Bachata Material

[Spitfire]

I've been reading a lot of material here on the Bachata and while there have been some good descriptions I don't know if I'm getting a good picture in my mind of what this dance is. Are there some video clips which give a clear demonstration and/or good videos that I can purchase?

I believe I live in an area where Bachata seems to be pretty much unknown; I've never seen it done and there have never been any classes offered anywhere for this dance and I've never even heard it being discussed.

[Sagitta]

A tough request Spitfire... A quick google search did not bring up anything. :( If I had a video camera I could have taped some material tonight and posted it, but I don't have access to one. :(

Hopefully other dfers can help out.

[salsaForfun]

I've been reading a lot of material here on the Bachata and while there have been some good descriptions I don't know if I'm getting a good picture in my mind of what this dance is. Are there some video clips which give a clear demonstration and/or good videos that I can purchase?

I believe I live in an area where Bachata seems to be pretty much unknown; I've never seen it done and there have never been any classes offered anywhere for this dance and I've never even heard it being discussed.

If you can can get the dvd or the of Luis Varga with the title En Persona, there you will see Dominicans (young and old) dancing live on many bachata and Bachatarengue songs.

[dessaix]

I am fortunate to have learned merengue and bachata from real dominicans.

it is very basic there is hardly no turns at all (i dont do any), just 90 degree turns (not spins) while maintaining the foot work and leading the girls right hand down mid and up whenever the beat changes. during the middle of the song there is usually a nice guitar solo and thats where u can hold your partner real close and lead her arms around you. you can just mix it up a bit from there.. it can be boring is you are not into it.

people who do salsa spins during bachata are not dancing bachata the way it is supposed to be although there are some ways to make the girl spin without losing her step, it is just difficult to do correctly in a club environment.

[salsalawyer]

try some adventura music videos.


I`ll try to find some links to video clips.

It`s harder in LA, because people are mixing salsa steps and spins into bachata now. Soon, there will be an LA style bachata apart from the original dance.

[Spitfire]

It`s harder in LA, because people are mixing salsa steps and spins into bachata now. Soon, there will be an LA style bachata apart from the original dance.

And it shall become known as Salsata! :mrgreen:

[Sagitta]

Or bachasa!!

[salsalawyer]

baschasa!! Sounds good to me!!

In fairness, it`s just starting to catch on here. No telling what will become of it once we get finished with it!!

[MaggieB]

Here is a website URL where you can actually watch a video of a basic bachata lesson! They do not sell a full video but it is a start for those that have expressed interest in seeing at least the basic.

http://www.thedancestore.freeservers.com/learningcenter.htm

Have F-U-N!

[Sagitta]

Thanks MaggieB! And welcome to df. Glad to have you with us! :D

[Spitfire]

Here is a website URL where you can actually watch a video of a basic bachata lesson! They do not sell a full video but it is a start for those that have expressed interest in seeing at least the basic.

http://www.thedancestore.freeservers.com/learningcenter.htm

Have F-U-N!

Thanks MaggieB and welcome to the forums. :D

That's a great clip and just what I was looking for. 8) So Bachata is done to the same timing as slow Rumba; I'd actually thought it was done to something quicker.

Will you dance one of those with me? :mrgreen:

[Spitfire]

Ok, Bachataites I have a question. After viewing the video clip I see that this dance is close to the descriptions given. I understand that there are not a lot of turns and patterns, but would like to ask what additional moves if any do you use? can this be done in foward/backward variation?

I definitely want to give this dance a try. :D

[ThatHaitianSwede]

a simple thing to do is to split apart with a one hand hold and on the 1, let the lady turn towards her right side, and then going back on her left. Remember these aren't salsa type spins, but just 180 degree turns to each beat. So in essence it is one 360 turn done to those four beats, and you still 'touch' at the end of it.

I know that when you do bachata back and forth you can lean over each other kinda. so you go forward and the lady leans back on the 'touch', and as you go back the man leans back on the 'touch'

Those might not be very helpfull, but my favorite thing to do is to spin/turn together. You've got to be pretty close for this to work but what you do is this~

First try it when you 'touch' with your left foot (as the lead). On beat 1 as you're about to set your left foot down you overextend your step a little bit past the follow's right foot. On beat 2 You then turn 180 degrees on your left foot so the lead & follow have now switced positions. On beat 3 you turn 180 degress again on your right foot, stepping down on your left foot and hence back in your original positions. Then you 'touch' again, and if you're skilled enough do it back the other direction.

Hope that helped, to me it's clear but my words might not be. Again these are simple within themselves, but as long as you keep the 1 2 3 touch pattern you'll soon figure out a lot of stuff.

[Sagitta]

The historical style hasn't really been side to side, forward and back. If you see Dominicans etc dancing this they more or less dance in place. There also is the issue of listening to the music and where you break...BUT let's set aside those issues.

Given that the basic is 1,2,3,pause 1,2,3,pause you can do any move that you desire as long as it fits or can be adapted to this framework. So you can go:

side to side (8 beats)
forward and back (8 beats)
around (8 beats)
forward and forward (8 beats)
back and back (8 beats)
side to side (follower on left, then on right side of leader)....
in place

You can do follower and leader left and right turns, sweetheart/cuddle....

Note that whatever you do should match the character of the song.

Hope this helps. :)

[Spitfire]

First try it when you 'touch' with your left foot (as the lead). On beat 1 as you're about to set your left foot down you overextend your step a little bit past the follow's right foot. On beat 2 You then turn 180 degrees on your left foot so the lead & follow have now switced positions. On beat 3 you turn 180 degress again on your right foot, stepping down on your left foot and hence back in your original positions. Then you 'touch' again, and if you're skilled enough do it back the other direction.

Hope that helped, to me it's clear but my words might not be. Again these are simple within themselves, but as long as you keep the 1 2 3 touch pattern you'll soon figure out a lot of stuff.

It's actually pretty clear HaitianSwede; your description of the footwork. I take it this is from closed position?

[Sagitta]

If we are talking of favourite moves...mine is a slower bachata, close position, combs n' veils...simple moves. :)

[ThatHaitianSwede]

It's actually pretty clear HaitianSwede; your description of the footwork. I take it this is from closed position?

Yes, the closer the better. In fact I find it difficult to do if you're not pretty much chest to chest, because if your in an 'open' closed position you're creating a big of a circle when you turn. So try to be real close, atleast for the four seconds while you're turning.

Try it out with someone, it's a real romantic dance I'm sure you'll like it. But if there's no one special around, don't worry, my mom taught me how to dance it. 8)

btw sagitta what is a veil? I agree that simple moves... :P It's the way to do it.

[Sagitta]

btw sagitta what is a veil? I agree that simple moves... :P It's the way to do it. When you put the followers hand behind her head, such as in sombrero move. [I had sambrosa neat, plus white godiva chocolate liquer 20 minutes ago so forgive me if my explanations are not too clear.]

[salsarhythms]

I agree with Sagitta...

I enjoy the slower, closer bachata dancing...

I personally do it more in a forward and backward motion,
however, the steps are not big at all so it is almost as if I
was dancing in place...

At first I didn't like it much...but since I am Dominican, born
there, and with about 100 cousins, I quickly learned to love
it... :-)

With Bachata, you either love it or hate it...

But all in all, it does provide a great break from the normal
salsa, merengue...and it lets you get real close to your partner
too...

[Spitfire]

Thanks for the info guys. :D

Just gotta try it. As I say Bachata does not have a following here - unless it's done in some of the clubs, but I generally don't go to clubs. I asked some of the instructors about it and they tell me that they are familiar with the dance. :)