Pāhonoa te oro

Ladies and gentlemen, now a brief story of our dance. Merengue is more than just music — it is the heartbeat of a nation. Born in the Dominican Republic in the early 19th century, merengue began as a simple, rural rhythm played with instruments like the accordion, tambora drum, and güira. At first, it was the music of the countryside, danced by everyday people, full of joy, storytelling, and life. In its early days, merengue was not always accepted by the elite. Some considered it too informal