Merengue Festival

Merengue Festival (Festival de Merengue)

Last week in July-first week in AugustThe merengue is a lively Caribbean dance that originated in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Its main characteristic is a limping side-step, and it corresponds to the rumba of Cuba or the samba of Brazil.
The world's most famous merengue festival takes place in Santa Domingo, the Dominican Republic's capital city, where outdoor stages are set up along the city's waterfront, and top bands play merengue music while couples swirl and shake to the fast-paced, pulsating rhythms.
In addition to watching the performances and competitions among merengue dancers, festivalgoers can enjoy the music of DJs and bands on the street, imbibe rum and beer, and eat the signature pork sandwiches, chimichurris .
CONTACTS:
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
136 E. 57th St., Ste. 803
New York, NY 10022
888-374-6361 or 212-588-1012; fax: 212-588-1015
www.godominicanrepublic.com
SOURCES:
WildPlanet-1995, p. 510