Newcomer Foxtrot & Merengue

About Fox Trot

The Fox Trot is undoubtedly America’s best loved dance form. It is a smooth progressive dance characterized by continuous flowing movements. The original Harry Fox versions, which is a combination of walks and chasses is the Bronze level Fox Trot. The Silver American Fox Trot adds continuity while the Gold level features open, apart, and side by side movements, which were the made famous by the invincible dancing duo of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

A basic understanding of the Fox Trot’s rhythm makes it easier to pick up other dance steps. The first and third beats are accented more than the second and fourth. The dance features a combination of slow and quick steps with the most popular being slow-quick-quick and slow-slow-quick-quick. Every slow step counts for 2 beats and each quick step for one. The Slow step is long and graceful while the Quick steps are short and lively. 

The posture for the dance is upright. In order to maintain a lively trot and balance with your partner, you need to shorten your steps as the tempo of the music increases. It is always prudent to practice individually and then move into Closed Position.

About Merengue

Merengue is often considered the national dance of the Dominican Republic and has strong African roots. The Dominican Merengue is sung in Spanish while the Haitian Mereng music is sung in Creole. It is also influenced by Cuban music and a dance called Upa Habanera, which makes Marengue a truly multicultural dance form. Merengue music was the favorite of Dominicans although its popularity in the Western world is recent. Some styles of the dance form are attributed to a war hero who had a wooden right leg, a style that was copied by the rest of the population on Dominican beaches.

The basic steps of the Merengue are a series of side steps to the left of the male partner, called the Chasse. The emphasis is on the patterns of the steps rather than drama and style with very few turns, which are usually casual walking steps rather than quick spins as seen in other dance forms like the Salsa. Partners hold each other in a closed position while the Leader holds the Follower’s waist with the right hand. 

The knees are bent slightly to the left and right to allow fluid movements of the hips left and right. The hips of both partners move in the same direction throughout the song while walking sideways or circling each other in small steps. The partners can do separate turns and switch to an open position without letting go of each other’s hands, twisting their handhold in intricate patterns.