DJ Ian F - Merengue and Bachata
Merengue and Bachata are both from the Dominican Republic and although neither are actually Salsa, they are played at most Salsa clubs in the UK.
Merengue is a dance with a simple 1, 2 beat to it, which is reflected in the dance. This simplicity makes Merengue very popular at many clubs, since it adds to the party atmosphere. Perhaps the best known Merengue singer is Jose Luis Guerra.
Bachata is a more flowing dance, with a 1, 2, 3, pause rhythm to it. Although Bachata has been played at Salsa clubs in mainland Europe for many years, it has only recently started to gain popularity in the UK. A few Bachata tracks are played at many Salsa clubs now. Although many Merengue bands also play Bachata (and there are even songs which combine Merengue and Bachata), some artists are particularly known for their Bachata music, for example Aventura and Alex Bueno.