Sometimes, a night of fun means going out for some Latin dancing. When you get to the venue, you might notice couples already moving fluidly around the dance floor—but what exactly is the dance they’re doing? Two possible dances are bachata and merengue.
While both of these dances originated in the Dominican Republic, bachata is a slower, more sensual dance that follows a 4/4 rhythm and merengue is a faster-paced, more lighthearted dance that follows a 2/4 rhythm. You’ll be able to recognize bachata from its step-step-step-tap format. Merengue, on the other hand, will involve shifting your weight from one foot to the other without picking your feet up off the ground.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown so you’ll be able to identify the dance you’re watching and even join in!
What are the differences between bachata and merengue?
| Bachata | Merengue | |
| Pace | Slow, sensual | Fast, festive |
| Rhythm | 4/4 | 2/4 |
| Instruments | Five-piece band: Requinto (lead guitar), segunda (rhythm guitar), bass guitar, bongos, and guira (metal percussion instrument played with a stiff brush) | Three-piece band: Accordion, tambora (a two-sided drum), and guira |
| Basic Steps | Right foot, left foot, right foot, tap with left footLeft foot, right foot, left foot, tap with right foot | Shifting weight from right to left foot, bending knees one at a time and swaying hips |
| Mood | Intimate | Flirtatious |
What are the similarities between bachata and merengue?
- Both originated in the Dominican Republic and have strong cultural significance
- They were initially popular among the working class and looked down on by the upper class, but later caught on with all of society
- Both dances involve lots of hip movements
- Both are partner dances
Now that you know the basics of both dances, let’s dive deeper into each dance!
What is bachata?
There are lots of different bachata styles, but three of the main styles are Dominican, traditional, and modern.
- Dominican bachata most closely resembles the original dance started in the Dominican Republic decades ago. It involves box-steps and lots of freestyling.
- Traditional bachata is the style that was adapted when bachata spread to the rest of the world. Instead of box-steps, traditional bachata typically involves a side-to-side movement and includes plenty of dips.
- Modern bachata, also known as bachata moderna, is the most recent addition to the bachata world. It incorporates more upper body movements than other types of bachata, and often involves dance elements taken from salsa or tango.
Influenced by the Cuban bolero, bachata emerged in the Dominican Republic in the 1960s. With its music about love and heartbreak, it was originally popular among the working class and associated with bars and brothels. It took some time before those in the upper class warmed up to this dance, and it has since spread worldwide.
The basic steps of bachata are right, left, right, tap, done in a square (this is called a box-step). On the tap, dancers pop their hips in the direction of the tapping foot. The hip-pop is generally more exaggerated in female dancers. The male dancer leads the dance, and bachata can be danced in an open or closed embrace. The beat structure of bachata is 4/4.
As mentioned, bachata tends to be a slower, more sensual dance, and its music is equated with romantic lyrics and a sultry beat. The instruments used for bachata music include a requinto or lead guitar, a segunda or rhythm guitar, a bass guitar, bongos, and a guira. The bongos and guira are sometimes traded out for a tambora and maracas. In more recent years, bachata music has begun to incorporate instruments like the electric guitar and synthesizer. While the lyrics of bachata music were originally heartbreak-focused, newer bachata music tends to have a more positive outlook on love.
Some notable figures in the bachata scene include Luis Vargas, Romeo Santos, and Prince Royce.
We have in fact written a detailed article just on bachata which takes you through more of the nuances of this fantastic dance style. It can be viewed by clicking on this link, What is Bachata? A 20 year dancer weighs in and is well worth a read if you want to expand your knowledge of bachata.
Here’s a great video by bachata instructors Marius and Elena that will teach you eight bachata combinations for beginners:
What is merengue?
Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic. Its history extends much farther than that of bachata—it originated as a folk dance in the 1800s before later developing into a type of ballroom dance. The simplicity of both the dance and the type of instruments used for its music made merengue popular among the working class, while the upper class deemed the dance too vulgar. However, as with bachata, merengue eventually grew on all members of society. It became the dance to do at social events across the Dominican Republic!
The basic steps of merengue involve shifting your weight from one foot to the other. When moving forward or backwards, dancers drag their feet in the direction they want to go. The hip movements come from the bending and straightening of their legs. Just like with bachata, the male dancer leads the dance in merengue. The beat structure of merengue is 2/4.
Merengue usually has a more casual, lighthearted feel to it than bachata does. In merengue music’s early stages, it was played with string instruments. Soon, however, this shifted to a band comprising an accordion, a tambora, and a guira. The unique mix of instruments in merengue music reveals its African, European, and Caribbean influences. More modern merengue has gone back to incorporating guitars. Saxophones are sometimes included as well.
Some notable figures in the merengue scene include Juan Luis Guerra, Wilfrido Vargas, and Elvis Crespo.
Here’s an informational video by Kennedy Center ArtsEdge with instructors Ricardo Loaiza and Elba Garcia. It will teach you in a clear, interesting way more about the history of merengue as well as some basic steps:
Can you dance bachata and merengue to the same music?
Because bachata music and merengue music have different rhythms, you cannot dance these dances to the same music. Bachata has a 4/4 rhythm, so the steps go 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4. On the other hand, merengue has a 2/4 rhythm. The steps go 1-2, 1-2. As a result, the combinations for bachata dancing might end up being too long for merengue music, while the combinations for merengue dancing will be too short for bachata.
Is bachata or merengue easier to learn?
When it comes to choosing between these two dances, merengue is a great place to start! While merengue music is typically faster-paced than bachata music, merengue steps can be very simple and easily picked up. Just shift your weight from one foot to the other (taking care not to knock your knees into your partner’s!), and drag backwards and forwards accordingly. You’ll get the hang of it in no time.
After this quick breakdown of these two wonderful dances, I hope you’re feeling more ready for a night of Latin dancing. Just remember to listen to the music, watch the other dancers, and have fun!