The Habanera, which has its origins in dance, is a musical genre born from a melodic and rhythmic Cuban formula. It has yielded to transformation as a European contra dance with Hispanic and Afro-Antilles melodic elements, suggesting a very characteristic rhythm of balance and melodious sensuality.
Before being consecrated Habanera, it was called by other names: Contra dance, dance, Habanera dance, American, and even American tango.
In 1836, the anonymously published Habanera score "La pimienta Contradanza de inspiración cubana" appeared in Mexico, and in 1955, "La Paloma" by Sebastián Iradier premiered in Havana itself, which would become the most famous Habanera of all times.
What at the beginning of the 20th century was a dance transformed into song by words and musical genre, the Spanish and Catalonian public became acquainted to Habanera through choruses and choral societies. It acquired a lot of popularity in the same way as Zarzuela (operetta), which had lost prominence in the natural succession of fashions and styles from the middle of the last century.
The Habanera was preserved in popular venues such as choirs, taverns and work environments related to fishermen, or by roving musicians until the sixties in Catalonia. Then it received a new impulse and established itself, which has been up to now, the most common means of display: the interpretation of Habaneras in shape of concerts - normally open air with very common scenic characteristics and musical structures - taking as the main focal point the Habanera, combined with Sardanas and sailor waltzes.
One must remark that this impulse has enabled the Habanera to act as symbol in Catalonian popular culture, which is clearly being projected to the rest of Spain, Europe and the Latin American continent.