How to learn bachata dancing

6 Keys to Learn to Dance Bachata Like a Pro

Every time we want to learn a new dance style like bachata, it is possible to reach an acceptable minimum level in a short time, a level with which you can dance bachata throughout a song with anyone, although girls always get it first.

To reach this level in a few months is essential to learn to dance bachata, practice a lot and train with professionals.

Yeah, I know that. Bachata is cool, it's trendy and there are more and more people dancing it and more places to practice your bachata steps.

With what if you want to be another person who enjoys this beautiful dance I will tell you 6 keys that you must fulfill to learn to dance bachata like a professional.

1. Form up by taking bachata classes at a dance school with professionals

It sounds silly, but it's very important to be taught to dance professionally. At first it doesn't seem to matter, but in the long run it is vitally important for your future as a bachatero or bachatera.

These dance teachers will not only teach you dance steps but how to interpret the music, how to follow the time, correct your posture, how to mark correctly and ultimately will give you the basis for you to continue training and improve your style.

In our School with Bachata Classes Finder you can search for bachata lessons in your city, book a test lesson and start dancing with professionals.

2. Feel the music, listen to bachata songs and follow the time

They say that in order to learn something new you must soak up and surround yourself with this new thing you are learning.

So listen to bachata songs, learn them, listen to changes in instruments, speed, tempo, and internalize this type of music so you can follow time almost without thinking about it.

In fact, it is very common to count the time until you have it very interiorized.

3. Internalize the basic steps of bachata

Learn the basic bachata steps of your dance class. Those ones you don't have to think about and they come out alone. Interiorize them so that in the very near future you can give free rein to your imagination.

Believe me, later on you'll see a bachata video or someone will show you a new move and you will.

4. Review the bachata videos recorded in class and in the workshops you attend

Many people record the class dance steps on their cell phones but then never see them again.

There's no use doing that. What you have to do is see it again, review it, study it, stop it if there is something that has not just come up and above all practice it.

If you're not gonna do it, you don't need to shoot any more videos... hehe.

There are many videos on the Internet that show you steps and combinations, but it's much better to have experienced it in person and then go over what you've done before.

5. Lose the fear of dancing and try new dance steps

All of us have been afraid at some point to take someone out or afraid of being asked to dance, haven't we?

Sometimes we think, what if I take him out and he knows more than me or the other way around, he knows less and I get bored. And the reality is that nothing happens, it's a very normal thing and it's good that it happens. It keeps you in tension.

This fear is to motivate you and not to block you. So count to three and dare. Once you are dancing, try your steps even if you don't remember very well, what will happen (if you don't get it) is that you will both end up laughing.

6. Go out dancing bachata and practice a lot

Finally something left me something I always recommend to everyone.

Go out dancing, practice as much as you can. The more you practice, the sooner you get better.

It is curious how in a few months there are people who improve a lot and there are people who do not improve so much and the main difference is that the first people go out to dance a lot more.

In short...

The keys to learning to dance bachata and any other dance are: learn with professionals, feel the music, review what you already know, don't be afraid to try new things and practice a lot.

If you are not yet enrolled in a dance school, we encourage you to look for your nearest dance academy in go&dance and go out to dance bachata today.

And finally we'd love to hear your story. We want to know what made you sign up for bachata dancing.

In my helmet, a few years ago I started dancing salsa and as I loved to dance as a couple, feel better and see that in the dance halls put more and more bachata songs that I loved, I decided to sign up for bachata classes and so it all started. I admit that it took a while before I dared to take the first girl out dancing, but once that challenge was over I couldn't stop.

How did you start bachata dancing? Tell us in the comments, please.

You may also be interested: 4 differences between online salsa and Cuban salsa.

And finally we leave you with a 2 hour bachatera session with a selection of the best bachata songs from 2016 for you to play whenever you want.

4 Basic Bachata Steps To Dance Any Song

As you should know bachata lives in the last years its golden age, as it has become one of the dances with more followers. A relatively easy dance for the beginners and where the most expert dancers have many possibilities to show their talents.

Emerged in the 1960s in the Dominican Republic as a transformation of the bolero to Antillean tastes, nowadays it is not missing in any dance hall or school with bachata lessons that boasts.

Its typical choreography was born in the 1990s, with two forms of bachata dancing:

Dominican bachata: the couple usually dances with few figures and focusing on hip and foot movements.
The urban bachata: the dancers get together and separate to be able to carry out different figures focusing the movements in the body.

For most experts, the main characteristic of bachata dancing is undoubtedly continuous hip movement, especially in the fourth beat (the rhythm of bachata has a four-beat beat, the dance of eight).

Bachata is a dance where personal style is fundamental. But what are the basic steps of bachata you should know to dance to any song?

#1. The basic step of bachata

The basic step of bachata, in fact, consists of three steps that are danced in the first three times and a touch with the sole of the foot that is performed in the fourth time.

When the sole of the foot touches the ground in the fourth period of time, the hip moves upward. A hip movement that is more marked in women than in men.

The basic step of bachata must be carried out in good style from the beginning of the learning process. A recommendation that is usually made to master it is to keep up with the music and keep your knees slightly bent. In this way, the movement of the hip will naturally arise.

#2. Turns in the bachata

One of the fundamental movements of bachata is the twists and turns. The most basic of all is the one in which the man raises his arm so that the woman can make a complete turn to the rhythm of the music. Then they both return to the normal dance without losing the rhythm.

The process of the twist in the man and woman would be as follows:

The return of the man in the bachata

As she dances, she counts the times in her mind (1,2,3,4), and when she reaches the fourth beat, she begins to raise her leading arm (the extended arm) over the couple's head, starting to release the pressure of the other arm.

In beat 1 of the next measure, the pair will begin to turn by making a circle under the man's arm, gently holding onto the leading arm.

The turn will finish in time 3, so that in time 4 both the man and the woman are dancing in sync again.

The return of the woman in the bachata
In time 4, the (extended) leading arm of the man begins to rise. At that point, keep holding on to the leading arm, but remove the other arm from the partner's shoulder and move under the leading arm curve.

In beat 1, the woman turns in a circle under her main arm, trying to finish the turn in beat 3. The intention is to reach the normal dance position in beat 4 and start again together the steps in the opposite direction in beat 1.

#3. Screw

Screw is a step of the bachata in which the girl passes in front of the boy. A position changed a little more complex than the previous ones, but without apparent difficulty.

In the coiling, the man advances and positions himself behind the woman. During the process, she will raise her left hand so that the woman can be placed in the screwed position.

In the course that the man passes behind the woman, she stays in the same place. This is how you get to the coiled position, with the man behind the woman.

#4.

The waves of bachata

The waves are one of the main movements of sensual bachata. A dance that, as its name suggests, plays with the sensuality of the movements.

The wave is a very simple step to execute. You just have to step forward the body a little, climb up, lean back slightly and bring that tilt from the head down as if it were a wave that slides through the body.

The continuous repetition of the movement will be what makes us look like a wave.

As you have seen, the steps of bachata are not really very complicated or complex. But like everything else, it takes a lot of practice to be able to score and let yourself be guided to perfection.

Bachata is a dance in which people of all ages can participate and lately it sounds everywhere, so go ahead, sign up for bachata classes whatever your level. You'll have a great time!

Where to start studying bachata: clothes and basic movements

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To answer this question in a few words, it is rhythmic, mesmerizing and sensual. But this is already at the final stage. For beginners, such a direction as bachata does not lend itself to the first time. In this dance, it is important to learn how to move to the rhythm, master the basic steps and throw away the constraint. Learning to dance bachata is better in a team of like-minded people and with an experienced mentor. Both of these are offered to their students by the Laboca dance club.

Bachata drove the world crazy at the beginning of the 21st century, but long before that, she conquered the Dominican Republic. For the inhabitants of this republic, dance is one of the ways of communication, flirting, but no one there learns to dance bachata on purpose. This dance is in the blood of the Dominicans! Despite the fact that bachata seems light and uncomplicated, it always conveys a hidden meaning, which includes the hardships of the poor, the struggle for freedom of expression, and a sad love story. It is not for nothing that only the poor danced bachata for a long time, and only then did it begin to be performed along with salsa and tango by representatives of the middle class.

What is the main thing in bachata?

As with any Latin American dance, the most important thing is the rhythm. Synchronization with the music is achieved through the basic bachata step, on which the rest of the dance elements are layered. The classic bachata movement is four steps with weight transfer to either side with an emphasis on the last step.

This direction is performed mainly in pairs, while the man traditionally “leads”. The first thing that always catches your eye is the romantic mood of the dance. It is full of hugs and very close movements as a couple. Bachata performers are always great at improvising, which is why you should not stop at learning the basic dance movements.

Bachata clothes

To captivate the audience and your partner on the dance floor, you need to feel stunning, because nothing relaxes like confidence in your appearance! Tight but light clothing is considered ideal for performing bachata. For example, a fitted dress with a loose-fitting skirt. Plus - shoes with stable heels no more than six centimeters high. Shoes should fix the foot well, otherwise there is a risk of injury.

Where to start?

Often, for those who want to master bachata, the most difficult thing is not the technique of its performance, but the emotional component of the dance. Mutual trust of partners, lack of embarrassment, established close contact - this is something that cannot be achieved by numerous rehearsals. But, fortunately, this can be achieved through communication in a circle of like-minded people. That is why it is better to look for a suitable dance partner in a special studio, and not among your friends. If you start together and work your way up from beginner to pro hand in hand, your bodies will start dancing in unison too!

Bachata movement technique

There are no complex combinations and strict positions of arms and legs in this direction. The bodies of partners are located as close as possible to each other, their arms and legs move freely. Throughout the dance, the performer's body should be slightly tilted forward, and the knees should remain slightly bent.

We have already talked about the basic bachata step and the emphasis on the fourth count. This highlighting of the last step by lifting the hip is called the "kick". Turns in bachata are used infrequently, but side passages and “throwing” the partner in different directions are common.

Bachata can be mastered at any age and with any physical form. But looseness on the dance floor and the ability to improvise is comprehended by years of rehearsals.

To become an experienced bachata performer, it is not enough to practice at home in front of a mirror. What is important here is the exchange of experience, communication with like-minded people, participation in theme parties and constant practice. The dance club "LaBoca" will gladly immerse you in the enchanting world of this Latin American dance!

Video: Bachata - group show number

basic steps and movements for beginners

Contents

The main advantage of such a dance style as bachata is its simplicity. Bachata can be mastered at any age, regardless of dance experience. All it takes is your looseness, sense of rhythm, and a willingness to improvise. But before you shine on the floor, you should work out the basic elements. There are not so many of them in bachata.

The dance consists of steps, hip movements and hugs - all elements are filled with tenderness and warmth, because initially the Dominican folk dance supported the inhabitants of the republic in the difficult atmosphere of military coups and harsh dictatorship, helped to escape from a sense of danger and anxiety.

Basic movements in bachata

The basis of bachata is four side steps, the last of which is emphasized by putting the foot forward or placing the foot on the toe, as well as the corresponding upward movement of the hip. At the same time, the partners are constantly in close contact with each other, holding both hands or, in the case of a closed position, one hand of the man holds the woman’s hand, his second hand is placed at the waist.

The basic step for four counts alternates with the “tossing” of the partner from one side to the other, simple turns and moving around the dance floor. The dance is accompanied by smooth, but rhythmic movements of the hips. During the performance, the couples also place accents in the music - by moving their heads, slowing down the tempo, or specially tightening individual elements. At the same time, partners complement each other's movements all the time.

The task of the man is to guide the dancer and, as it were, rock her in his arms, while the goal of the woman is to succumb to the movements of her partner, to improvise and decorate the dance with accents invented on the go.

Looks charming and very romantic!

Bachata step count

In any dance direction there is a count, but in bachata it goes up to eight. Here's what a classic bar would look like:

1-2-3-4 left,
5-6-7-8 right,
1,2,3,4 left again,
5,6 ,7,8 - again to the right.

Accents fall on "4" and "8": legs and hips. Try dancing eight counts in different directions, at the end of each four, put your foot on the toe. When you lift your foot off the ground, your hip rises involuntarily. Increase this effect a little - and now your hips are already moving to the beat of the music, and you are performing bachata! Practice these steps first solo and then with a partner. The legs must move in sync, and the hips, arms, and heads can improvise to the music.

Dance to this rhythm until you feel the so-called bachata pulse. Remember to keep your back straight, your knees slightly bent, and your pelvis slightly back.

Basic moves in pairs

When these moves seem too easy for you, it's time to move on to the next step - easy turns with a partner.