Waila (also known as chicken scratch) is the social dance music of the Sonoran desert peoples of Arizona. European derived polka, two-step, cumbia and other dances performed on saxophone, accordion, electric guitars, electric bass, and drum kit (similar to Mexican norteño). Earlier style (known as fiddle music) performed acoustically on fiddles, acoustic guitars, and snare drum. Waila is derived from Spanish for dance (“bailé”) and nickname of “chicken scratch” derived from how dancers look when dancing on dirt.
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