16. Merengue Dance
Merengue is the local dance of the Dominican Republic, but it has also been influenced by the neighboring country of Haiti. There are two popular stories about the origin of the dance. According to the first story, this dance is about the behavior of chained slaves with the desire to move. The other story tells that this dance represents the actions of a hero who was shot in the leg during a revolution in the country, performed by his followers at a homecoming party by jumping and dragging one leg.
Originally, the Merengue is made in a circle, not in pairs. Quick foot movements and shrugging of the shoulders form the character of the dance. Merengue became especially popular in the mid-19th century.