History:

The origin of the Salsa/Merengue, like that of the Salsa/Mambo, has many various stories. One source purports the origin to be a combination of African dances and the French Minuet, from when slaves watched their owners' ballroom dances in the 1700's. Another 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 Merengue is traditionally known as the national dance of the Dominican Republic, and also, of neighboring Haiti. Merengue has existed since the early years of the Dominican Republic, and had found great popularity there by the middle of the nineteenth century. It has since become one of the standard Latin American dances, and may be seen at any celebration involving dancing throughout the Republic, as well as the Caribbean and South American. The Merengue was first introduced to the United States in New York, and is now a very popular dance in clubs throughout the US.

Merengue may be danced to a variety of tempos. Because one step is taken to each beat of the music, it may be danced to fast music, or to a slower beat. The ballroom style of Merengue tends to be a bit slower than that danced in the clubs, and has a crisper hip motion. Generally, the Merengue works well for small, crowded dance floors, because the patterns can be led in tight spaces, and the footwork is so simple that it doesn't travel much.

*(Quoted from: Origins of Merengue, by Carmen Vazquez.)

Technical Details:

Latin dancing uses a syncopated kind of hip motion, while the upper body remains relatively still. (To practice this, try moving your hips under your rib cage, while the top of your body stays stationary.) The Merengue is composed of single small steps which are all of the same length -- 1 beat per step.

The more difficult challenge comes in the Latin motion. The footwork is very simple, but beginners may find it difficult to remember to change weight on every step to achieve the correct Cuban motion. Just remember to bend and straighten your knees alternately with every weight change. This will come with practice, so don't throw out your hip trying to get it right at first! Just keep it in mind as you dance, and eventually it will become easier.

Footwork:

Steps in all directions should be taken on the ball of the foot, with the heel lowering as the weight is transferred. The ankles should work during each step, to create full weight transfer. The Merengue is one of the simpler dances, in terms of footwork, because of the 1-2 count, and basically, as long as you transfer your weight with each beat, you should do fine.

Tips:

1. Latin hip motion can be difficult to pick up, at first. Different methods of instruction work for different people, so you may want to try different instructors or resources until you find one whose explanation works for you. In general, "Latin motion"** is achieved through alternate bending and straightening of the knees, with weight normally placed on the bent leg with each step, then transferred as the leg straightens, using the ball of the foot to push off the floor into the next step. Remember to try to keep your knees as close as possible, with your toes turned out.

2. Arm styling is an important element of the all Latin dances. Arm movements should seem a natural result of the movement of the rest of the body. It looks best when arms are flicked out from the shoulder, instead of lifted up, like a wing, which can look strange and contrived. For vertical arm movements, start with your arm folded close to your body, elbow at your waist, and palm facing your face. Straighten the arm directly overhead, rotating the palm away from you. Otherwise, allow your arms to react naturally to the movements of your body, and keep them generally at or above waist level.

**For more information about "Latin motion," try some of the sites on our Links page. Many of them offer very detailed instructions on specific steps, as well as Latin motion and styling.

If you have any questions about this month's featured dance, or a specific technique, tip, or problem, feel free to e-mail me. I may even feature your question, and the answer, on this page!