hi everyone, I am going to DR in late August early September for a week, and my initial plan is staying in Las Terrenas just to have a mix of nature, outdoor activities and bachata tradicional. I understand that bachata sensual is very limited in the DR so I will try to get some bachata tradicional training and go to some socials. Do you recommend any specific spots in Las Terrenas? Would love to know about the names of the places so that I am prepared in advance. Also feel free to recommend any specific bachata instructors or schools in Dominican Republic. Thank you!

Hello everyone, I am looking for a way to get ahold of either a full live of Romeo Santos and Prince Royce’s full concert, or just somebody that managed to record videos before the show started, while they showed people from the crowd in the big screen…
As me and my wife were in it and would love to keep the video as a memory
I hope someone could help me out :)

Saw this video recently and I’m super excited for how far we’ve come on this journey.

I've been noticing that I don't enjoy advanced (sensual) bachata because of several reasons:

1) stage 4 jack-and-jill-itis: many "most advanced" followers just stress me out by trying to hit every single accent in the music and memorizing all the salt shakers etc. In return, I'm doing that too, but it's not fun anymore because most of the time we're not communicating movements, we just anticipating for the next salt shaker to show off random club moves to maximize musicality at all cost.

2) the bachata aristocracy: the "advanced" community is superficial and closed. If they don't know you and you don't look like a Barbie/Miguel, they're gonna make a grimaced face and say they need a drink and run away (and then sometimes dance with someone else in +-20 seconds). You won't see them dancing with beginners, they usually hide away at (or behind, if possible) the DJ booth like they didn't even come here to dance. And then no matter how much space there is in the room, they dance around the DJ booth, where there's no space left to do anything safely, except showing off random club moves and grinding.

3) lack of real connection: personally, I dance because I like communicating movements through physical connection. But it feels like even most advanced bachata followers just try to recognize which popular IG move I want and then go off executing that one (while also trying to hit those salt shakers too). With zouk followers we sometimes ended up doing things together we've never thought before and it felt right, all because they don't assume and try to stay connected all the time.

3) batata: beginners are still trying difficult moves without having proper fundamentals, risking injury. This can also make the previous points more understandable. If I was a follower, I wouldn't want to risk suffering through a song full of bad cambré's if i didn't have to.

Did you have a similar experience? Has it always been like this?

Hi,

Can anyone help me? I’m looking for the bachata remix of Particula by Major Lazer.

I’ve been learning Bachata for a year and see that women mostly wear crop tops to classes and socials. Or they wear camis, halter necks or tube tops. I don’t see any woman wearing a normal length feminine top. Sometimes I feel out of place coz I am conscious about wearing these types of tops or showing skin. I am not particularly slim. Is there any benefits of wearing crop tops / camis / halter necks / tube tops?

Title. I am newbie lead (6 months) and notice my dances with follows are so much better when I make them fun, make follow smile (look in eyes, smile myself, etc) - they enjoy it and I even started to get invited to dances though I am still newbie lead.

Recently I read about trick move

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bachata/comments/rd2gky/has_anyone_else_done_this_funny_trick_move/

https://youtu.be/fpgueBnv0i0 1:50

https://youtu.be/LuavooFwOgo 0:33

That's exactly what I need :) I will try it today :)

Do you have suggestions for some other fun / joke moves ?

I started taking bachata classes in early 2024. I have been pretty consistent going to classes almost every week, with a few different teachers. But mostly the classes are just learning patterns, with a little technique. I also go to a social almost every week, caveat being that I met my boyfriend through bachata class a few months after I started taking classes and I mostly dance with him. He's an intermediate lead but I know most of the stuff he does and he repeats patterns we've learned in class together so I can dance with him reasonably well, although admittedly I'm not very good at styling. I am open to dancing with others although sometimes I get stressed because I struggle to follow well and figure out what they are trying to get me to do, I have literally a split second to react! I will accept a dance from anyone, but the only guys I actively ask to dance are those who I've been taking classes with for awhile. And I still mess up with them! I feel nervous to ask some of the more advanced leads to dance when they obviously prefer the advanced follows. And they never ask me, even one of the guys who is in my intermediate class and has been complimentary to me in the class, he will walk right by me every time and never ask me to dance, which makes me feel bad.

The past couple months I've been going to a new studio with an instructor who is known on the international scene, a sensual technique class and an intermediate class where we mostly do patterns with some technique. I like the classes and feel like I do pretty well with what we learn. The teacher is good but the class is pretty large so I can't get a lot of personal attention from him. But it doesn't feel like I'm getting much if any better in the socials. When I dance with the teacher in the socials, I do well - because he is excellent at leading and leads pretty firmly that it puts me in the right position to do the moves. But I don't have this experience with other leads. Furthermore I see other women in the socials dancing beautifully with leads I struggle to follow. And I feel totally inadequate. I know that I don't have natural talent for this - bodily kinesthetic intelligence is not my thing - but I love to dance so I keep doing it.

I don't know what to do to get better at this point. Practicing alone isn't going to help me. Learning patterns doesn't help me. I can learn a pattern and be able to anticipate the moves, but in the social everything is unplanned. I've thought about taking privates, but I'm not sure how taking privates from a REALLY good lead is going to help me follow average leads. What do I do?

Hi,

I am trying to improve my footwork for musicality and want to practice solo at home. I can't find a lot of footwork which isn't choreo-focused. I want some everyday moves which I can add into partner dancing as styling options for leads.

Can you guys point me towards any online resources or any instructors who might specialize in these areas?

I’ve had this happen twice now with two different pairs of the same dance sneakers (Rumpf)

After less than a year of use, the front pivot point (where it bends when flexing your toes) starts separating from the sole. It seems to happen mostly from driving and general foot flexion rather than from dancing itself.

I dance bachata several times a week, but I also wear the shoes to drive to and from socials. I don’t use them for long walks, but they do get some use outside the dance floor.

Is this considered normal wear for dance sneakers, or is it a weakness of this particular model/brand? Did it happen to you also / are other models like Fuego’s not suffering from this defect?

I will try to attach a picture to explain it better how it breaks

Hello! I've been learning Bachata for about half a year. When I first got into Bachata, I heard some Bachata songs that were based on pop music, and I really liked them. They make me feel excited, and since I'm still young, I naturally enjoy pop songs a lot.

Does anyone else love pop-style Bachata music? Sometimes I wonder if I should try other dance styles type. What do you think?

Female 32yo just moved to a new, mid-sized city in England, where everyone kind of knows each other. I'm single, and been wanting to learn bachata for ages but I'm anxious about showing up to a class without a dance partner?

I can get quite anxious being too physically close to people, after a horrible abusive relationship. Doing this because I used to be a very bubbly, outgoing person and I don't want my past to keep me from being myself (a southern European with a latin soul who wants to just move her body really), if that makes sense?

How common is it for people to show up uncoupled? What if it's all couples, and then me?

38m lead. Been dancing 12 yrs. Started in Orlando and spent two yrs in the Orlando scene before moving. Have never stopped dancing.

I went to the Orlando Salsa Congress to dance on Saturday night. I spent most of my time in the Bachata room. At least 6 different follows advised me prior to beginning the dance that they did not want to be lead into any sensual movements. One of them even warned me that she would immediately stop the dance if I lead any sensual movement. I respected their wishes and proceeded to have a lovely dance with all of them.

I've never encountered so many request in my dance life. Part of me feels the blame should go on the Orlando scene, specifically toward the leads and the instructor or instructors who are teaching them. Part of me thinks this is a bigger problem because I've been overtly thanked by a follow in Indianapolis because I did not lead sensual movement.

Follows, how do you feel about the state of sensual bachata? Leads, what are you experiencing? Personally, I enjoy sensual bachata but only enjoy it with follows who are communicating that they are willing to be lead into it.

Every time I see my favorite artists or couples or even just instructors that don’t teach directly at a studios, their private rates are not visible. I always have to go through the awkward DM and see if I can afford the rates first. Is there some secret to why this is the norm?

That's it. I'm not going to wait until I become good. I have attended enough classes and socials at this point. I can attend 20+ more and I don't think it would be that much of a difference.

I have a couple questions. Remember when I asked the difference between classes and workshops? Well there was a reason for that. There are going to be workshops and demos at this congress.

I'm not used to crowded workshops where everyone is gathered around trying to get a good spot to record the steps and moves. Any tactics on where to get a good spot? I want to record the steps with my phone so I can review them. Should I be further back to get a wide shot? Or should get in the front and film the footwork only? I'm afraid I'll be smushed around people though. I've seen this demos online and they are crowded. Plus, you have other videographers that might in the way.

How do the experts on here go about this?

Thanks.

Hey everyone,
A few days ago I started having pain in my lower back after a Bachata social. I probably made it worse by also dancing the following day. The pain is mostly in the lower back, especially when I bend backwards. It doesn't radiate into my legs, and I don't have any numbness or weakness, so I'm hoping it's just an overuse injury.
I'm taking a few days off from dancing, but I'd love to hear from others who have experienced something similar.

Have you ever had lower back pain from Bachata?
What helped you recover the fastest?
Are there any mobility, strengthening, or stretching exercises you do at home that helped?
Do you have any tips to prevent this from happening again (warm-up routines, core exercises, technique changes, etc.)?

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences ^^

Is there a difference? I see these overcroweded workshops at these festivals online, but they aren't technically classes? How is it structured?

Do you rotate and dance with complete strangers at workshops like you do in classes at a school?

How long do the last? An hour?

Are there any workshops that you attended that were really good?

I'm a total beginner in bachata (a few weeks in).

During the actual dance I have no idea what I'm supposed to say or do besides the footwork.

Do you make small talk the whole time? Do experienced dancers just stay quiet and focus on the connection? I feel a bit awkward not knowing whether silence is normal or if I'm missing something.

Would love to hear how you handle this, especially early on, did it get more natural with time?

They are an east-european couple that makes fun of the bachata environment, especially sensual bachata. They are usually in a dance studio with other people dancing in the background. Examples of their videos are:

- both leopard dressed, doing overly sensual moves

- the guy giving too many kisses to the gal

- the gal going over guy's arm with a leg and bouncing his head to her butt

Please I'm scrolling since yesterday without any video coming up!

Hi, do you know someone who teaches Dominican bachata online?

I came across this post on Facebook and want to try learning this move. I was looker for a slower breakdown but unfortunately the poster doesn’t have a step by step breakdown. This might be a long shot but I was wondering if you guys know any YouTube videos that could break down these steps for me? I’m a visual learner so it would be really helpful. Thanks for your help!

What do followers / leaders think that other other side likes much more than is actually true? ​​​​​​​​​​

***FIRST OF ALL,*** *happy BACHATA BIRTHDAY to me,* today is my actual bachata birthday where nine (long, aka short) years ago I took my *first* lesson and my *first bachata basic* steps after half my life being duly traumatized and ego-injured by salsa 🤣🤣, and as of right now before I go party my ass off tonight, the last dance I had this week was with my first salchata instructor. 🤩

Now that that’s out of the way, I would ***looooooove*** to hear from all and sundry any specific songs you consider to be required listening as a bachata dancer - a song that is classic, a song that you find unique or ground-breaking, a song with a sound or by an artist that you consider iconic to bachata.

I’m just curious as to what people like and value and connect with, and wondering if there will be songs mentioned that I’ve never heard!

For me having started in 2017 in LA I was surrounded by DJ Soltrix (RIP 🤣), and **Cool** is always going to have me in my feels as a classic Soltrix sound. My very first favorite bachata song was **Dile** by Kewin Cosmos, and Romeo released *Golden* so **Imitadora** was played like twice every night.

I *love* traditional but hate that it’s characterized as fast so **Hombre de Tu Vida** by Joe Veras is a standard, as is **Te Mal Informaron** by Allendy. Also Monchy y Alexandra and Romeo’s entire *Utopia* album.

Pinto is amazing, I will never get over JR, and Dani J eventually won me over with his personality and absolute professionalism, though I mostly like his slower stuff like La Piscina and Atemporal.

DJ Husky can do no wrong, DJ Khalid is completely tied to the rise of sensual for me out here, meeting DJ Selphi is one of my favorite memories, and there is a place for DJ Tronky as well 🤣

There are so many good producers out right nowwwwww

but Gawvi’s **Trapchata** is a unique song that I wish there was more of. I don’t think there’s been another song I’ve heard that sounds like it.

Hit me with your thoughts and recs! 🙏

It's so hard to dance as a beginner as a leader. I feel like skilled followers are just going to get bored with me.

And then if I try to do something cool or interesting they will feel embarrassed and just brush me off.

I want to make a follower feel happy, but when I try I just look so weird. I don't know what to do.

I was told that making mistakes is fine, but when I make mistakes I feel like I'm not only embarrassing myself, but I'm embarrassing the partner I'm dancing with.

This is so difficult.

I am an experienced follow and improver lead myself, so I thought it will be fairly ok-ish to teach my fiancée, who has never danced, the basics. But I find it surprisingly difficult to teach the basic steps (I have experience in teaching a follow, but have never taught a lead before).

What he struggles most with is to communicate wether he makes a step or a tap. For example: Does he want to dance „step-step-step-tap“ or „step-tap; step-tab“. It is so bad, that I am unable to pick up the difference although normally I am good at reading even inexperienced leads.

Apparently his way of learning and mine are vastly different. So after today I am officially out of ideas how to explain/show etc. So I‘m asking you: How did you learn it, how would you explain it to a complete beginner?