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212 Social Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895Monday to Thursday: 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.Woman ownedFall registration opens in August(401) 555-0109
MerengueWoonsocket, Rhode Island
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Latin and social dance in Woonsocket

Dance merengue with your family

Merengue is a Dominican-owned Latin and social dance studio. Kids, teens and adults learn merengue, bachata, salsa and ballroom in Spanish or English, and families often dance in the same room.

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  • Ages 5 to adult
  • Spanish and English
  • Bachata nights every month
Parents and children dancing merengue in pairs across a wooden hall floor, a teacher at the front

Find your class

Four ways in, whatever your age and whichever language you speak at home.

  1. Ages 5 to 12

    Kids' classes

    Merengue and bachata through games and partners, in classes of up to 12 or 16.

    Three children and a teacher holding out wide skirts in a sunny courtyard
  2. Ages 13 to 17

    Teens' classes

    Bachata and salsa, learning to lead and follow with a partner or a friend.

    Teenagers dancing in pairs across a studio floor while a teacher counts the beat
  3. Adults

    Adult classes

    Five dances, from a first step to bachata night. Come on your own.

    Adults dancing in pairs on a wooden floor, a teacher clapping at the side
  4. Teens and adults

    Weddings and quinceañeras

    A first dance or a quinceañera waltz, learned over a few weeks.

    Heels and dress shoes stepping together on a wooden parquet floor

This week at Merengue

Pick a day, and filter by age to see the classes for kids, teens or adults.

Fall session

Showing 14 of 14

Monday

  • 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm

    Kids' merengue

    Yanira Minaya · Studio A

    5 to 8BeginnersOpenTry a class

  • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

    Merengue for adults

    Yanira Minaya · Studio A

    AdultsAll levelsOpenTry a class

  • 7:15 pm – 8:15 pm

    Bachata, beginners

    Yanira Minaya · Studio B

    AdultsBeginnersOpenTry a class

Tuesday

  • 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

    Teens' bachata

    Belkis Taveras · Studio A

    13 to 17All levelsOpenTry a class

  • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

    Salsa, beginners

    Belkis Taveras · Studio A

    AdultsBeginnersOpenTry a class

  • 7:15 pm – 8:15 pm

    Social ballroom

    Bienvenido Morel · Studio B

    AdultsAll levelsOpenTry a class

Wednesday

  • 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm

    Kids' bachata

    Yanira Minaya · Studio A

    9 to 12BeginnersWaitlistJoin the waitlist

  • 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

    Teens' salsa

    Belkis Taveras · Studio A

    13 to 17All levelsOpenTry a class

  • 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Cha-cha-cha

    Belkis Taveras · Studio B

    AdultsAll levelsOpenTry a class

Thursday

  • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

    Quinceañera court

    Social ballroom · Bienvenido Morel · Studio A

    13 to 17All levelsOpenTry a class

  • 7:15 pm – 8:15 pm

    Wedding dances

    Social ballroom · Bienvenido Morel · Studio A

    AdultsAll levelsOpenTry a class

Friday

  • 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm

    Kids' merengue

    Yanira Minaya · Studio A

    5 to 8BeginnersOpenTry a class

  • 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm

    Bachata night

    Yanira Minaya · Studio A

    AdultsAll levelsOpenTry a class

Saturday

  • 10:00 am – 11:00 am

    Family merengue

    Yanira Minaya · Studio A

    All agesAll levelsOpenTry a class

Sample classes.

Classes of up to 12 for ages 5 to 8, up to 16 for ages 9 to 12, up to 20 for teens and up to 24 for adults. Bachata night is the first and third Friday of the month.

A level for each dance

Every dance has its own steps and its own pace. Start with the one you hear at home, or the one you have always wanted to try.

  1. Merengue

    Ages 5 to adult
    Skills

    • The basic step, in place and traveling

    • Turns and partner holds

    • Dancing a whole song with a partner

    Moving up

    Everyone starts here, whatever their age. A dancer moves on to bachata or salsa when they and the teacher agree. There is no test.

  2. Bachata

    Ages 9 to adult
    Skills

    • The side step and the hip sway

    • Connection with a partner

    • Simple turns and changes of direction

    Moving up

    After a few sessions the teacher will say which pattern to try next. Dancers can stay in a level as long as they like.

  3. Salsa

    Ages 13 to adult
    Skills

    • The basic step on the count

    • The right turn and the cross-body lead

    • Changing partners in a circle

    Moving up

    Beginners join a second level when they can dance a song with a partner. There is no test.

  4. Ballroom and cha-cha-cha

    Ages 13 to adult
    Skills

    • The waltz box and the foxtrot walk

    • The cha-cha-cha basic step and triple count

    • A first dance for a wedding or a quinceañera

    Moving up

    The teacher will tell you when a dance is ready to share. Wedding and quinceañera classes run for a few weeks.

Where to startTry a first class

Sample levels.

Nobody is asked to dance alone. Partners change every few minutes.

Bachata nights and the year ahead

  • In August

    Applications open

    Fall registration opens

    Register on our enrollment page, or message us on WhatsApp. A trial class first is welcome.

  • First and third Friday of the month

    Event

    Bachata nights

    A short lesson for beginners at the start, then an open floor. Adults, and no partner needed.

  • Week 6 of every session

    Event

    Watch week

    Families sit along the wall and watch a class.

  • In May

    Recital

    Spring showcase

    Kids, teens and adults each show a dance in a rented hall, with open seating.

Sample dates.

Meet the teachers

Three teachers share the week at Merengue, and each has a background check and CPR and first aid training.

  • Yanira Minaya, director and merengue teacher, mid-step in a coral skirt in the studio

    Yanira Minaya

    Director, merengue and bachata

    Yanira opened Merengue after teaching in community halls across Rhode Island, and teaches the kids' classes, family merengue on Saturdays and the Monday adult classes. She teaches in Spanish and in English.

  • Belkis Taveras, salsa and teens' classes teacher, with a hand extended in the studio

    Belkis Taveras

    Salsa, cha-cha-cha and teens' classes

    Belkis teaches salsa and cha-cha-cha to adults and the teens' bachata and salsa classes. She grew up dancing at family parties and teaches in Spanish and in English.

  • Bienvenido Morel, social ballroom teacher, smiling in a burgundy cardigan in the studio

    Bienvenido Morel

    Social ballroom, weddings and quinceañeras

    Bienvenido teaches the waltz, the foxtrot and the first dances for weddings and quinceañeras. He teaches in Spanish and follows along in English.

Try a class

Pick a class from the schedule and book a visit on our enrollment page, or message us on WhatsApp. Wear something comfortable; socks are fine.

Try a class
Phone(401) 555-0109
Hours
Monday to ThursdayToday
4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
FridayToday
4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
SaturdayToday
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
SundayToday
Closed