Merengue

Francisco Ulloa, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

I've been listening to a squeezebox-driven merengue CD by Francisco Ulloa, called ULTRAMERENGUE (cause he's the Dominican Dynamaestro!). The buttonbox is right out front, like in Columbian Vallenato music, and on some cuts, it is very fast.

Here's a description of the dance:
"Merengue choreography is as follows: Men and woman hold each other in a vals-like position and step to their side in what is know as "paso de la empalizada" or "stick-fence step". They can then turn clockwise or counterclockwise. This is called Ballroom Merengue (merengue de salón), in which couples never separated. There is also what is called Figure Merengue (Merengue de Figura) in which dancers also make turns individualy, but never letting go the hand of the partner.
Nowadays, genuine merengue only survives in the rural areas. Traditional form of merengue has changed. The walk disappeared. The body has been extended and instead of 8 to 12 beats sometimes 32 or 48 are used. The jaleo has suffered the insertion of exotic rythms that have alienated it."