You've seen this Dominican dance and the monkey has climbed up. What looks like an incredibly simple dance is surprisingly sensual and requires skill down to the smallest detail. Let's get started moving those hips with Step 1 below!
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Grasping the Basics
Step 1. Put on some merengue songs
Fernando Villalona, Juan Luis Guerra, Eddy Herrera, and Toño Rosario are fine to start with, although the New Yorker merengue also has his staunch followers (just think of Mala Fe, Henry Jimenez and Aybar). You can also go to your favorite internet radio, type "merengue" and let it choose it for you!
In any case, the merengue is completely versatile. Since it's a basic 4/4 tempo step - like most music - you can follow this step with just about anything. Try it with your favorite musician
Step 2. Take a Latin dance hold
This is a close dance position. Here are the details:
- Extend your arm keeping it in an L-shaped position at shoulder level.
- The man's left hand holds the woman's right hand.
- The man places his right hand on the woman's shoulder blade, and the woman places her left hand on the man's shoulder blade; their arms must touch (with a slight pressure) with the man's arm under that of the woman. There must never be any gap between the two arms.
- Stay close but not too close - about a foot.
Step 3. Start marching in place on the first beat
The woman starts with the right foot, the man with the left. March so that you take one step with each beat. 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on.
- Man: Start on your left foot, marching in place, bending your knees slightly with each step. As you bend your knees while shifting your weight, your hip should naturally drop. It is this hip movement that makes the merengue what it is. You don't have to jerk or twist your hips excessively - just the natural hip movement that happens when you shift the weight.
- Woman: start on your right foot, bending your knees slightly, following the same movement as your partner. The knees follow the same movements, but do not touch each other (or, forbid the sky, they do not collide). Feel your hips moving back and forth, slightly up and down as you shift your weight with each beat.
- Get in the rhythm with your partner. When you both start feeling the rhythm, feel free to move in unison (in other words, turn around. The fun part!).
Step 4. Men, don't forget to lead
Your partner should be able to close her eyes knowing exactly what is going on. With every little movement, you suggest where to go and what to do. Most of the work is done by the slight pressure of the arm that you hold around her - don't pull her around!
At the same time, it is important not to send false signals to her. If he feels you are about to do something, he will respond accordingly. So make sure you don't lose the thread
Part 2 of 2: Adding Moves with Partner
Step 1. Start moving along the track
With this basic walking step (a damn sensual march), start moving forward and backward, left and right. Man slowly turns his partner 360 degrees. Don't speed up the pace or try a double spin - follow the 8 beats (or even 16 if you feel like it) to make a full circle. The beauty of the merengue lies in its slow and fluid movements.
Step 2. 1-hand turn
It's time to shoot! Always following the basic steps, here are the principles:
- Slide into an open position. It basically means that the woman runs her hand around the man along his arm until she takes his hand - now all hands are joined together.
- Grab your left or right hand and release the other. The man has to raise the hand that holds the other in the air, indicating to the woman how to turn.
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Then, the woman (or the man, but usually the man follows in succession) turns inward or outward under his arm - the man will indicate how by turning the woman's hand to the right or left.
Always keep the basic steps all the time! Turn at the same pace you move - 1, 2, 3, 4
Step 3. 2-hand spin
Slide into the same open position as the 1-handed turn, but this time raise both hands in the air. From here:
- The woman passes under both arms in a 360 degree turn. In this way, he stands with his arms crossed. To free himself, he has two possibilities:
- The man can turn it in the opposite direction, repeating the same move to make it return to the starting point.
- The man can turn around, at the same time untying his crossed arms, returning to the normal open position.
Step 4. Turn with arm behind the back
For this, we start as for the 1-hand round; that is, raise one hand in the air but don't let go of the other. Turn her outward - as a result, she now stands with one arm behind her back, one outward, and is next to the man. The man's hand is placed on the woman's side.
- If you like, hold the position and make a slow 360 degree circle. Then, untie the woman by taking her free hand (the one not wrapped behind her back), and turn her in the other direction, returning to the starting position.
- Man, to make sure the woman takes a full turn, put a thumb on her hip and turn her towards you. It's just a slight repositioning of the angles.
Step 5. Hug lap
It's like the one with the arm behind the back, only the woman turns inward. As a result, both of her arms are wrapped around her and she stands directly in front of the man (instead of at his side, as in the previous round). At this point, the man moves to her side, her arms still wrapped. You should now be side by side, facing the same direction.
- Then, hold the position and move in circles, with the woman moving in wider circles in reverse.
- If you want, take the hand on his hip and push it to your other side. And then again in circles!
Advice
- Merengue is a very simple dance, thanks to its rhythm. Listen to the music with its constant march-style rhythm. Mentally count the beats, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8."
- Keep your knees bent. Remember: the knees move the hips.
- Take it easy!
- This is a good start, but excelling at any dance takes practice and training. Look for lessons to add many other figures to your merengue such as whirlpools, dips, etc.
- Be creative - as long as your feet keep marching to the beat, you can do anything.
