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Merengue
- Author:
- Dave Watson
- Date Published:
- May 3, 2004
Unless otherwise noted, all steps are taken Ball-Flat, and Cuban Motion is used throughout (Nanego motion may also be incorporated). Particularly when dancing Basic Chasse’ actions, when leaving a leg, Dancers should Hold the leg and ankle line of the leg (off of which they have just moved) until that leg is moved to its next spot. Gentlemen will always begin each pattern with their left foot – Ladies with their right.
COUNT:
Basic Chasse’:
Both partners dance a chasse’ (side / together) for 8 counts to the Man’s
Left – Lady’s right. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Syncopated Chasse’:
Begin with 4 counts of Basic Chasse’ as described above 1, 2, 3, 4
Continue with a syncopated chasse’ 5 & 6 &
Finish with a Basic Chasse’ 7, 8
Half-Time Chasse’:
Partners dance a Basic Chasse’ as described above EXCEPT they will take
TWO beats for each change of weight (Half-Time) 1,2 – 3,4 – 5,6 – 7,8
Forward & Backward Walks:
Man dances 7 counts forward (small steps) curving slightly to his left
Lady dances 7 small steps back curving slightly to her left 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Both partners now close feet on the 8th count 8
Left Rock Turn:
Man rocks forward left and back right – Lady dances back right and forward left 1, 2
Both partners now dance a Basic Chasse’ to the Man’s left to finish 3, 4
Repeat pattern if desired 5, 6, 7, 8
This pattern will turn approximately 1/8 to ¼ to the left. While dancing the actual Rock (the first two changes of weight), partners will allow their upper bodies to “tilt” slightly; forward and leftward when dancing forward on the left foot, and back and rightward when dancing back to the right foot.
Natural Underarm Turn:
Both partners dance 4 counts of Basic Chasse’ as described above –
Man will lift his left arm on count 4 - 1, 2, 3, 4
Man now dances 4 counts in place as Lady dances three small steps in a
Tight circle passing under Man’s raised left arm then closes feet on 8 - 5, 6, 7, 8
5th Position Breaks:
This is a very interesting and useful pattern. It can be used in a great variety of ways and for many purposes. Note the different endings at the completion of this pattern.
Man dances forward left / side right turning up to ¼ to the left, and leading the
Lady to turn to Promenade Position (PP) on the second step
Lady dance back right / side left into Promenade Position(PP) 1, 2
Couple now dances a Back Rock (Back / Forward) in Promenade Position (PP) 3, 4
If repeating this pattern, Lady will turn ½ turn to left to close to Man on the last step.
Repeat pattern 5, 6, 7, 8
At the completion of this pattern, Lady might close to Man for some sort of pattern in which the Man moves forward next, or both partners might close equally to each other for a sideward movement (like a Basic Chasse’). Additionally, this pattern may be used to precede other patterns like Swivels, etc.
Open Break:
This is a Basic pattern which is never danced just by itself. However, It is frequently used to precede a variety of other patterns.
Man dances forward left / side right, and releases right arm hold
Lady dances back right / side left 1, 2
Both partners rock back away from one another with a one-hand hold (Open Break) 3, 4
It should be noted that the Man could decide to keep BOTH hands at this point for specific figures. However, for most applications, a normal one-hand hold (Man’s left hand / Lady’s right) will be used.
We will now continue into the Reverse Underarm Turn.
Reverse Underarm Turn: Beginning in Open Facing Position – having just danced 4 steps of an Open Break
Man dances a Basic Chasse’ as described above curving ¼ turn to his right,
And leading Lady to turn to her left under his raised left arm
Lady dances a side step turning ¼ to the left and passing under Man’s raised
Left arm. She then closes her feet and completes an addition ½ turn
To her left (Total of ¾ turn to left overall) 5, 6
Both partners now dance a Basic Chasse’ as described above to finish
(Regain normal hold) 7, 8
Underarm Swivels:
Man dances a Basic Chasse’ as described above, but leads Lady to dance
a Quick Natural Underarm spin
Lady dances side right with foot turned out preparing to spin to her right
on her right foot. She then spins on her right foot, and closes her left
foot to her right (Having turned one full turn to her right) 1, 2
Couple is now in Open Facing Position and has now taken a two-hand hold.
Both partners now dance two Outside Swivels facing one another 3, 4
Repeat pattern beginning the next Underarm spin from a two-hand hold 1, 2, 3, 4
Knee lifts (Knee Pops):
Both partners will dance 2 steps a a Basic Chasse as described above HOWEVER
Man will indicate a slight rise on his first step, ad a sudden slight lowering
on the close (second step). (This will indicate a ‘Drop Ronde’’ coming up)
Lady dances side / together and follows his level changes preparing for the Ronde’ 1, 2
Both partners now turn to Promenade Position (PP), Ronde’ their free leg back
(Man’s left leg / Lady’s right), and step back onto that foot in PP 3
Both partners now close feet and face one another (They will actually be facing
Slightly to the left of one another) 4
Staying slightly turned off of one another, both partners now lift their Heels,
HOWEVER, they do not allow their bodies to rise. This causes their
knees to move forward (Knee Pop) 5
Both parners replace their heels down, straighten their legs, and turn ¼ turn
To their right to end slightly turned off of one another to the other side 6
Repeat Knee Pops to other side and end facing squarely to one another 7, 8
