[Please scroll 1 post down for my 1st Tackle It Tuesday]
Dominican Republic Part 2
Welcome - Willkommen - Vaelkomna - ¡Bienvenidos! - Velkommen - Bienvenue - Benvenuti
The birthplace of the famous wooden dick pipe =)
and home of the
Merengue
Dominican Music and Dominican Identity
Feel free to listen to my alltime favorite Merengue Song “Demasiado Romantica” by Eddie Herrera to get in the perfect mood for Merengue!
History of Merengue
Merengue has its origins on the island of Santo Domingo. Both Haiti and the Dominican Republic claim to have invented it. Haiti claims that a great, war hero returned from battle with the neighboring islands. Unfortunately he had severely injured one of his legs in battle. At the victory feast and dance, everyone danced by dragging one leg so as not to embarrass or insult their hero. The Dominican Republic has a similar story. They claim that a prince was born with a lame leg and that his servants, so as not to insult him, would always dance by dragging one leg.
Regardless of its origins, merengue is one of the most popular and widely danced dances throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean islands. It is also popular in Latin Clubs and in dance studios in the United States.
Description of Merengue
Merengue music essentially has the tempo and rhythm of marching music. This is appropriate for the even tempo left, right, left, right, step timing. The music and the basic step may be counted: 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4. Counting to eight is also very popular. The basic step can be thought of as step, close, step, close, step, close, step, close. Most patterns require 4 beats or eight beats of music. Like disco music, merengue music has heavy down beats on every count. The music style is festive and happy and the music tempo is about 120 to 160 beats per minute.
Character of Merengue
Going along with the festive character of the music, the dance figures can be spontaneous and very improvisational. They can also be sexy and a little wild. Acceptable figures can include pretzels, wraps, ropes, and tunnels. As the basic step is simply marching in nature, hundreds of figures are possible. Even so, many folks simply dance merengue in closed dance position only.
The key to looking good is in the body action. It’s not the moves you do but how you move that’s important.
Learning the Merengue is a good way to start familiarizing yourself with Dominican Motion, which is the way that your body moves in all the Latin dances. Dominican motion, specifically hip action is an essential defining element of the dance. Dominican motion results from the alternate bending and straightening of the knees. As a knee bends, the same hip drops. As a knee straightens, the same hip is pushed up and out. Thus the hips move up and down. Again the secret is this: as a knee bends to release weight in preparation for stepping, the same hip should drop. The up and down hip action can be practiced by standing in place and alternately bending and straightening the knees.
And now - the fun:
Merengue lesson:
Note - Coffee 2 go, especially Sanni, cannot be held responsible for anything that happens to you as a result of taking part in this Merengue lesson. Especially neither fractures or any sexual deadbeat nor the opposite 
You do this at your own risk!
Dominican motion comes mainly from the alternate bending and straightening of the knees. As a knee bends the same hip drops. Conversely, as a knee straightens, the same hip rises. Thus the hips move up and down. A common mistake is to twist the hips in an effort to achieve Cuban motion.
Step #1—Loosen Up by Bending and Straightening the Knees
Begin by standing in place with your feet together and alternately bending and straightening your left and right knees. As a knee bends allow the same hip to drop.
Step #2—Add Stepping Action to the Bending Action
Next, begin stepping in place and continue the alternate bending and straightening action. Try to make complete weight changes with each step. Remember; as a knee bends allow the same hip to drop.
Step #3—Make Distinct Steps Using Ball-Flat Footwork
The correct footwork is ball-flat for all steps. All steps are taken to the inside edge of the ball of the foot. The ball of the foot hits the floor first, and then you lower to the flat of the foot. All steps should be distinct. A mistake is to shuffle the feet. Again, try to make complete weight changes with each step.
Step #4—Add Contra-Body Action
The natural walking action of humans is for the right arm and shoulder to move forward as the left leg moves forward and conversely for the left arm and shoulder to move forward as the right leg moves forward. This is called contra-body action. Keep your hands above your waist and add contra-body upper body action to the stepping and bending action.
Step #5—Isolate the Rib Cage
In Latin dancing, steps to the side entail a natural lead of the rib cage. First loosen up the rib cage. Stand in place, hold your lower body still and move your rib cage alternately from left to right. Be careful not to tilt your upper body.
On steps to the side, the ribcage will lead as shown here. Thus as the left foot steps out to the left, the rib cage slides over to the left. Don’t forget that the left hip will drop as the left knee bends in preparation for stepping to the left.
The action we see here is important for meringue dancing. Again, be careful not to tilt your upper body.
Step #6—Put it all together
With your feet together, step in place, making distinct steps, using the ball-flat footwork. The stepping action should be accompanied by the alternate bending and straightening of the knees. Remember, as a knee bends, the same hip drops. Conversely, as a knee straightens, the same hip rises. This is why the steps feel like you are pushing into the floor. Incorporate the contra-body upper body action. Be sure to keep your hands above your waist. Now let’s go from stepping in place to making a basic mambo step pattern. The step timing is quick quick slow, quick quick slow. The small step to the side should entail a natural rib cage lead.
Step #7—The Most Important: Practice
At first, you will need to think about the actions and the steps. You might feel awkward. As you practice, everything will begin to feel natural and to look natural. Review and practice every day or as often as possible until the actions become as natural and as automatic as tying a shoe.
The result should look like this:
Mistakes might be:
- Shaking or twisting the hips.In order to achieve Dominican motion the hips should move up and down naturally as a result of the bending and straightening of the knees.
- Tilting the upper body back and forth like an inverted pendulum.
Instead the shoulders should remain level during the dance.
- Not getting the hip action.
As each knee bends, the same hip must be allowed to drop. You can´t dance correctly if you shuffle your feet. Instead, you must make complete weight changes with each step.
Please try again… maybe after watching this:
Thanks for cruising,
And now…
… our moment of Homer J.:
Homer: I’ll never wiggle my bare butt it public again
Lisa: I’d like to beleive that this time, I really would.
Are you addicted to caffeine...?
