Bachata (dance)
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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 hip tap on the 4th beat. The knees should be slightly bent so the performer can sway the hips easier. The movement of the hips is very important because it's a part of the soul of the dance. 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; although they are sometimes used in more choreographed ballroom styles. The leading is done just like in most other 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 "sexual" 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 tge deal."
The original dance style from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean is a basic dance sequence is a full 8 count moving within a square. When Bachata Music became popular in US and EU the dancers there began developing a more simple pattern, 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 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.
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[edit] Bachata Dance Styles
- Original/Traditional The Caribbean Style from the Dominican Republic.
- New Traditional Fusion Style close to the very early Original/Traditional Bachata from DR.
- Modern/Moderna Fusion Style based on New Traditional added more or less Salsa, Zouk, Tango, Ballroom, HipHop and Reggaeton elements.
- Tango/BachaTango Fusion Style based on Tango added some New Traditional steps and New Traditional vueltas.
- Ballroom Fusion Style based on Ballroom with New Traditional steps and New Traditional vueltas and extreme body movements.
[edit] Original/Traditional
The Original Bachata dance style comes from the Dominican Republic where the music also was born. The early slow style in the fifties from where everything started was danced only closed like a Bolero. The Bachata Basic Steps moving within a small square (side, side, forward and side, side, back) are also inspired from the Bolero but danced slightly different in Bachata and danced with syncopations (steps in between the beats) depending on the dancer's mood and the character of the music. The hand placement will vary with the dancers position which can be very close to semi-close to open.
Bachata Original 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). Bachata Original is created by the people over many years (from around late fifties) for social dancing and is still evolving. This Original style is spreading rapidly in the western world today (2010).
[edit] New Traditional
At some point, perhaps in the late 1980s or early 1990s, dancers in US/EU began using a simpler side to side pattern instead of the box-steps probably due to a misunderstanding of the original steps. The basic steps of this pattern move side to side, changing direction after every tap. Common characteristics of this style are the close connection between between partners, soft hip movements, and tap with a small "pop" of the hip on the 4th step (1, 2, 3, Tap/Hip).
[edit] Modern/Moderna
A later Fusion Style originated in Europe (Spain around 2005). The basics are the same as New Traditional Style Bachata, but with added styling from Salsa, Tango, Ballroom etc. In the modern fusion style, couples typically move their upper torsos more, put greater emphasis on the hip pop, and women use more exaggerated hip movements. The most direct fusion influence on modern style bachata dancing comes from the adoption of salsa turn patterns - perhaps because many bachata dance instructors of the modern style were formerly salsa instructors. Modern style dancers have also incorporated styling from Zouk-lambada, Tango, and other dances. There is also a modern-urban style that incorporates some HipHop elements.
[edit] Tango/BachaTango
Fusion Style with short sequences of New Traditional basic steps but mostly Tango steps danced like Tango. The “pop” count is used to add elaborated sensuality and varied Latin dance styles but mostly taken from Tango. Vueltas like New Traditional. Although this dance has been used to dance to Bachata, it has evolved to be used to dance to Tango as well. Even though BachaTango is unheard of in the Dominican Republic, Bachata's country of origin, BachaTango has become popular with foreign instructors outside the Caribbean.
[edit] Ballroom
Fusion Style developed in US/Europe for competition dance only, with very extreme hip movements and lots of Ballroom Dance styling. It is used predominantly for Ballroom competitions rather than social dancing. Basic step is based on New Traditional.
[edit] Dance Technique and Styling
[edit] Original/Traditional Style
- Basic Steps Light steps with syncopated steps in sequences, often moving within a square (Box-Steps).
- Vuelta Turning almost on the spot.
- Enchufla (change side) Lady Inside turn moving forward on the 2nd beat facing the dance partner (1st beat is a basic almost on the spot or to the side).
- Footwork Lots of it, some cuban Son inspired and some new original.
- Movements Natural soft African moves.
- Styling Natural arm and torso movements generated from the natural body movements.
[edit] New Traditional, Modern/Moderna, Tango/BachaTango and Ballroom
- Basic Steps Kept simple on the beats danced sideways and with more bented knees.
- Vuelta Turning moving sideways.
- Enchufla (change side) Lady Outside turn moving forward on the 1st beat, actually just a half Vuelta moving forward instead of sideways.
- Footwork Mostly taken from X-body Salsa and Tango.
- Movements Often very large soft African moves (Tango/BachaTango dance more rigid).
- Styling Taken from X-body Salsa, Tango and Ballroom and some fondle themselves like in Pole Dance to look more sexy for the bystanders.
[edit] References
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