What are Merengue & Bachata?
Get familiar with two most popular dance styles of Latin America at our Dance Academy 'Academia de Baile - Ritmo Cubano', and become a part of the lively world of the Caribbean rhythms...
What is Merengue?
Merengue is a lively type of dance and music that emerged from Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico in the 18th century, but took many long years to finally become accepted and nourished as Dominicans’ national treasure, in 1960. Hence, a great Merengue festival takes place every year and not only in Dominican Republic, but also all the neighbouring countries like Puerto Rico, Haiti, Miami and Venezuela.
Traditional Merengue instruments are congas, guiros and the accordion while every 2/4 beat is accentuated in order to keep the lively rhythm of music going. Nowadays, Merengue instruments feature modern and contemporary music instruments and
Merengue songs often include topics on unrequited love, yearning and passion, but also depict everyday life and socio-political themes.
Merengue is a couple's dance– every beat is to be danced consistently with a step forward, backward or to the side. One of the recognisable characteristics of this type of a dance style is an eye-catching hip move, matching every dance-step.
What is Bachata?
Bachata, a joyful and popular couples’ dance originally budding from the Cuban Bolero, is nowadays most sought after dance style at dance schools. Just like Merengue, Bachata dance emerged in the early ‘60s as a form of the Cuban Bolero.
In the early beginnings, Bachata was a romantic guitar music played in trios to entertain amorous couples but with time passing, it developed into Latin-American dance music and its musical rhythm increased in speed. It consists of a 4/4 beat and has characteristically high sound of guitars. The songs are usually about unrequited love and are sung by male singers.
In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Bachata was frowned upon and was seen as an obscene dance style and because of this, it was associated with lower classes of population including poverty, crime and prostitution. In contrast to Merengue and Salsa, Bachata music and dance got its true meaning and significance back in 1990s.
The dance is a combination of a leg movement and singular hip moves, however many forms of Bachata exist today and normally, it is danced very closely together with your dance partner with accentuated hip movements.
So...
If this information is getting you interested about Merengue or Bachata, come and join our Latin dance lessons and Cuban dances in our dance school in Havana!
You will also have a chance of taking part in our extensive leisure programme. Our team in Cuba will gladly inform you about different activities that you will be able to choose from. For example, trips to the closest tropical beaches, cultural visits or sightseeing around Cuba.
As an accommodation option during your Merengue and Bachata dance course, we recommend the Aparthotel Comodoro in Miramar, a beautiful district of Havana, located close to our dance academy.
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