| There is this story that the merengue was created | | | | reflects the spirit of the people of the country: full of |
| by a man with a limp. It is said that he introduced the | | | | zest, and in control. The merengue is such a part of |
| dance so that people will not notice that he walks | | | | the Dominican Republic that they created a national |
| and dances with a limp. The public liked the energy of | | | | festival for it: the Merengue Festival. The Merengue |
| the dance and imitated his dance steps. | | | | Festival occurs in July. During this festival, as with |
| The merengue, both the dance and the music, is | | | | other festivals in the Dominican Republic, parades will |
| frantic in nature. The beat is fast, and so are the | | | | be organized. The Dominican flag is carried by the |
| dance movements. The movement, however, does | | | | townspeople in colorful clothes as they parade |
| not affect the upper body of the dancer. The lower | | | | around the town. In the evening, live bands are |
| half of the body may dance along with the infectious | | | | brought to the plaza and merengue is played all night |
| rhythm of the merengue beat, but from the waist | | | | long. It is not unusual to see people dance the |
| up, the meringue dancer displays strength and calm. | | | | merengue in the streets. In the Merengue Festival |
| The merengue is the official music and dance of the | | | | celebration at the town plaza, some guests are |
| Dominican Republic. This choice of music and dance | | | | asked to dance the merengue on stage. |