{"id":8189,"date":"2024-11-25T12:15:51","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T17:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/?p=8189"},"modified":"2024-11-25T16:42:20","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T21:42:20","slug":"the-merengue-a-festive-inclusive-dance-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/blog\/merengue-festive-inclusive-dance-style","title":{"rendered":"The Merengue: A Festive, Inclusive Dance Style"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8189\" class=\"elementor elementor-8189\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;ha_cmc_init_switcher&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44739b9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"44739b9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3175da9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-ha-post-title happy-addon ha-post-title\" data-id=\"3175da9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ha-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"ha-post-title elementor-size-default\">The Merengue: A Festive, Inclusive Dance Style<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-248db87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-ha-post-info happy-addon ha-post-info\" data-id=\"248db87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ha-post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"ha-inline-items ha-icon-list-items ha-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"ha-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-8824318 ha-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ha-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-calendar\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M12 192h424c6.6 0 12 5.4 12 12v260c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V204c0-6.6 5.4-12 12-12zm436-44v-36c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48h-48V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H160V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v36c0 6.6 5.4 12 12 12h424c6.6 0 12-5.4 12-12z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ha-icon-list-text ha-post-info__item ha-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNovember 25, 2024\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a78e7ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"a78e7ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-421211d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"421211d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1253\" height=\"836\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/328\/2024\/11\/Latin-dance-styles.jpg\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-8190\" alt=\"Couple learning latin dance styles at a studio.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/328\/2024\/11\/Latin-dance-styles.jpg 1253w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/328\/2024\/11\/Latin-dance-styles-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/328\/2024\/11\/Latin-dance-styles-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/328\/2024\/11\/Latin-dance-styles-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1253px) 100vw, 1253px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cedc56d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"cedc56d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d8d96e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2d8d96e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd618ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd618ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The merengue is simple enough for brand new dancers but gives room for experienced dancers to improvise. It\u2019s a dance style that is equally at home in a ballroom or a casual, open-air dance floor. Basically, it\u2019s the perfect dance for anyone looking for a fun, social experience!<\/span><\/p><h1><b>Origins of Merengue<\/b><\/h1><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Originating in the Dominican Republic, merengue was originally a folk dance that was popular in rural areas. Influenced by other latin dance styles and Venezuelan and Afro-Cuban music, the hip movements of this dance style were once thought to be too scandalous for the ballroom dance floor! While merengue eventually became a ballroom dance, it is still widely popular outside of ballroom settings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h1><b>A Cultural Treasure<\/b><\/h1><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The merengue dance is the national dance of the Dominican Republic, where November 26 is recognized as National Merengue Day! This dance holds a special place in the country\u2019s national identity and UNESCO named merengue as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the Dominican Republic, merengue is common at social gatherings and parties and is taught to dancers at a young age.<\/span><\/p><h1><b>Master the Basics of Merengue<\/b><\/h1><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The merengue is a partnered dance and is called a \u201cdanced walk\u201d because of the simple right-left pattern of the movements. Dancers take small steps, keep their upper bodies steady, and switch weight between their right and left feet while moving sideways or circling each other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Merengue partners typically dance in a closed position, with the leader holding the follower\u2019s waist and hand, but dancers can also switch to the open position in order to perform separate turns.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Depending on the style of merengue, movements may be more exaggerated and dancers might improvise moves to add extra flair to this fun and flirtatious dance. <\/span><\/p><h1><b>Join the Fun!<\/b><\/h1><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The simple choreography and steady 4\/4 time signature of the merengue make this an ideal dance for beginners! You\u2019ll pick up the steps in no time and with the popularity of this dance style, you\u2019ll have no trouble finding a social dance party where you can practice your moves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With the holidays around the corner, take a night to destress and join in the fun! <a href=\"https:\/\/fredastaireboise.eventcalendarapp.com\/u\/39647\/343871\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">We\u2019ll be learning the merengue at Fred Astaire Boise on December 18<\/a>! Bring a partner or come on your own, there\u2019s always someone to dance with at our welcoming dance studio.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re new to Fred Astaire Boise, sign up for an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">introductory private lesson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or give us a call at (208) 514-0440. Our welcoming, knowledgeable instructors will have you feeling comfortable and confident in no time. See you on the dance floor!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4431f8a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4431f8a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddf6a36 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ddf6a36\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With easy steps, infectious music, and a rich cultural history, the merengue is the perfect dance style for anyone looking for a fun, social dance experience! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":304,"featured_media":8190,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/304"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8189\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/boise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}