History of Merengue
Merengue was made the official music and dance of the Dominican Republic by Rafael
Trujillo. Partners hold each other in a closed position. The man holds the woman's
waist with his right hand while keeping his left hand/her right hand at the woman's
eye level. The merengue is a two-step beat requiring both partners to bend their
knees slightly left and right. This in turn makes the hips move left and right.
When danced correctly, the hips of the man and woman will move in the same direction
throughout the song. Partners may walk sideways or circle each other, in small steps.
They can further switch to a double handhold position and do separate turns without
letting go each other's hands or momentarily releasing one hand. During these turns
they may twist and tie their handhold into intricate pretzels. Other choreography
is possible.
Additional Information
Some say it was derived from the "paso de la empalizada" (pole-fence step).
There are also legends about a limping war hero (or El Presidente of a banana republic
himself, in some versions) who had to step in this way while dancing because of
wounds, and polite (or clueless) public imitated him.
Although the tempo of the music may be frantic, the upper body is kept majestic
and turns are slow, typically four beats/steps per complete turn.
In the social dancing of the United States the "empalizada" style is replaced
by exaggerated Cuban motion, taught in chain ballroom studios for dances of Latin
American origin (Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Mambo, Salsa).
