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| internet source: Merengue Dancing |
The musical basic is deceptively simple, time
signature could be 4/4, 2/4, 2/2 or even 6/8. There are subtle, syncopated,
rhythmic patterns or rolls which are typical. Nowadays the dance is slower with
no limping action. However, the hip action so typical of the Latin dances of S.
Am is evident and essential.
Figure 1: Basic to Side (also Basic inplace, fwd, backward, CCW Couples Turn, CW Couples Turns)
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1
|
LF side
|
1
|
RF side
|
2
|
RF close
|
2
|
LF close
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3
|
LF side
|
3
|
RF side
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4
|
RF close
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4
|
LF close
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5-8
|
Repeat 1-4, end in closed position
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5-8
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Repeat 1-4, end in closed position
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Figure 2: Nightclub Basic Left Turn
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1
|
LF side
|
1
|
RF side
|
2
|
Replace weight onto RF
|
2
|
Replace weight onto LF
|
3
|
LF cross behind RF, LF turned out,
turning 1/4 ccw
|
3
|
RF side, turn 1/4 ccw.
|
4
|
RF inplace, w/ body turn
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4
|
LF inplace, w/ body turn
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5-8
|
Replace weight onto LF
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5
|
Replace weight onto RF
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Figure 3: Follower’s Right Underarm Turn (commence in double handholds)
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1
|
LF inplace.
Lift L hand and arm to create an arch.
Release R hand.
|
1
|
RF inplace.
Lift the R hand up.
Body starts to turn R.
Release L hand but Keep L arm curved.
|
2
|
RF inplace.
Keep lifting the L hand.
Gently press R hand on lady’s L shoulder blade to lead her under the arch.
|
2
|
LF inplace.
Start to step under the arch.
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3
|
LF inplace.
Release R hand.
Keep lifting the L hand.
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3
|
RF inplace.
Turn ¼ R under the arch.
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4
|
RF inplace.
Keep lifting the L hand.
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4
|
LF inplace.
Turn ¼ R under the arch.
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5
|
LF inplace.
Keep lifting the L hand.
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5
|
RF inplace.
Turn ¼ R under the arch.
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6
|
RF inplace.
Keep lifting the L hand.
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6
|
LF inplace.
Turn ¼ R under the arch.
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7
|
LF inplace.
L hand down to resume normal closed hold.
|
7
|
RF inplace.
Place L hand on man’s shoulder.
|
8
|
RF inplace.
|
8
|
LF inplace.
|
Figure 4: Merengue Box Step
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1
|
LF fwd, start to turn ¼ ccw.
|
1
|
RF back (small step), start to turn ¼ ccw.
|
2
|
RF side, complete ¼ turn ccw.
|
2
|
LF side, complete ¼ turn ccw.
|
3
|
LF close.
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3
|
RF close.
|
4
|
RF back (small step), start to turn ¼ ccw.
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4
|
LF fwd, start to turn ¼ ccw.
|
5
|
LF side, complete ¼ turn ccw.
|
5
|
RF side, complete ¼ turn ccw.
|
6
|
RF close, regain closed position.
|
6
|
LF close, regaain closed position.
|
7
|
LF inplace;
Or turning variation:
LF cross behind RF, turn 1/4 ccw
|
7
|
RF inplace;
Or turning variation:
RF cross behind LF, turn 1/4 ccw
|
8
|
RF inplace, end in closed position
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8
|
LF inplace, end in closed position
|
Figure 5: Side Breaks
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1
|
LF side
|
1
|
RF side
|
2
|
Replace weight onto RF,
|
2
|
Replace weight onto LF
|
3
|
LF close
|
3
|
RF close
|
4
|
RF side
|
4
|
LF side
|
5
|
Replace weight onto LF
|
5
|
Replace weight onto RF
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6
|
RF close
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6
|
Close LF
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7
|
LF side (small step)
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7
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RF side (small step)
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8
|
Replace weight onto RF,
end in closed position
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8
|
Replace weight onto LF,
End in closed position
|
Figure 6: Arm Slide
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1
|
LF back (small step)
|
1
|
RF back (small step)
|
2
|
RF back (small step)
Change to double handholds by placing hand’s under her arms and sliding down from the shoulders to hands .
|
2
|
LF back (small step)
|
3
|
LF back (small step)
Keep sliding hand along her.
|
3
|
RF back (small step)
|
4
|
RF back (small step)
Sliding down to hands while stepping away
|
4
|
LF back (small step)
|
5
|
LF fwd (small step)
|
5
|
RF fwd (small step)
|
6
|
RF fwd (small step)
|
6
|
LF fwd (small step)
|
7
|
LF fwd (small step)
|
7
|
RF fwd (small step)
|
8
|
RF fwd (small step)
Regain closed position.
|
8
|
LF fwd (small step)
|
Figure 7: Head Loop (commence R to R handhold)
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1
|
LF inplace.
Lift R hand up.
|
1
|
RF inplace.
Lift R hand up.
|
2
|
RF inplace.
Loop the lifted R hand over her head.
|
2
|
LF inplace.
Loop the lifted R hand over her head.
|
3
|
LF inplace.
Release R hand but continue the curved path in the air as if you were caressing the hair.
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3
|
RF inplace.
Release R hand but continue the curved path in the air.
|
4
|
RF inplace.
|
4
|
LF inplace.
|
5
|
LF inplace.
Lift L hand up.
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5
|
RF inplace.
Lift L hand up.
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6
|
RF inplace.
Loop the lifted L hand over his head.
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6
|
LF inplace.
Loop the lifted L hand over his head.
|
7
|
LF inplace.
Release L hand but continue the curved path in the air.
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7
|
RF inplace.
Release L hand but continue the curved path in the air.
|
8
|
RF inplace.
Resume closed position.
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8
|
LF inplace.
Resume closed position.
|
Figure 8: (Copycat Turn) She-He-She Turn Combination (commence in closed hold position)
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1-8
|
same as Follower’s R Underarm Turn.
Regain single handhold L to R.
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1-8
|
same as Follower’s R Underarm Turn.
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9-12
|
all step inplace.
Turn CW while keeping his L hand at waist level and wrap around his back.
|
9-12
|
all step inplace.
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13-16
|
all step inplace.
Completed a turn.
Release L hand. Take lady’s R hand with his R hand.
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13-16
|
all step inplace.
Completed a turn.
Release L hand. Take lady’s R hand with his R hand.
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17-24
|
same as Follower’s R Underarm Turn
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17-24
|
same as Follower’s R Underarm Turn
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Figure 9: La Yunta (The Yoke)
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1-8
|
same as Follower’s R Underarm Turn.
Taking lady’s two hands w/ LH only.
Release hold w/ RH and using only LH to move the lady’s still joined hands over his own head and places them on the back of his neck, resuming close contact.
|
1-8
|
same as Follower’s R Underarm Turn.
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9-16
|
Take lady’s RH in his LH and resume close contact hold
|
9-16
|
Follow man’s lead and regain close contact hold.
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Figure 10: Lean Back (Melt-down Action)- not so much a figure in itself as an embellishment of the Basic Merengue.
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1
|
From close contact hold, man step into partner.
|
1
|
From close contact hold, follow man’s signal doing inplace but with a wider step than usual
|
2-3
(2-4)
|
Flex knees and sink down to an almost sitting position.
R shoulder leading with RH signalling lady to lean back, by slipping RH down to her waist level then press w/ slight pressure.
The action can take one beat or several beats.
|
2_3
(2-4)
|
Follow man’s leading and start to lean back.
|
4
(5-8)
|
Stand up again.
|
4
(5-8)
|
Stand up again.
|
Figure 11: Half Turn to the R and L
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1-4
|
Step backwards (small steps)
Let her hands slide along his arms while stepping apart.
|
1-4
|
Step backwards (small steps)
Slide her arms along his while stepping apart.
|
5-8
|
Step fwd (small steps)
Lift his L arm to wrap girl to his R side.
|
5-8
|
Step fwd (small steps)
Turn ½ cw over 4 counts to stand by his R side being wrapped.
|
9-16
|
Step inplace (small steps)
Lift L arm to unwrap lady, or simply push her to spin away.
|
9-16
|
Step inplace while being unwrapped
|
17-20
|
Step backwards (small steps)
Let her hands slide along his arms while stepping apart.
|
17-20
|
Step backwards (small steps)
Slide her arms along his while stepping apart.
|
21-24
|
Step fwd (small steps)
Lift his R arm to wrap girl to his L side.
|
21-24
|
Step fwd (small steps)
Turn ½ cw over 4 counts to stand by his L side being wrapped.
|
25-32
|
Step inplace (small steps)
Lift R arm to unwrap lady, or simply push her to spin away.
|
25-32
|
Step inplace while being unwrapped
|
Figure 12: Cuddle Turn (couple’s rotate in Half Turn)
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1-8
|
Dance either a Half Turn to the R or a Half Turn to the L
|
1-8
|
Being led either a Half Turn to the R or a Half Turn to the L
|
9-16
|
Small steps inplace to rotate CW in wrap position.
|
9-16
|
Small steps inplace to rotate CW in wrap position.
|
17-24
|
Dance the exit of the Half Turn to the R or L
|
17-24
|
inplace while being unwrapped
|
Figure 13: Armlock Turn to the L&R (keep all Basic footwork throughout)
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1-8
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace.
Raise RH while keeping LH at waist level and pressing lady’s RH away from him.
Rotate RH to lead lady to turn to the L.
May turn up to ¼ R
|
1-8
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace while turning ½ L.
|
9-16
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace.
Lift RH to unlock the lady.
|
9-16
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace while being unlocked.
|
17-24
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace.
Raise LH while keeping RH at waist level and pressing lady’s LH away from him.
Rotate LH to lead lady to turn to the R.
May turn up to ¼ L.
|
17-24
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace while turning ½ R.
|
25-32
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace.
Lift RH to unlock the lady.
|
25-32
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace while being unlocked.
|
Figure 14: El Nudo (The Knot)
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1-8
|
Dance either a Armlock Turn to the L or a Armlock Turn to the R.
Lifting RH over his head to end back to back with lady on his L.
|
1-8
|
Being led either a Armlock Turn to the L or a Armlock Turn to the R.
End back to back standing on Man’s L.
|
9-12
|
Dance the Merengue actions to move to the L with each partner on the R of the other, still back to back.
|
9-12
|
Dance the Merengue actions to move to the L with each partner on the R of the other, still back to back.
|
13-16
|
Dance the Merengue actions to move to the R, still back to back.
|
13-16
|
Dance the Merengue actions to move to the R, still back to back.
|
17-20
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace.
Lead the lady toward him and behind his back as taking his LH over his head and gradually turn on the spot to the R to face partner.
|
17-20
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace while Man’s turning.
|
21-24
|
Dance the Merengue actions inplace.
Keeping LH raised and lead lady into a Half Turn to the R on the spot over 4 beats.
|
21-24
|
Being led a Half Turn to the R
|
25-28
|
Dance the Merengue actions while release hold w/ RH.
Turn lady on the spot underneath his LH before resuming a double hand hold.
|
25-28
|
Dance the Merengue actions while being turned under Man’s LH.
Resume double hand hold.
|
Figure 15: La Silla Giratoria (keep all Basic footwork throughout)
Man
|
Lady
| ||
Count
|
Movement
|
Count
|
Movement
|
1
|
Dance the Merengue action inplace w/ LF
|
1
|
Dance the Merengue action inplace w/ RF
|
2
|
RF side, turning a little to the L to lead lady to swivel to her R.
|
2
|
On the RF, swivel to the R to end at a right angle to the man, and place the LF fwd, a small step.
|
3
|
Close the LF to the RF, leading the lady to face him.
|
3
|
Transfer body weight onto the LF and swivel to the L to face man, placing RF slightly fwd.
|
4
|
Move sideways onto the RF, turning a little to the L to lead lady to swivel to her R.
|
4
|
On the RF, swivel to the R to end at a right angle to the man, and place the LF fwd, a small step.
|
5-7
|
Repeat Steps 1-3
|
5-7
|
Repeat Steps 1-3
|
8
|
Step inplace w/ RF
|
8
|
Transfer body weight onto the LF and end facing partner
|
Get back to the 'Kandykane's Dance Learning Notes' or go to the 'Dance Glossary'.
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