The Dominican Republic's population has a passion for music. Music has defined itself as the peoples emotional expression.
The Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic, and also to some extent, of Haiti, the neighbor sharing the island.
During the Colonial era, secular music had an important place in the daily life's of the planters and the Dominican elite.
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.
Whether a night club in a Dominican Republic villa, hotel or resort, along Santo Domingo's seaside Malecon or a packed park or a city celebration, the Dominican people always have rhythm and music in their hearts.