Merengue originated in the Caribbean, especially the Dominican Republic in the early 19th century. It has become the national dance of the Dominican Republic. There are different views on the exact origins of merengue. It was born as a Creole tune after a battle won by the Dominicans. Merengue evolved throughout the 20th century with the introduction of new instruments like the saxophone. When dancing merengue, the hip movements reveal African roots while the dance position shows influence from Western Europe.