Dance Styles - Merengue (Street Latin)
Welcome to Merengue, a simple two-beat dance style originating in the Dominican Republic. It’s ideal for beginners as the turn patterns are the easiest to pick up and can be translated into many other Latin dance styles such as Salsa, Cha Cha and Forro.
The trickiest part of Merengue tends to be the basic step - you step and transfer your weight into a BENT leg (rather than into a straight leg - as you do when you walk). In addition, one leg needs to be bent whilse the other one is straight - using this technique creates the hip movement in this dance style. Merengue is probably the most versatile in terms of music choices and can get quite fast.
The trickiest part of Merengue tends to be the basic step - you step and transfer your weight into a BENT leg (rather than into a straight leg - as you do when you walk). In addition, one leg needs to be bent whilse the other one is straight - using this technique creates the hip movement in this dance style. Merengue is probably the most versatile in terms of music choices and can get quite fast.
Dance Steps & Video Lessons for Beginners
All videos link to YouTube and have been created by third parties not affiliated with BoogieCamp.
- Five Minute Dance Lesson
- Merengue Footwork Basics
- Merengue Partner Basics
- Single Hand Turns of Follower & Leader
- Two Hand Turns of Follower & Leader
- Cuddle of Follower: Basic, Travelling & Changing Sides
- Cuddle & Duck Under (also called Tunnel)
- Sweetheart
- Arm Lock (also called Hammerlock)
- Gateway (also called Colocho) - starts from Arm Lock
- And more...!
Want to learn Merengue?
- For solo dancers, try our BoogieFit Solo Latin Dance classes.
- For couples, you can learn Merengue with Couples Latin Dance courses or Private Lessons.
Music Lists
All links go to that song on YouTube.
To purchase songs, go to iTunes (download iTunes here) or to Google Play.
Want to learn Merengue?
- For solo dancers, try our BoogieFit Solo Latin Dance classes.
- For couples, you can learn Merengue with Couples Latin Dance courses or Private Lessons.