics by rebel and government forces alike.

Today, the song is primarily regarded as Mexican, though it was probably originally written in Spain.

All About the Dance
La Cucaracha means "The Little Cockroach". This is a dance known to all Mexicans. This dance is usually performed during social gatherings.

Costumes:
The boy or the male wears "blousey" shirt, a low-cut vest, a jacket cut something like a long bolero, and long rather tightly fitting pants decorated sometimes-with silver buttons. On his head, he has a huge sombrero and on his arm he carries his brightly colored zarape.

Music:
The music for this dance is divided into two parts: A and B with the counting of one, two, three to a measure.

Formation:
Couples are arranged informally around the room. The boy clasps his hands around his back, the girl holds her skirt gracefully at the side, or the participants may be arranged in any desired formation. Partners stand side by side, the girl is in the right of the boy.

How to Dance La Cucaracha

Figure I

Music A. Play Once.

Partners stand side-by-side facing front. Throughout the figure, partners turn slightly away and toward each other. They perform cross-waltz steps in place. The first step (ct. 1) is strongly accented with a decided "dip" of the knees in this dance.
Starting with the inside foot, take eight cross-waltz steps in place. Girl holding skirt, boy clasping hands behind............................................................8 M

Figure II

Music A. Play Once.

Partners face each other and do the cross-waltz steps revolving around each other.
Starting with the R foot, take eight cross-waltz steps forward moving clockwise. Crossing the R foot over the t, turn the body,to the left and bring them into a position touching R elbows. When the L fodt is across the R, the left elbows are touching. ........................................................8 M

Figure III

Music B. Play Twice.

Partners are side-by-side facing steps front.
The following directions are for the boy; reverse for the girl.

(a) Boy steps sideward L (ct. 1), steps R close to L foot (ct. 2), steps L sideward left again (ct. 3), stamps R foot in place (ct.1), pauses (cts. 2, 3), puts weight on the R foot..............................................................2 M

(b) Three-step turn L away from partner (cts. 1.2. 3). Stamp R foot twice, keeping the weight on the L foot (cts. 1,2), pause (ct. 3).
...........,......................................................8 M

(c) Step R sideward toward partner (ct. 1), step L close to R (ct. 2), step R sideward again (ct. 3). Step L foot in place (ct. 1), stamp R foot twice (cts. 2, 3)....................................2 M

(d) Starting with the R foot, three steps sideward R to change place with partner. The girlpasses in front of the boy (cts. 1,2.3). Stamps
Lfoot (ct. 1), pauses (cts. 2,3)..................................2 M

(e) Repeat all (a-d) starting with4he opposite foot, finish iino original position. ...............................................8 M

La Cucaracha is also the name of a daily comic strip by Lalo Alcaraz, which focuses on both Hispanic culture and Californian politics.

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