Merengue Alternate Wraps Step

In 29th class, we also learnt Merengue's Alternate Wraps Step.
After a basic step,
1: He raises his left arm and she follows by start rotating counter clockwise. Instead of moving sideways, he picks up his left foot and places it at the same place.
2: She completes the turn and both the partners start facing same direction. She ends up in his left.
3: Both the partners should come in same line, if not then they use 3 and 4 steps to do so.
4: Step 4.
1: They both move forward, male partner with left foot and female partner with right foot.
2: Continues moving forward.
3: Continues moving forward.
4: Continues moving forward.
1: He raises his left hand and she starts unwinding / rotating clockwise. He also starts rotating, but to his left by 90 degrees. She rotates at her position.
2: He completes another 90 degrees of turn, thus facing opposite direction to initial direction. She also completes her clockwise turn (a total of 180 + 360 degrees), so that she also face same direction as him and ends up in his right.
3: Basic step 3, but at same place.
4: Basic step 4, but at same place.
1: They both move forward, male partner with left foot and female partner with right foot.
2: Continues moving forward.
3: Continues moving forward.
4: Continues moving forward.
1: He raises his right hand and she starts unwinding / rotating counter clockwise. He also starts rotating, but to his right by 90 degrees. She rotates at her position.
2: He completes another 90 degrees of turn, thus facing opposite direction to previous direction. She also completes her counter clockwise turn (a total of 180 + 360 degrees), so that she also face same direction as him and ends up in his left.
3: Basic step 3, but at same place.
4: Basic step 4, but at same place.
1: They both move forward, male partner with left foot and female partner with right foot.
2: Continues moving forward.
3: Continues moving forward.
4: Continues moving forward.
1: He raises his right hand and she starts unwinding / rotating clockwise. Now he does not rotate. She also moves so that she will end up in his front.
2: He leaves her left hand by his right hand, so that she can complete the turn. She completes her clockwise turn (a total of 180 + 360 degrees), so that they both face each other.
3: Basic step 3, but at same place.
4: Basic step 4, but at same place.

Following video shows Pretzel move, which is quite different to alternate wraps, but first step is similar:

The Pretzel Move for Dancing the Merengue

Merengue Combing / Arm Slide variation

In 29th class, we learnt Merengue's Combing or Arm Slide variation steps. After doing separation step, partners do:
8: On separation's 8th step, male partners gives lead by lifting his right arm such that its palm is horizontally facing up.
1: He steps by his left foot in front direction, by around a foot length. Since female partner also does the same thing with her right foot, they may step on each other, so he puts his left foot in left of front direction. Doing this, he takes his right hand (holding her left hand) over his head and leave her hand there, causing a kind of combing. For this he makes a kind of window with the hands, through which he bends (from his neck and back) and passes his head. She never bends.
2: He shifts his weight on right foot.
3: He shifts weight on left foot. He again catches her left hand by his right hand and brings the hold down.
4: He shifts weight on right foot. He gives lead for next step. He raises his left hand with palm horizontal and facing up.
5: He steps by his left foot in front direction (a bit to right), by around a foot length. Doing this, he takes his left hand (holding her right hand) over his head and leave her hand there, causing a kind of combing. For this he again makes a kind of window with the hands, through which he bends (from his neck and back) and passes his head.
6: He shifts his weight on right foot.
7: He shifts weight on left foot. He again catches her right hand by his left hand and brings the hold down.
8: He shifts weight on right foot.

Both the partners then come close to each other.

Merengue Underarm turn (One handed turn)

In seventeenth class, we learnt Merengue's underarm / one handed turn (both of 4 and 8 counts).

1. We begin with the closed dance position and the basic Merengue dance pattern. At any point, male partner raises his left arm up and female partner's right arm above her head to indicate that he want her to perform a turn.
2. He gently applies pressure with his right hand to her back to ensure that she turns clockwise to her right. She starts turning under his left arm and return to the closed position.
3. He removes his right hand from her back and she turns, moving her right arm across her body
4. Male partner may then perform a left turn himself after turning her to the left by moving her right arm over his head. This is sometimes called "around the world".

More is available at ehow.com

Merengue Leads

In twelfth class, we also learned Merengue leads. Boys give lead on the last step of previous movement. The hands are moved in the direction of the lead, on the first step of next movement.

Side steps: Boys move their left hand towards left side. This causes a slight pull on right hand of girls, towards right direction. On the next step, girls move their right hand in right direction.

Separation steps: Boys slightly push girls on the last step of previous movement. On the next step, we both move backwards and perform apart steps. For coming forward, boys slightly pull girls on the last step of separating steps. On the next step, we both move forwards.

Merengue Arm Slide / Separation

In twelfth class, we also learned Merengue Arm slide / separation (apart and together) steps. Again these have a count of 1-2-3-4; 1-2-3-4. With hands on partner's upper arms, we both back away from each other, back, back, back and back. During these steps our arms slide away each other till we form locks with our fingers. Then we step forward, forward, forward and forward, back to loose closed. These steps may also be danced over four measures: move apart 8 steps and together 8 steps. Here is a diagram showing an 16-step separation:

Separation Steps: After completing a side basic steps (step 4), male partner will give a slide push with his left or both hands. Both the partners will then start doing back steps.

1. On the first beat/step, with his weight on right leg, he moves his left foot backwards. Waist goes towards right direction. Simultaneously she steps back slightly with her right foot. The weight will shift from right to left leg. The foot going back will always be placed flat.
2. He moves his waist form right to left, moving his right foot back. She does same steps, but with other foot.
3. This is copy of the first step, with his left foot going back.
4. In final step, the right foot will go back very little (in-line to left leg). He will give next lead for forward steps (a slight pull to her hands). Weight is shifted on right leg.

Forward / Together Steps: After completing the separation steps (step 4), he starts forward steps with his weight on the right leg. To perform these movements, he gives her a lead on the last separation step.

1. On the first beat/step, he moves his waist to other direction (i.e. from left to right), stepping forward slightly with his left foot. The weight will shift from right to left leg. The foot going forward will be placed flat.
2. He moves his waist (form left to right) and moves his right foot forward.
3. This is copy of the first step, with his left foot going ahead.
4. In final step, the right foot goes forward very little (in-line to left leg). He gives leads for next steps, either side or back steps.

Merengue Tips:

• Girl performs steps that compliment those of boy (like a mirror image). For example, if he moves his left foot forward, back or side left, she will move her right foot forward, back or side right.
• Always keep upper body erect and as motionless as possible. This will add to the look of the dance.
• While doing Merengue, lay emphasis on your legs. At the same time, avoid thrashing about your arms.

Merengue Basic Steps

In today's class, we were taught Merengue. It has a two step beat. Steps could be called as Long-Long-Short-Short or 1-2-3-4. Detailed steps are:

* We have to concentrate on our waist, and let our legs follow the moves (just opposite to Salsa). Just remember to give "small thumkas" on alternate sides, and let your legs follow the moves.

0 – We start by weight on right leg and left leg next in-line to it.

1/Long – We shift the left leg by around 10 inches to left and hip goes in other direction. Main thing to keep in mind is that body above rib-cage should not move much.

2/Long – In this step our right leg follows left one. We shift right leg near to left one (they touch each other) and the hip goes in other direction (i.e., towards left). This time hip displacement might not be as much as in the odd steps.

3/Short – This is the same step as step 1, only difference being the displacement. Here we shift the left leg by only 3-4 inches.

4/Short – Same as step 2, but with displacement of around 3-4 inches.

After repeating these steps a number of times, the partners may reach to the end of dancing floor, then they may either rotate by 180 degrees, or they can start dancing the other way round.

If they rotate, then the steps don’t change.

But if they start dancing the other way, then girl starts following boy’s steps and boys do girl’s. Boys steps are:

1/Long – We shift the right leg by around 10 inches to right and hip goes in other direction.

2/Long – In this step our left leg follows right one. We shift left leg near to right one (they touch each other) and the hip goes in other direction (i.e., towards right). This time hip displacement might not be as much in the odd steps.

3/Short – This is the same step as step 1, only difference being the displacement. Here we shift the right leg by only 3-4 inches.

4/Short – Same as step 2, but with displacement of around 3-4 inches.

Basic Step for Dancing the Merengue