MERENGUE HIP HOP LINE DANCE
(Analysis and step breakdown by Charles Joseph Smith)
Was popular in the year 2000 especially with these Latin hits: "Chasum Latinos" (Real 2 Reel) and Mueve la Cadera" (Proyecto Uno), then, it became a fad about 5 years after it was popular. But I am trying to bring this back. This dance features a caller who leads the dance, and it looks like the electric slide at the beginning and end but with pretty cool moves in the middle.
Note: Counts and appropriate holds to the counts are mainly in parenthesis.
This Latin line dance starts with the first 12 steps of the Electric Slide.......
1. Side RF (1)
2. Close RF to LF with LF tap (no weight on LF) (2)
3. Side RF (3)
4. Close RF to LF with LF tap (no weight on LF) (4)
5. Side LF (5)
6. Close LF to RF with RF tap (no weight on RF) (6)
7. Side LF (7)
8. Close RF to LF with RF tap (no weight on RF) (8)
9. Back RF (across LF) (9)
10. Close back LF to RF with LF tap (no weight on RF) (10)
11. Back RF (across LF again) (11)
12. Close back LF to RF with LF tap (no weight on RF) (12)
NOTE: BE SURE YOU TAP ON THAT LF IN COUNT 12 OR OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT END UP DOING THAT CHA-CHA STEP ON YOUR LF ACCIDENTALLY, WHICH WOULD BE THE WRONG FOOT TO DO THE CHA-CHA STEP TO START....
Those who are familiar with doing the electric slide in the first 12 steps have the option of doing the full pivot turn to the R on steps 1-2 and the full pivot turn to the L on steps 5-6. (In this case, they will be open pivot turns so no closed footwork, so this will be like this......)
Right Pivot Turn
Step 1. Side RF, pivoting on RF 1/2 to the R but not closing it with LF
Step 2. Side LF, transferring full weight from RF to LF and continuing to pivot another 1/2 to the R.
Left Pivot Turn
Step 5. Side LF, pivoting on LF 1/2 to the L but not closing it with RF
Step 6. Side RF, transferring full weight from LF to RF and continuing to pivot another 1/2 to the L.
Then the dance caller will call one of those 5 step variations and everyone responds by dancing that already-called that step combination. They are.....
The Tutti Frutti, Charlie Brown, Regular, Freeze, and Roll a Pose.
The line dance will then end after one of those 5 variations with the cha-cha step and the 1/2 turn to face new wall. The breakdown is another 8 steps which goes like this...
Cha-Cha Step and 1/4 Turn to Face New Wall
1. Forward RF, across LF (1)
2. Step LF in place (2)
3. Back RF, across LF (3)
4. Step LF in place (4)
5-6. Repeat steps 1-2 once (5, 6)
7. Hitch kick on RF (7)
8. Keeping RF still a little above ground, pivot 1/4 L on the LF (8)
(you will now face new wall--the 2nd wall)
When the cha-cha step and 1/2 turn is over, the dance starts again in the 2nd wall, and then the 3rd wall, and so on, with this mantra.....
Electric Slide (first 12 steps) + Any of the 5 variations (Tutti Frutti, Charlie Brown, Regular, Freeze, or Roll a Pose) + Cha-cha step and 1/4 turn to face new wall.
NOTE: The caller will call the variation in the last 4 steps of the 12 opening steps of the electric slide. So you better listen to what the caller will call out or you may be thrown off on what to do!!
Here are the step breakdowns on each of these 5 variations........
Tutti-Frutti
Proceed: First 12 steps of the Electric Slide.
You drop down in 6 squats up and down, alternating sides. Breaking this down:
Turning 1/2 to L, little scoot-jump with both feet together AND squatting down at the same time (1, hold 2)
Squat up to normal position, staying in that same position (3, hold 4)
Still staying in the same position, do a little scoot-jump with both feet together AND squatting down at the same time (1, hold 2)
Squat up to normal position, staying in that same position (3, hold 4)
Turning 1/2 to R, little scoot-jump with both feet together AND squatting down at the same time (1, hold 2)
Squat up to normal position, staying in that same position (3, hold 4)
Still staying in the same position, do a little scoot-jump with both feet together AND squatting down at the same time (1, hold 2)
Squat up to normal position, staying in that same position (3, hold 4)
Turning 1/2 to L, little scoot-jump with both feet together AND squatting down at the same time (1, hold 2)
Squat up to normal position, staying in that same position (3, hold 4)
Still staying in the same position, do a little scoot-jump with both feet together AND squatting down at the same time (1, hold 2)
Squat up to normal position, staying in that same position (3, hold 4)
Do the final turn 1/4 R to face first wall to prepare for the Cha-Cha step.
Follow: The Cha-Cha Step and 1/4 turn to new wall.
Charlie Brown
Proceed: First 12 steps of the Electric Slide.
Looks like the Charlie Brown used in the DJ Caspar Slide, but it is more of a "drunken running man" type of move in this case.
Lean forward as if you are drunk. On 1st hop, lean a little bit forward, and then on the next hop, lean back a little bit. Alternate these leans for each hop, and you will look like a Charlie Brown that is running a bit off balance.
Running hop forward in place on LF (1)
Pulling back RF without weight, running hop forward on RF in place (2)
Pulling back LF without weight, running hop forward on LF across RF in place (3)
Pulling back RF without weight, running hop forward on RF across LF in place (and)
Pulling back LF without weight, running hop forward on LF across RF in place (4)
Pulling back RF without weight, running hop forward on RF across LF in place (1)
Pulling back LF without weight, running hop forward on LF across RF in place (2)
Pulling back RF without weight, running hop forward on RF across LF in place (3)
Pulling back LF without weight, running hop forward on LF across RF in place (and)
Pulling back RF without weight, running hop forward on RF across LF in place (4)
Pulling back LF without weight, running hop forward on LF across RF in place (1)
Pulling back RF without weight, running hop forward on RF across LF in place (2)
Pulling back LF without weight, running hop forward on LF across RF in place (3)
Pulling back RF without weight, running hop forward on RF across LF in place (and)
Pulling back LF without weight, running hop forward on LF across RF in place (4)
Follow: The Cha-Cha Step and 1/4 turn to new wall.
Regular
Proceed: First 12 steps of the Electric Slide.
Just 3 forward freeze steps in place (one foot at a time progressing, alternating) with merengue hip movements in place. The hip movements are in place and they happen on each beat. The "hold" below is for the foot movement, just to make this clear........
Forward and across LF for 1 beat, and hold it there for 3 beats
(1, hold 2, hold 3, hold 4)
[Option to turn 1/4 to R for the first 4 beats.]
Forward and across RF for 1 beat, and hold it there for next 3 beats
(1, hold 2, hold 3, hold 4)
[Option to turn 1/2 to L for the next 4 beats.]
Forward and across LF for 1 beat, and hold it there for 3 beats
(1, hold 2, hold 3, hold 4)
[Option to turn 1/2 to R for the next 4 beats.]
[If doing optional turns, at the end of the Regular, do the final turn 1/4 R to face first wall to prepare for the Cha-Cha step]
Follow: The Cha-Cha Step and 1/4 turn to new wall.
Freeze (or "The Freeze")
Proceed: First 12 steps of the Electric Slide.
You freeze your upper body 4 beats (3 times) with the upper body does the posing. The breakdown of the steps are.....
Turning 1/2 R, slide forward on LF (as if dragging it) past RF (1)
Drag RF close towards LF with no weight (2)
Hold position with LF still having no weight, feet together (hold 3, hold 4)
(hence "the freeze")
Turning 1/2 L, slide forward on RF (as if dragging it) past LF (1)
Drag LF close towards RF with no weight (2)
Hold position with RF still having no weight, feet together (hold 3, hold 4)
(hence another freeze)
Turning 1/2 R, slide forward on LF (as if dragging it) past RF (1)
Drag RF close towards LF with no weight (2)
Hold position with LF still having no weight, feet together (hold 3, hold 4)
(hence still another freeze)
KICKER: There are arm movements to "the freeze", which are recommended. Use the descriptions of the feet above to guide you. So the breakdown is this....
L arm is raised straight up and held for 4 counts (1 2 3 4)
R arm is now raised straight up and L arm goes down; raised L (1 2 3 4)
arm is also held for another 4 counts
L arm is now raised straight up and R arm goes down: raise R (1 2 3 4)
arm is also held for still another 4 counts.
NOTE: Make sure that the lowered arm has the hand of the lowered arm at the hip level and that arm bent, so that way, it will look like a fashion show press line pose...pretty cool, isn't it? Also, on each freeze, the face and torso must have a proud posture, just like a matador in a bullfight.
Follow: The Cha-Cha Step and 1/4 turn to new wall.
Roll-A-Pose
Proceed: First 12 steps of the Electric Slide.
Almost like the Regular....but this time, you roll hands inside-outside and roll your hip in a circle two times (full circle).
Detailed breakdown.....
Forward and across LF for 1 beat, and hold it there for 3 beats, doing a forward log-rolling action with your hands at chest-level
(1, hold 2, hold 3, hold 4)
Forward and across RF for 1 beat, and hold it there for next 3 beats doing a forward log-rolling action with your hands at chest-level
(1, hold 2, hold 3, hold 4)
Forward and across LF for 1 beat, and hold it there for 3 beats
doing a forward log-rolling action with your hands at chest-level
(1, hold 2, hold 3, hold 4)
Note: MERENGUE HIP ACTION IS STILL DONE IN PLACE FOR EACH BEAT.
Follow: The Cha-Cha Step and 1/2 turn to new wall.
I hope all of this helps you revive what was a fad Latin line dance. I still love it. If you can follow these instructions, it will pay off big time...even for those who know this dance in the 1990s. I am doing this just for you!!!