Merengue

Definition of Merengue

The most representative form of Merengue only survives in the rural areas of the Dominican Republic. It consists of paseo (walk), body and "jaleo". In time the walk disappeared, the body has been extended and the jaleo has been alienated by the insertion of exotic rhythms.

These days, dancing the merengue is like marching where you step left right left right left right in time to the music.  Merengue is done with the man holding the woman in a vals-like position, they step to the side (paso de la empalizada - stick fence step). Turn clockwise or counter clockwise while maintaining closed dance position (merengue de salón) or individually perform turns while holding onto at least one hand of their partner (merengue de figura)

Merengue Fun Learning Curve

• The Moves
• The Music
• History
• Tips & Info

The Moves

Merengue music has the tempo and rhythm of festive character of the marching music. The dance figures can be spontaneous and very improvisational. They can also be sexy and a little wild.

The basic footwork pattern is The basic step can be thought of as step, close, step, close, step, close, step, close.

Some teachers call out the timing as Merengue music and the basic step may be counted: 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4. Counting to eight is also very popular. This is appropriate for the even tempo left, right, left, right, step timing. Most patterns require 4 beats or eight beats of music. Like disco music, merengue music has heavy down beats on every count. 

The basic step is easy. The key to looking good is in the body action. It’s not the moves you do but how you move that’s important. Learning the Merengue is a good way to start familiarizing yourself with Cuban Motion, which is the way that your body moves in all the Latin dances. Cuban motion, specifically hip action is an essential defining element of the dance. Cuban motion results from the alternate bending and straightening of the knees. As a knee bends, the same hip drops. As a knee straightens, the same hip is pushed up and out. Thus the hips move up and down. Again the secret is this: as a knee bends to release weight in preparation for stepping, the same hip should drop. The up and down hip action can be practiced by standing in place and alternately bending and straightening the knees.
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The Music

The music style is festive and happy and the music tempo is about 120 to 160 beats per minute.
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History

The Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic, and also to some extent, of Haiti, the neighbour sharing the island. There are two popular versions of the of the origin of the Dominican national dance, the Merengue.

One story alleges the dance originated with slaves who were chained together and, of necessity, were forced to drag one leg as they cut sugar to the beat of drums. The second story alleges that a great hero was wounded in the leg during one of the many revolutions in the Dominican Republic. A party of villagers welcomed him home with a victory celebration and, out of sympathy, everyone dancing felt obliged to limp and drag one foot.

Merengue has existed since the early years of the Dominican Republic (in Haiti, a similar dance is called the Meringue). It is also possible the dance took its name from the confection made of sugar and egg whites because of the light and frothy character of the dance or because of its short, precise rhythms.

By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Merengue was very popular in the Dominican Republic. Not only is it used on every dancing occasion in the Republic, but it is very popular throughout the Caribbean and South American, and is one of the standard Latin American dances.

There is a lot of variety in Merengue music. It is also popular in Latin Clubs and in dance studios in the United States. Tempos vary a great deal and the Dominicans enjoy a sharp quickening in pace towards the latter part of the dance. The most favored routine at the clubs and restaurants that run a dance floor is a slow Bolero, breaking into a Merengue, which becomes akin to a bright, fast Jive in its closing stages. The ballroom Merengue is slower and has a modified hip action.

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Tips & Info

Here are some "universal tips" for learning how to dance a partner dance such as Merengue.   

• First, acquire a few audio CD's of the music and play the music over and over in your home or automobile.
• Next, count the step timing in time to the music. This you can do sitting down, perhaps while driving. For example, for waltz, call out the 1,2,3 1,2,3 step timing in time to the music. For foxtrot, call out the step timing using slows and quicks. For cha cha and rumba, it's important to recognize the first beat of each measure. Otherwise you may dance on the incorrect beat. If necessary,
• Have your instructor assist you in learning to count the step in time to the music. Dancing in correct time to the music is absolutely essential. Continue this "sitting down and listening" exercise for as long as necessary until you can easily and automatically count the step in time to the music. The 18 Dance Practice CD sold by 18Dance Store might be a helpful
  tool.
  In order to learn to achieve Cuban motion  of shaking or twisting the hips, the hips should move up and down naturally as a result of the bending and straightening of the knees.                           Practice keeping the shoulders to remain level during the dance. To avoid tilting the upper body back and forth like an inverted pendulum.
• Next, practice the basic step, including the step timing, until the step is automatic - like tying a shoe. Using east coast swing as an example, practice the triple step, triple step, rock step basic until it's automatic. Next, practice this basic to music until it becomes automatic. Many basic steps can be practiced without a partner.
  As each knee bends, the same hip must be allowed to drop to get the hip action. You can't dance correctly if you shuffle your feet. Instead, you must make complete weight changes with each step.

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