So here it goes…Iv'e found that you know you are a true Dominican if you: 1) love plantains with all your heart 2) Can tan like a boss 3) Can't count how many cousins you have on two, three, or even four hands if you tried, and of course, 4) If you have basically been blackmailed into learning to dance, starting from the moment you could hobble out on to the dance floor.
So you see, dancing and music are vital components to what makes up the Dominican culture, which is why growing up in a half Dominican family learning to dance was not really a question it was more of a "do or die" kind of thing.
Since I was a little girl, my family has always had these huge parties, basically any chance they got, and at each party they would play some very loud and very fun dancing music, that over the years I have come to love…as well as learn the dances to. Granted, I am not the best dancer out there, it doesn't matter as long as I get out there and have fun with my family.
Now there are three dances in particular we Dominicans love to shake it to, and the first one on the list is Salsa!
Dominican Salsa originated from the "Guaracha" and the Cuban "Son". It is a dance that unusually begins with the left foot. It is similar to the Puerto Rican style in its figures and leg moves (knows as shines) but it still remains unique in its free and easiness as a whole. Above all, it is basically a street dance. It requires very precise timing in each movement, but still manages to appear relaxed, which is definitely one of the biggest challenges in learning it. Dominicans tend to dance and vibrate on every musical note, showing off their talent where they can!
Here is a link to watch what Dominican salsa is really all about!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EHU8ImSfOM
This next dance is definitely one my favorite of the Dominican dances, it's called Bachata.
Dominican bachata dance is the original style of bachata. Bachata actually originated from the Dominican Republic as did the music for it. The basic steps of the dance involve moving within a small square (side, side, forward, and side, side, back), and is inspired by the dance of Bolero, but danced slightly different including a tap and also steps in between the beats, which depend on the dynamics of the music that is being played. The hand placement will vary with the dancers position, which can be very close, semi-close, or open. Either way learning to dance bachata is a really exciting experience and the better you get at it, the more moves you can do which in turn just makes it more fun! I definitely recommend trying it out!
Heres a link showing how to dance Bachata!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbn7lYVgYxs
Last we have probably the most important Dominican dance, that is actually said to be the national dance of the Dominican Republic, this is called Merengue.
Merengue is very popular throughout the Caribbean and South America, and is one of the standard Latin American/Caribbean dances. It is essentially a "fun" dance that is actually one of the simplest Latin dances to learn, which I would recommend to any of you that aren't as gifted with dancing like in my case! The beat is clear and the rhythm is constant. As opposed to Bachata, the emphasis is on simplicity in step patterns, rather than drama and style, so it's just overall easier to pick up on. The dancers do few, if any turns in Merengue, but when the turns are used, they are casual walking steps rather than the spin turns seen in Salsa.
Heres a link to show the basic steps of how to dance Merengue!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXybpeZcZz8
Overall a very worthwhile experience that I urge any and everyone to take a shot at! You never know you might just end up falling in love with Latin music and dance in general, I know I have.
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