How to be a Bachata Dancer

Start taking Bachata lessons. I know it seems obvious but it is true. Bachata is easy to learn. It’s eight beats – three steps and a tap. But if you’re reading this you’re probably an absolute beginner, which means you haven’t even started yet. Maybe you haven’t even stepped on a dance floor. But you’ve seen Bachata – maybe while at a resort when you were travelling and you thought I want to be a part of this world! Why not? Come and join us! Here is some advice as you dip your toes into the world of dance and learn how to be a Bachata Dancer.

Pick the Right School for Learning Bachata

The first decision you need to make is which type of Bachata you want to learn. You can learn Dominican Bachata, Modern Bachata, and Sensual Bachata among others. But I want to make it as simple as possible, so I suggest you start with Modern Bachata. Modern Bachata is the most popular around the world. It’s the one that is done in nightclubs and is a great base for any dancer. No matter where you go in the world, if you know Modern Bachata steps, you’ll fit right in.

At Toronto Dance Salsa, we have nine-week courses and occasionally offer four-week courses condensed courses. Make sure that when you’re picking a school it is a school where you can come in on a week-to-week basis, and you’re learning from a curriculum. It’s really hard to learn if you’re coming into random nights where sometimes you have too many men or too many women and numbers aren’t balanced and the material isn’t consistent.

Think of it this way, imagine I give you an algebra textbook. And then I tell you to do chapter 3, then do chapter 1, then do chapter 7. I’m pretty sure you would be confused and lost. Dance is the same. At Toronto Dance Salsa we go chapter by chapter to help you build confidence. So pick a school that has consistent classes, instructors and classmates to help you become a Bachata Dancer.

Dancing Bachata is Fun – Let That Be Your Expectation

The best expectation to set is, I’m here to have fun and connect with my partner. Whether you’re coming in as a couple or as a single dancer, you will meet some new, cool people.

I think the biggest mistake I made when I joined the school was that I put a lot of pressure on myself. I thought I had to nail down the moves. When I started to dance I had two left feet and every time I would mess up, I would feel embarrassed. But really, no one at Toronto Dance Salsa ever made me feel bad about myself. Everyone cheered me on and I always cheered others on but I was always so much harder on myself.

So I always tell my students to come in with a smile. There’s no special dress code. You’re there to have fun. You’re there to connect. You’re there to experience the best hour of your week and in the process, you’ll learn to dance. Remember that you’re not in a race against your classmates. Some people will learn faster. Some people will learn slower. And you want to know a secret? When I started, I was the worst student and the slowest learner in every class and yet now I run Canada’s largest Salsa dance school! So I always say if I can do it, anyone can. It all came from love -love for the dance, love for the music, love for the people. So let yourself enjoy the experience and you will become a Bachata Dancer.

Start Becoming A Bachata Dancer Now!

Have you ever heard the phrase “paralysis by analysis”? We all tend to do this at times. So don’t worry about how you will look or what will happen – just start dancing! What’s the worst that could happen? You meet some great new people and learn some Bachata along the way. You can’t lose by learning Bachata.

 Start dancing by joining a school this week, even better today and even better right now! Whether it is at Toronto Dance Salsa or any other school, momentum is everything because you can’t tell if something is right, until you start it, until you do it. So I want to encourage you. Dance has helped me. It has helped me find a family, has helped me find confidence in myself that I never knew I had. Dance changed my life. It saved my life. But it’s hard to explain until you try. So start dancing, become a Bachata dancer and learn what dance can do for you.

I can’t wait to welcome you to our big family, have you come in week-to-week, have fun, connect with new friends and let loose to amazing Latin songs. Click here to check our current schedule.

If you have any questions you would like me to answer here are some ways you can contact me: message me on Instagram (torontodanceSalsa), on Twitter (#torontodanceSalsa), on Facebook (Toronto Dance Salsa) or email me at [email protected].