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| internet source: Merengue dancing |
Both music and dance are important within the culture of the Dominican Republic. Merengue music was internationally promoted starting in the mid-1930s, which helped the dance to gain popularity also. Merengue music is engaging; it has a fast tempo and sometimes an even faster pace near the end of a song. With a 2/4 music however, dancers usually count in multiples of four. The dance was introduced to the States in the 1980s and 1990s and became especially popular in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, where many Spanish-speaking cultures gained prominence.
Considered the Dominican Republic's national dance, the merengue has controversial origins. One says the dance was created in the honour of a famous war hero who returned home with an injured one leg and danced with this stiff leg in victory celebration; the shifting of weight from one bent knee to a straight leg produced more hip action. Another version is that this dance originated with slaves in the sugar cane field, where they were chained to each other by a chain on one leg, and thus were forced to drag one leg in unison; it was more efficient to work to a drum beat, which created a tempo to pace their steps and coordinate their movements. The third story says it is resulted from a combination of African dance and the French minuet when the slaves mimicked what they saw their masters doing but added a more upbeat tempo through drums.
The Merengue rhythm is easy to create. Remain feet in place and shift weight from one foot to the other in a constant tempo, giving each weight change one count. Notice that one leg is bent at the knee while the other leg is straight and weighted. Then group your weight changes in any multiple of two counts before changing directions. Merengue is associated with celebrations, so always move or sway your body with music. Let your upper torso lean towards the side with the bent knee.
Learn more about the other dance styles? Check here.
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