Shakira's Merengue Influence

When I discover new styles of music or dance, it's usually through artists that are already mainstream. They usually present a version that's not very traditional (like Carmen Miranda and samba music) to appeal to the masses, but if it encourages even a handful of people to dig deeper, I see it as a good thing. For me, one of those artists is Shakira, who borrows from Latin American and Middle Eastern cultures. In this particular video, Shakira performs "Loca," a song that samples El Cata's "Loca Con Su Tigre," a Dominican merengue song. The performance is highly choreographed and features a hybrid of many styles, from Shakira's famous belly dancing, to hip-hop and Latin American-influenced movements. I can't identify a particular style of Latin American dance, but hopefully I will be able to by the end of the semester! This performance, which takes place in France, shows just how far traditional styles of dance and music can travel and also how they can evolve.