In the late 19th century, the habanera developed out of the contradanza which had arrived from Haiti after the Haitian revolution. The main innovation from the contradanza was rhythmic, as the habanera incorporated Spanish and African influences into its repertoire.

Who invented habanera?

Habanera (music or dance of Havana, Spanish: La Habana) is the popular name for "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" ("Love Is a Rebellious Bird"), an aria from Georges Bizet's 1875 opéra comique Carmen.

When was habanera composed?

The entrance aria of Carmen, the popular L'amour est un oiseau rebelle” (“Love is a rebellious bird”) in Carmen by Bizet (1875), is called habanera.