What types of artists perform at the merengue Festival?
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The event celebrates merengue and its diverse influences in Spanish, African and indigenous culture. The festival is celebrated every year in the fall, bringing together the hottest merengue bands in the region, along with artists performing bachata, salsa and urban music.
Who are some famous merengue singers?
Essential Merengue Artists

- 10: Eddy Herrera. This Dominican artist is one of the most popular contemporary Merengue artists.
- 9: Jossie Esteban y La Patrulla 15. Jossie Esteban is a name to include in any Merengue playlist.
- 7: Johnny Ventura.
- 6: Los Vecinos.
- 5: Olga Tañon.
- 3: Los Hermanos Rosario.
- 2: Wilfrido Vargas.
Who made merengue popular?
In the 1930s, the dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo introduced a nationwide campaign promoting merengue. Trujillo’s embrace of the music, paired with its newly refined sound, transformed its reputation into a positive celebration of the Dominican Republic’s spirit.
Who made the merengue dance?
the Dominican Republic
merengue, French mérengue, couple dance originating in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, strongly influenced by Venezuelan and Afro-Cuban musical practices and by dances throughout Latin America. Originally, and still, a rural folk dance and later a ballroom dance, the merengue is at its freest away from the ballroom.

What is El Festival de Merengue?
The Santo Domingo Merengue Festival is two weeks of celebration dedicated to the Dominican Republic’s national dance, the merengue. For two weeks each summer (from late July to early August) the world’s top merengue dancers dance to the world’s best merengue bands all over this gorgeous Caribbean city.
Why is the merengue Festival in the Dominican Republic?
The Carnaval del Merengue is traditionally from Dominican Republic that celebrates the independence of the country. In celebration of the culture, the Festival of Merengue will also celebrate such holiday in Kissimmee, Florida.
Who was the first merengue artist?
The first internationally well-known musician (and Dominican idol at the time) promoting merengue was Johnny Ventura.
What is the tempo of merengue music?
between 58 and 64 beats per minute
The speed of the Merengue in American ballroom dance is between 58 and 64 beats per minute. Many competitions simply require all dancers to perform the Merengue at this tempo. This popular dance can be performed to any song with a straight/regular 8-count.
Where is Merengues famous?
By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Merengue was very popular in the Dominican Republic. Not only is it used on every dancing occasion in the Republic, but it is very popular throughout the Caribbean and South America, and is one of the standard Latin American dances.