Dance serves as a means of nonverbally expressing ideas, creativity, and pure enjoyment among everyone who takes part in it.  In addition to being performed for entertainment purposes and recreation, dance has served as a powerful uniting force among different peoples, especially individuals from the Caribbean.  In fact, each of the different countries in the West Indies appear to have particular dance forms that correspond to the music that is prominent in each country.  For example, the Dominican Republic and Haiti have merengue, Trinidad has calypso, and Jamaica has reggae, or “dancehall” type dancing.  Though it’s origins in the Caribbean are not completely clear, merengue has been regarded as a way in which natives sought to unite and detach themselves from colonial rule and develop their own sense of national identity. Unlike typical waltz form and meter, merengue is characterized by faster movements, more hip isolation, and closer contact between partners.   Accompanied by drums or steel pans, Trinidad calypso encompasses two step foot patterns with side to side hip movement.  Typical Jamaican dancehall tends to place strong emphasis on hip movement, focusing on more circular or isolated motions known as “winin.”

Although these dance forms were created and modified by Caribbean natives, they have managed to follow the diaspora to different countries.  From celebrating Caribbean pride, to being incorporated into fitness routines and music videos, Caribbean dance and music have clearly globalized, serving as a uniting force and a source of fun for all who are willing to move to the beat of the music.  

Map of Caribbean where these dances are found:

map_caribbean_