Merengue Dance Lesson 1: Basic in place, Traveling Basic and Rotating Basic

In lesson 1 we learn the rhythm of Merengue, quick, quick, also known as double rhythm.  We also learn the basic pattern in place, traveling to the leader’s left and rotating clockwise.

We begin holding hands in a Latin hold with the follower holding the leaders thumbs and the leaders hands gently wrapped around the followers.  The hands are held at the shoulder height of the follower.

Begin with the leader step on to his left foot and the follower stepping on to her right.  Simply step in place 8 times as if you are marching to the music. This is the basic Merengue rhythm and movement.

In future lessons we’ll discuss how to move the hips in Latin motion, but right now let’s focus on staying on the beat and connecting with our partner.

Once you are comfortable dancing the rhythm in place, we’ll begin to travel to the leader’s left, stepping side together side together. The leader always steps with his left foot on the odd beats and the right on the even beats. The follower does the natural opposite stepping on the right foot on the odd beats, 1,3,5,7 and the left on the even beats, 2,4,6,8.

The third pattern in this lesson is a rotating basic. The leader walks around in a circle to his right, as if there was a clock on the floor and he is moving around the numbers clockwise. Keeping his frame in place, this causes the follower to also rotate around in a circle.