Dhariana, professionally known as La Coqueta, is a Dominican singer, songwriter and actress whose repertoire embraces ballads, merengue, salsa and bachata. She became known during the 1980s through songs including «Cuando», «A esa» and «Aunque reviente mi pecho». Her birthday falls on September 13.

Background and artistic training

She identifies Santo Domingo as her hometown. Her artistic training included work with Ónix Báez, Serbio Uribe, Osvaldo Cepeda y Cepeda and Henry Ely. At Bellas Artes she studied folk dance with Casandra Damirón and modern dance with Josefina Miniño, while Roberto López worked as her choreographer.

Records and stage performances

«TH Records» marketed her first album, «Ven a Amarme». Her performances brought together singing, choreography and a distinctive stage image. Her shows included «Ven a amarme» and «Explotó Dhariana», and Milton Peláez supported her television appearances through «Sabroshow». Manuel Tejada arranged «Cuando» and «A esa». She also performed in Honduras, Peru, Curaçao, Spain and the United States.

A return to the stage and later repertoire

In May 2007 she announced a return to the Maunaloa with «Sólo basta amar», with musical direction by Leo Pimentel. At the time she was promoting her own bachata composition «Mentiras». In 2017 she introduced Daniela de la Cruz’s «Los caminos del mar», performing it on «De extremo a extremo» on July 13 and on «Buena Noche» the following evening. Later repertoire includes «Gracias por amarme», with Raúl Santi, and Marlene de los Santos’s «Mujer deseada».

Legacy

Dhariana forms part of the generation of solo singers who established a place for Dominican ballads on radio and television during the 1980s. Her work also extends to dance music and the theatrical production «Por la Patria Cantando». Recordings and performances preserved on her official channel document these different strands of her career.