Dance BACHATA - now with QUICKSTEP

To all the quickstep salsa members......who are not aware , that now BACHATA classes are also available for dance enthusiasts who wish to try and explore new dance forms.

Well if you have heard the name BACHATA for the first time, then please keep reading

Overview
Bachata originates from the Dominican Republic and is a guitar based music which recently evolved from bolero. During much of its history Bachata music was denigrated by Dominican society and associated with rural backwardness and delinquency. In the 1990s, bachata 's instrumentation changed from acoustic Spanish guitar to electric steel string. The new electric bachata soon became an international phenomenon, and today bachata is as popular as salsa and merengue in Latin American dancehalls.

The Dance
Bachata
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. Note: The “pop” will always be done in the opposite direction of the last step, while the next step will be taken on the same direction of the pop.
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.
Dance Variations
Modern Bachata (Nueva bachata) is the new version of the traditional Bachata brought about through the younger generation of Bachata dancers. This style incorporates more free style moves. This involves intricate footwork: enchufles, lock steps, guapachas, slides, etc. The female, along with the male, will incorporate the footwork with a difference being in her isolated hip movements within the Cuban hip motion.
Bachata Tango (Bachatango) is a style of dance 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 it's 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 being used to dance to Tango as well. It should be noted that 'Bachatango' is a foreign introduction and is unheard of in the Dominican Republic - Bachata's country of origin.

Please find some videos of Bachata Basics to further know a bit about the Dance.

Very well explained....

Very nice videos Meenakshi...Even I am looking fwd to the bachata classes!

dear meenakshi,

been reading some very nice posts by you, especially this thread with all the cool videos.. thanks a lot.. you certainly deserve an "excellent member" status

all the material is really informative and nice

love
anand

hey teju.... thanks for participating girl.... i look forward to more posts from you.

With lots of love
Meenakshi

hey meen!!

thanks ...im happy u promoting it..

love
anand