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Music HAITIAN COMPAS (English) or KONPA/KOMPA (Haitian Creole) is a modern méringue musical genre in Haiti with European and African roots. The genre was popularized following the 1955 creation of the band Conjunto International by Nemours Jean-Baptiste and Webert Sicot. Kompa is the main musical influence for many countries such as Dominica, the French Antilles (where it is called Zouk), etc. Following the touring of Haitian artists, other musical artists of Martinique and Guadeloupe adopted the musical influence of Kompa and brought the music back to their countries.

The word “compás” in Spanish means “beat” or “rhythm,” and one of the most distinctive characteristics of compas is the consistent pulsating beat of the drum (known as tanbou in Creole or tambour in French), a trait common to many styles of Caribbean music. Compas is also short for the French title “Compas Direct.” In Creole, it is spelled “Kompa Dirèk” or simply “Kompa.” “Kompa Dirèk” literally means “direct beat.”

Kompa is a very artistic & stylish Caribbean music and dance. In fact, this méringue style of music has become very influential in many places including: the Caribbean, Africa, Cape Verde, Portugal, France, Canada, South and North America. There are multiple types of Kompa such as Kompa Artistic (which is classic Kompa), Kompa Old Generation (e.g. the music of System Band, Skah-Shah, Tropicana, Septantrional, etc.), Kompa Dirèk (faster beat), Kompa Love (slow beat and romantic), Bolero (slow-tempo Latin music), Twoubadou (Haitian & French influenced & guitar-based music), and Zouk (an exuberant style of Caribbean with a fast heavy beat).

Kompa songs are divided in 4 parts: 1)	the intro (which is instrumental) 2)	the versus (singer sings) 3)	the bridge (slow tempo part of the song; singer sings) 4)	the solo, which is the instrumental part of the song (part of the solo includes what is known as “kase” in Creole; it describes the unique rhythmic pattern of the drums)

Dance Style The dance-style that accompanied Kompa Dirèk in the 1950s, was a two-step dance called “Kare” (which means square in English). Just as it is with Méringue or ballroom dancing, Kompa is danced in pairs. Often partners dance holding each other tightly and romantically; in this case often most of the moves are made at the hips. The Kompa dance is very elastic; it incorporates multiple exotic dances such as Zouk, Kizomba, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue & Soca, just to name a few. What makes the beauty of Kompa so unique is the instrumental parts of the songs, known as the “Gouyad Session”; this is when sensual dance moves take place.

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