Music in Dominican Republic

The culture here is all about music and dancing.  Babies are born dancing.....seriously I am pretty sure they are.....

The "national" dance is merengue, born in the DR.   Second would be bachata.    Dominicans also listen to and love salsa,  balladas,  bolero and the truly awful (to me)  reggaeton etc.   But go to most any dance club and it is  merengue bachata and salsa with a little bit of reggaeton thrown in. 

The order and proportions will change depending where you are. For example the north coast and Cibao valley love their merengue tipico.  Go to  Santo Domingo and it is much more Salsa and Merengue classico.......  Other places - La Romana for example way more bachata is played.

Dancing is a national sport.  You will find people dancing everywhere, anywhere and anytime.... it breaks out in Supermarkets,  in front of colmados (corner stores)  on the street and in peoples houses......   any Sunday  drive the "Malecon" and you will see cars with big speakers blasting, chairs,  coolers (got to have the presidente and rum)  and of course people dancing......

Yes  merengue and bachata  bachata can be head every where and everyone dances all of the time (except me...I have 4 left feet)

All recorders, stereos, car radios, and such only have two settings .. very Loud and extremely LOUD. I am amazed that all 40 year old Dominicans are not deaf.  Actually they may be deaf which explains why in normal conversation NO ONE speaks in a normal tone of voice but instead they seem to be screaming at each other

Bob K