Bachata Dance PDF
Bachata Dance PDF
Bachata Dance PDF
Bachata is a style of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic. It is danced widely all
over the world but not identically.
The basics to the dance are three-step with a Cuban hip motion, followed by a tap including a hip
movement on the 4th beat. The knees should be slightly bent so the performer can sway the hips
easier. Generally, most of the dancer's movement is in the lower body up to the hips, and the
upper body moves much less.
In partnering, the lead can decide whether to perform in open or closed position. Dance moves,
or step variety, during performance strongly depends on the music (such as the rhythms played
by the different instruments), setting, mood, and interpretation. Unlike Salsa, Bachata dance does
not usually include complex turn patterns but they are used more and more as the dance evolves.
The leading is done just like in most other social dances, with a “pushing and pulling” hand and
arm communication. Hand and arm communication is better conveyed when most of the
movement is performed by the lower body (from waist down); i.e. hips and footwork. Bachata is
commonly known by many as a very sensual dance. To most it may seem that way, however,
that is not what it is intended to be taken as. Bachata is a dance, done by a person with another,
to express the feelings one has for a specific other. It is believed by most, that the more smoothly
and more frequently the hips are used and moved, the more feelings the individual has for the
other. With that said bachata originated as a sort of "mating call," if you were selected for a
dance of bachata, you were chosen as a mate, two dances with the same individual, "sealed the
deal."
The original dance style from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean is a basic dance
sequence in a full 8 count moving within a square. Dancers in the Western World later began
developing a more simple pattern and added dance elements from other dances as well, the basic
is also in a full 8 count, but with a side-to-side motion. Both Styles consist of 3 steps normal and
then a tap step. The tap is often accompanied by a “pop” of the hips, and is sometimes
substituted with syncopations (steps in between the beats - some similar to cha-cha-cha steps and
others much different). Bachata music has an accent in rhythm at every fourth count. Often, this
is when dancers will tap-step & pop their hips - this is called dancing bachata to the basic rhythm
of the music (because the first step after the pop falls on the 1st beat of the measure). But bachata
can be danced to different timings as well if it's danced to one particular instrument instead. The
tab or 'pop' is done in the opposite direction of the last step, while the next step is taken on the
same direction as the tap or pop. The dance direction changes after the tap or fourth step.
Bachata Dance Styles
The Dominican style is today danced all over the Caribbean, now also faster in accordance to
faster music, adding more footwork, turns/figures and rhythmic free style moves and with
alternate between close (romantic) and open position (more playful adding footwork,
turns/figures, rhythmic torso etc.). This style is danced with soft hip movements and a tap with a
small "pop" with the hip on the 4th beat (1, 2, 3, Tab/Hip). Can be danced with or without
bounce (moving the body down on the beats and up again in between the beats by springs the
legs a little). Dominican Bachata is created by the people over many years (from around late
fifties) for social dancing and is still evolving.
Other styles
There are "many other Fusion Styles" of Bachata from the West, pioneered and promoted by
different teachers around the world, each with its own distinct flair. Whether these are considered
completely different styles or simply variations of the main styles above is often argued by
teachers and students alike.