How common is bachata?

The other night at one of the big clubs in San Francisco the DJ played a bachata song during the band's break. Dozens of couples started busting out bachata moves as though they'd been doing it for years. Frankly, I was surprised considering how little bachata I hear in the clubs. I was wondering how they'd gotten so good when there are almost no classes here. I guess they picked up moves from people who had learned elsewhere or maybe they were just making things up (the way everyone does with merengue).

A pair of instructors, Richard and Maria, had been teaching it Saturday nights at a place called Maiko in Berkeley. I took one of the classes, but I don't think that's still going on. It would be great to learn more of the dance, but there's very little going on around here. I've heard other people express the desire to learn more bachata. Maybe I should suggest to R&M that they organize an all-day bachata workshop or something. I'll bet it'd do well.

How about where you all live? Do you hear much bachata when you go out dancing? Are there classes in your area?

P.S.
The day I learned bachata was symptomatic of what a dance addict I've become lately. I had spent all day at the Frankie Manning workshop weekend - 6 1/2 hours of lindy hop classes. Then I went over to Maiko for an hour's worth of bachata class, then 2 hours dancing salsa before I finally had to call it a night and get some rest.

Bachata is played at the Latin nights where I am. There are no classes though. They are a couple useful threads in the forums on this topic...

Name that dance

and

What is bachata?

Everything that I have learnt in bachata was self taught. I first learnt to move to the music and then took moves from salsa, swing...everywhere and adapted them to the dance. I personally would never take a lesson in bachata, or merengue. However, if you read the threads you'll find that some people post good reasons for doing so.

And what is the difference between Rumba music and Bachata music. I can't really tell. The studio I work for actually has a Bachata Syllabus . Could this be a sign it is getting more popular?

Hi Rails,

I go out Salsa dancing several times a week and I've only heard Bachata played a few times. Usually only once, maybe twice a night, or sometimes not at all. I think its a very beautiful dance personally, and I really want to learn it. I've never seen lessons Bachata lessons offered in my area, it seems to be one of those dances that you pick up from your friends.

On a side note, which club where you at in SF? I was at one down there this past Friday and the same thing happened, a Bachata came on and the floor was packed with everyone dancing to it, it was really beautiful to watch.

That would be funny if we were at the same club. :wink:

Best,

SG

I've never seen classes for it. It's a pretty simple dance so making up moves for it is very, very easy. The clubs around here play a bachata once or twice a night.

I've never seen classes for it. It's a pretty simple dance so making up moves for it is very, very easy. The clubs around here play a bachata once or twice a night.

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I totally agree. I laughed when I saw it on the syllabus, but maybe it's good for beginning dancers to learn and gain confidence.

I really love bachata... :bouncy:
In Europe it`s getting quite popular now... especially in Italy or Spain.... every 5th song they play is bachata... in Germany unfortunately only 2-3 songs for the whole evening! :cry:

Never heard of it before I joined these forums.

dancin_feet said:

Never heard of it before I joined these forums.

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Believe me, you´ve missed a lot!

For sure! :wink:

I've got to learn this dance. Next time I'm out, I'm asking the DJ to put one on and I'll find someone to teach me. No more messing around here.

Too bad bustamove.com does not have a video clip for the Bachata.

DanceMentor said:

And what is the difference between Rumba music and Bachata music.

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Unfortunately I'm not musically talented, but there this ta, ta, ta, ta - what I call the tripping beat -- that almost always is there in bachata and I don't hear it in rhumba. Perhaps someone else can explain the instrument that makes this sound.

Estella said:

dancin_feet said:

Never heard of it before I joined these forums.

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Believe me, you´ve missed a lot!

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I'm late as I had a non-dancing night out with a dancing friend!! :wink: But, since you are another bachata lover, I cannot resist. Welcome to DF Estella!! I'm curious. What are the popular bands, songs for bachata where you are?

SG, it was Friday. It was Roccapulco (where else?) I'm sure we were watching the same thing. I think the most bachata one can find around here is at Maiko on Saturday.

youngsta said:

I've never seen classes for it. It's a pretty simple dance so making up moves for it is very, very easy.

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Well, that's the thing. I don't know how simple it is or how complex it could be. If I didn't know salsa and someone showed me the on 1 basic I'd probably say it looked like a simple dance. That's not true, of course, and I wonder if the same thing could be said of bachata. Maybe there's a world of interesting patterns that they do in the Dominican Republic that I don't know about.

In the drop-in class I took, Rich showed us a traveling outside turn and a spot turn. The traveling outside turn was not like any outside turn I'd done in salsa. I do spot turns in salsa, but the bachata version he showed us had a different feel. We came in very tight to the followers with our right foot and knee between their legs. It was a slower, more sensual turn than I'd been used to in salsa.

As people have said here I can always toss in moves from other dances and make things up, but I tend to get curious about the history and traditions of dances down to the technical level. Looks like I'll be making a return trip to Maiko to ask Rich and Maria about this stuff.