Bachata

I saved the best for last.  Bachata is my favorite.  Like merengue, it comes from the Domincan Republic.  Bachata songs are usually about romance, telling tales of heartbreak and sadness.  The literal meaning of the term bachata is "music of bitterness."  If you can't understand the lyrics, you will probably imagine their not sad songs because the music is so pretty.  The typical bachata group consists of five guys who play lead guitar, rythym guitar, electric bass guitar, bongos, and guira but it originated from servants who got off work playing on trashcans and fences.  Most people view bachata as a more sexual dance, although it was never really intended to be that.  Probably the most popular international bachata group is Aventura, with one of their most recognizeable songs being ebsesion.  The steps are simple and most people don't include complicated turns.  Usually it is danced by partners close together, but also is often danced in a more open form with space between the man and woman.  You take three steps to the right, starting with your right foot and ending with a fourth toe touch and hip pop together at the same time.  You just keep repeating this combination over and over again, alternating to which side you are moving.  The couple below switches it up a little bit, but most of the time they are dancing it the traditional way.  With bachata, or any of these styles, you can have more fun with it, but this is a good basic example.