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Bachata is a style of dance that accompanies the music of the same name. It has its origins in the Dominican Republic.
The dance is a four-step beat achieved with a walking Cuban hip motion, and a unique “pop”. The dance is performed both in open position and in closed position depending on the setting and mood of the partners. Similar to Merengue, dips are not original to the dance and turns are done infrequently. The male leads the female with subtle communication using pushing and pulling on the hands to guide the direction in which to move or to hint on upcoming turns. The female may also provide communication using her left hand to indicate whether she is comfortable or not dancing in a closed position.
The basic dance sequence is a full 8 count in a side-to-side motion although, traditionally it was a back and forth motion. Counts 1 through 3 and 5 through 7, when taken, generate a natural hip motion. Counts 4 and 8, consists of a “pop” movement. The "pop" depending on a person’s style is executed lifting or tapping a foot or using stylish footwork while popping the hip to the side opposite of the natural Cuban hip motion. Bachata music has a slight accent in rhythm at every fourth count, indicating when the “pop” should happen.
Basic step
Start with the male stepping left, with Cuban hip motion, and the female moving right also with Cuban hip motion. The dance direction will interchange at every 4th count. In order to remain in time with the music, start with a tap of the right foot in tune with the musical change in rhythm. Then, Stepping with left foot; 1, 2, 3 and pop with right, then change direction and with right foot step 5, 6, 7 and pop. Repeat.
Bachata Styles
- Dominican Style Bachata: or others call it "original" bachata, as it the way it is danced in Dominican Republic. This style is more jumpy with lots of footwork and free style moves. Not many turn patterns.
- Traditional Style Bachata: the most common style of bachata danced all over the world. The main characteristic of this style is the use of a small hip movement on the 4th count of the beat (1,2,3 and hip) and the close connection with your partner (a very romantic style of dance). Turn patterns and dips are included in this style.
- Modern Style or Bachata Moderna: a new style that is evolving incorporating fundamentals from other styles as well (zouk, bolero, tango and more). Bachata Moderna is based on the concept of the crosses, where on each count you lead to a cross (cross on1, cross on2, cross on3, cross over), but on the 4th count you keep the hip movement of the Traditional Style Bachata. Bachata Moderna includes different variations as "Bachatango" and "Urban Bachata"
- Bachata Tango (Bachatango) a sub-style of Bachata Moderna. It is a style of dance mostly incorporating Tango styling. It is characterized by embellished kicks, dips, turns and long pauses generally used in Tango as well as other popular Latin Dances. This dance is performed in a very close position with fewer elaborated foot styling than Bachata due its focus being more on sensuality. It focuses on overextended Cuban hip motion. The basic steps are the same 8 count as Bachata only that it produces a side to side motion, while occasionally moving back and forth. The “pop” count will be used to add elaborated sensuality and varied Latin dance styles. Although this dance has been used to dance to Bachata, it has evolved to be used to dance to Tango as well.
Bachata Rueda
One of the newest dances to hit the Latin scene. Very much similair to Salsa Rueda, the difference being bachata steps.
List of Bachata steps coming soon...
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