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Merengue
The Merengue is known as the national dance of the Dominican Republic, it is a relatively simple dance consisting of steps going 1,2 1,2 1,2 either forward, back, side, or in place. The dance itself uses a completely different style of hip motion from the other Latin and Cuban dances.
There are two preferred versions of the Dominican national dance, The Merengue. One story alleges that the dance was originated with slaves who were chained together and, of necessity, were forced to drag on leg as they cut sugar to the beat of the drum. Another story alleges that a great hero of the Republic wounded in the leg during one of he many revolutions in the Dominican Republic. A party of local villiagers welcomed him home with a victory celebration and, out of sympathy, everyone dancing felt obliged to limp and drag one foot.
The Merengue has existed since the early years of the Dominican Republic (in Haiti there is a similar dance known as the Meringue). It is possible because the dance took its name from a 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 19th century the Merengue was very popular in the Dominican Republic. Not only does the Dominican Republic use this dance at every event but it has also become a staple of Latin and South American Dance.
There have been many variations of the basic Merengue rhythm. Tempos can vary greatly and the Dominicans enjoy a sharp quickening pace towards the latter part of the dance. The most commonly seen routine at the clubs, and restaurants that have a dance floor is a slower more Bolero style rhythm that breaks into a fast jive in its closing phrases. The ballroom Merengue tends to be slower and has a modified hip action.
Merengue was introduced to America in the New York area, but it did not gain popularity for many years.
Ideally this dance suites a small crowded dance floor, it is easy to learn and very fun.