Zouk- The music of Martinique

The beguine, an Afro-French dance music focusing on a bolero-style rhythm, originated in Martinique in the 1930s. It evolved from a string band arrangement that included guitar, violin, banjo, clarinet, and percussion, and soared in popularity during the 1930s. Cole Porter recorded the height of its fame on his renowned "Begin the Beguine," and the Creole sound became a mainstay in Paris' dancehalls and nightclubs.
 
Recently, there has been some resurgence of interest in the beguine. At the helm in the beguine's revival is the folk dance group Les Grands Ballets Martiniquais, a troupe of a dozen dancers, musicians, singers, and choreographers. This folk dance program, around since the 1960s, perform in traditional costumes and dance the beguine as well as a high-energy mazurka.