The merengue is considered the national dance of the Dominican Republic and first gained popularity in 1850, when it replaced another folk dance, the Tumba. With a heightened sense of nationalist pride, native Dominicans boast that the merengue is 100% a hispanic dance from their country, but there are evidences in merengue history that some foreign steps and rhythms may have inspired it, including a telling fact that in Haiti, which shares an island with the Dominican Republic, they have their own local folk dance called the mereng or, in some areas, the meringue.

Discussions of merengue history always mentions the Haitian mereng. There are differences between the Dominican merengue and the Haitian mereng, despite the fact that their names and the main step of each dance – stepping out to the side with one foot and dragging the other foot to close – are very similar. The music and execution of the Haitian mereng is much slower than the merengue of the Dominican Republic. Also, the mereng of Haiti is said to be inspired by the French contredanse and minuet, merged with African slave rhythms. As we’ve mentioned, merengue is touted to be a homegrown dance, although it also shares characteristic with the Cuban danza.

The history of merengue can be traced according to the history of the Dominican Republic, but since there is an argument that it has no foreign influences, many scholars debate on the authenticity of these origin stories. For example, some scholars are convinced that since Dominican Republic and Haiti were at war with each other during the time the merengue was developed, then it was impossible that each could influence the other’s dances. However, there was a short period wherein Haiti ruled the entire island, and the roots of the dance, through sharing the dances could have sprung from there.

Another connection to history is that when the African slaves finally staged a bloody uprising against the French colonizers, many fled to Cuba to get away from danger. Eventually, they would return to the Dominican Republic, with much exposure to Cuban culture. There are debates whether the merengue was actually derived from the Cuban danzas as a result of this, or if the merengue was the one to influence the danza. Valid points are made by several conflicting parties on this matter.

The fondest stories told about the origin of the merengue are slave tales where the Africans would drag their feet along as they were chained together, and later this intimate community was immortalized as a dance. Another story is how a soldier was wounded during the revolution, and how his friends and family, who knew how much he loved to dance, decided to dance with a limp to sympathize with him on the dance floor. The dance was named after a sugar confection with pointy peaks because the nature of the dance resembled the abrupt peaks of the candy.

Because of merengue history’s concordance with the country’s own history, it can be said that merengue can be a bearer of Dominican identity. Which explains the Dominican pride in discussing the origins of such a lively dance.

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Something you can do is go on Pandora, and type in a song or artist you like and then let it make a playlist for you then go and the songs. that way you get exactly what you want.

Ella y Yo is also a great bachata.

Also, look up D.J. Flex and Makano

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The Merengue is a style of Latin American dance where partners usually hold each other in a close position.

It was once made the official music and dance of the Dominican Republic.

Dressed in a sparkly green dress, the prancing pooch dances in a complicated series of twists and turns while being cheered on by an admiring audience.

Her dance partner is a flamboyant man in a red shirt, who, at one point, picks the dog up and spins her around, then slides her though his legs.

The cavorting canine dances for three minutes on her back paws before the song finishes.

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Video Tutorial – Merengue: Lesson 01/15 Warm Up Program – The Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic, and also to some extent, of Haiti, the neighbor 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.
There is a lot of variety in Merengue music. 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.
By Shallwedancechannel

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This golden retriever is really amazing !!! Her name is Carrie… and yep she is a SHE..

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Expert: Rosario Nene Ortega
Contact: www.goddessstore.com
Bio: Rosario Nene Ortega is a ballroom dance instructor at The Goddess Store in Hollywood, Florida.
Filmmaker: Paul Muller

Duration : 0:1:5

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Expert: Amy Weisman de Mamani
Contact: www.salsa-art.com
Bio: Amy Weisman de Mamani has served as a Latin dance instructor at Mangos at the Milky Way in Boston, Massachusetts, and several private venues in Boston and Miami.
Filmmaker: Paul Muller

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