Because
Fritha’s is taking over, as of now! It seems very fitting that as I’m starting
new adventures and learning how to be my own boss, I am also re-choreographing
a much loved warm-up routine that I’ve used for years. As Justina Chen penned
in her book North of Beautiful “You raze the old to raise the new”.
Aggie was
the first Salsa promoter to employ me as a teacher. At his club night in
Weybridge, Surrey, we always started with a Merengue line dance to El Tiburon
by Projecto Uno. Let’s just say, I have very fond memories, and I have kept his
dance alive long after the club has died. I know a few of us who used to go
to the club are still dancing. I know Aggie got married. He hired my dance company to
perform at his wedding. So many years later, I wonder if he
even remembers his own routine!
Merengue is
a very simple dance from the Dominican Republic. It is the best place to start
if your new beginning is to learn how to dance with a partner. If I am trying
to teach at a party and everyone has had rather a lot to drink, this is what I
teach! Anyone can do it. It takes about fifteen minutes to learn how to lead or
follow, and away you go. Okay, so the stylistic details may take some people a
while to learn, but when you don’t really care about details and you just want to
get started dancing with a partner, trust me, Merengue is what you need. The
footwork is really simple. You can start having fun experimenting with the
whole lead and follow thing with a partner very quickly. The music is easy to
keep in time with. It’s a strong, even, dush, dush, dush rhythm, just like pop music. You can dance and relax
and enjoy your three-way (you, your partner and the music) in no time at all.
Then also,
if you want to improve your posture, hip action, shoulder movement, arm placement
or stepping technique for any of the Latin dance styles, I would recommend
practicing with the Merengue step first, before you try to add it to anything
more complex. As the step is so simple, you can start to embellish your dancing
with good technique and stylistic details much more quickly than you can with
other dances.
I have a
lot more to tell you about Merengue (and Aggie’s club for that matter!) but
I’ll dance around a few more topics and then get back to it. Variety is the
spice of life, ‘n all that jazz.
Good luck
to you, if you are starting something new or making a fresh start. “Although no
one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make
a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard
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