Merengue

The old saying is that if you can walk, you can dance the Merengue!

Merengue is the national dance of Dominican Republic. Of all the dances it is by far the easiest to learn! It is a fun dance and since you step on every beat, it makes a great dance for beginners. Merengue will work on hip movement and leg action as well as different arms combinations. Learning the Merengue is a good way to start familiarizing yourself with Cuban Motion, which is the way your body moves in all the Latin dances and the ability to lead and follow material spontaneously. It is characterized with loops, wraps, slides and turns and if you can tie your partner in a knot it’s in merengue!

Merengue is danced very much on the spot with the man leading his partner to dance a variety of gentle, slow turning moves, usually over eight steps. It is all about how he puts these different turns together on the fabulous music that provides much of the enjoyment of Merengue and sets up the mood of Merengue which reflects a holiday atmosphere!