Where to Learn and Dance Bachata and Merengue in the Dominican Republic

You'll hear them before you land: merengue from a car window, bachata from a colmado, both at once from somewhere down the street. Both dances were born in the Dominican Republic, both are on UNESCO's list of the world's intangible cultural heritage, and learning even the basic step changes how the country treats you. Dominicans love it when a visitor dances.

Merengue: start here#

Merengue is fast, happy and the easiest dance to learn. The basic step is a march in place, one step on every beat, with the hips following the feet. That's genuinely it; the turns come later. You can be dancing merengue within ten minutes.

Bachata: the one everyone wants to learn#

Bachata started as the music of the countryside and the heartbroken, and became one of the most popular dances in the world. The basic step is three steps to one side and a tap (or hip pop) on the fourth, then the same to the other side. In one class you can learn the basic, a turn and how to follow or lead — enough for a night out.

Where to take a class#

In Punta Cana: most resorts run free group classes, often by the pool in the afternoon; ask the entertainment team. They're a good, low-pressure start. For more, look for local dance teachers and studios around Bávaro for a private or small-group lesson.

In Santo Domingo: the capital has dance studios and teachers offering classes for visitors, especially around the Zona Colonial. A one-hour private lesson with a good teacher is the fastest way to go from nervous to dancing.

Whichever you choose, take the class early in your trip so you can use it every night after.

Where to go dancing afterwards#

This is where it gets good.

• Colmadones. A colmado is a corner shop; a colmadón is one that turns into an open-air bar at night, with plastic chairs, cold beer and music loud enough to dance to. This is where Dominicans dance, and it's the most Dominican night out there is.
• The Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo. Bars and clubs with live bands and DJs, especially Thursday to Sunday. More: the Zona Colonial guide.
• The Sunday concert at the Ruinas de San Francisco. On Sunday evenings, a free open-air concert in the ruins of the first monastery in the Americas, where couples of every age dance to son, merengue and bolero. It's one of the best nights in the country.
• Punta Cana. Beyond the resort disco, there are bars in Bávaro and El Cortecito where locals go: Punta Cana nightlife.

The wider scene: Dominican Republic nightlife.

A few words that help#

"¿Bailamos?" (shall we dance?) is all you need to ask. "Poco a poco" (little by little) is a good answer when you're learning. A few more local expressions: Dominican slang.

The best teacher is someone from here#

The easiest way to learn is with someone who grew up dancing: they'll teach you the basic in their living room or on the street, then take you to the colmadón on the corner. That's exactly the kind of day Local Friends in Santo Domingo and in Punta Cana offer — you message them directly on Roavi and agree the plan together.