" In certain practices, especially with Santeria and Vodou in Haiti, dance has developed a special meaning. "Dance was a mechanism for escape from emotional stress and one way to restore the emotional and physical well-being of the individual and the community." Merengue was not originally danced by couples, but was a circle dance where each woman and man faced each other and held hands at arm's length. They didn't hold each other closely and the movements of this dance were only the shaking of the shoulders and swift movement of the feet. Today hips are incorporated into the dance. .
Expression in dance is something that not everybody sees automatically. In order to understand the meaning of any dance, you need to understand the political and social context behind it. For example, Merengue has a remarkable role in getting in touch with the economically disadvantaged Dominicans. In the 1930s, during Rafael Trujillo's campaign in the Dominican Republic, he incorporated Merengue. Despite the lack of freedoms, the country was aided greatly by the economic constancy of his leadership. "The ability for the Dominican Republic to obtain their national heritage through their economy even in a time of transition and uncertainty was made possible by a newly found sense of national identity which can be accredited to the popularity and pride they associated with Merengue." Socially, Merengue has united the Dominicans through several hardships and a lack of unity with celebrations within their communities.
The Village is a coffee shop in Downtown, Bryan. It is a great place to go relax during the day or read with a cup of coffee. As you enter The Village, there are tables at the front, a bar towards the middle, and the dance floor in the back area. Wednesdays and Saturdays are salsa nights at The Village. Lessons are offered on Wednesdays from 8PM-9:30 PM, then the dance floor is open for dancing until 12AM.
