Few cultural forms are more associated with the Dominican Republic than merengue music and the brisk, shuffling, hip-wagging dance that goes with it (no one’s exactly sure where the name comes from – sweet, frothy beaten egg whites or the “mareng” or “méringue” music of neighboring Haiti). Going back more than 150 years, like tango in Argentina it once scandalized the prim and proper because of its ribald lyrics and sexy moves. Well, that’s sure as heck a thing of the past – seems like every Dominican grows up swiveling his or her hips, and merengue has moved well beyond the island to become along with salsa one of the best-known genres in Latin music, and even to parts of the U.S., Canada and Europe (especially in New York City, where there’s a vibrant Dominican community).
Read more in my post Merengue, the Dominican Republic´s Quintessential Music
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