It varies by region, having a characteristic form in Aragon (where it is the most important[1]), Mallorca, Catalonia, León, Castile, Navarre, Cantabria, Asturias, Galicia, La Rioja, Murcia and Eastern Andalusia.

Being a visual representation, the jota is danced and sung accompanied by castanets, and the interpreters tend to wear regional costumes.

As noted earlier, the jota of Castile tends to be accompanied by guitars, bandurrias, lutes, dulzaina and drums.

The songs accompanying the jota, which are known for their wry humor, typically deal with life, love, weddings, (often giving advice to the newlyweds) or religion.

The zapateados (footwork), cubrados (curved arms), and Sevillana (flounced and ruffled) styles of dress are evidently Spanish in origin.

The ladies wave their mantón [es], or decorative shawl, while the gentlemen keep a brisk pace with bamboo castanets.

The music is an alternating fast and slow tempo similar to Spanish airs which accompany dances like flamenco, jota, bolero, seguidilla, and fandango.

[3] During the early 20th century, the jota became part of the repertoire of Italian American musicians in San Francisco playing in the ballo liscio style.