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Merengue is a dance and music of the Dominican Republic (East Hispaniola). It is very similar to Méringue which is popular in Haiti. Merengue was made the official music and dance of the Dominican Republic by Rafael Trujillo, who coincidently had a Haitian grandmother. [1] 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.

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).

Club Merengue evolved significantly from ballroom style. The main differences are much more erotic, suggestive way of dancing and much less serious attitude. All "ballroom" figures are danced, in addition dancers may dance in separation, similarly to Shines known in Salsa. Merengue shines are much more suggestive or silly.

The basic step may be different from the ballroom "empalizada" or "Cuban" versions. Some do it in the Mashed Potato style. Others employ rotational movement of hips that comes from powerful legs.

Folk merengue is still preserved in Dominican rural areas. There's a tendency to move the hips in full circles.

Merengue is often played in sexy salsa clubs. It is surprising to see how people there are differentiated with respect to merengue. Dance patterns of Merengue and the "limpness" of the basic step show significant similarity with Cajun One Step (Cajun Jitterbug), although they limp in a totally different way.

• History Of Salsa, Merengue, Bachatta, Rumba etc
• Merengue and Bachata music Stream / Musica Domincana, en Viva
• Merengue History
• Merengue Instructional Video
• Homepage of the Salsa & Merengue Society - with free video tutorials