Why is Bachata so Popular?

Bachata is the second most popular Latin dance. I started dancing Salsa 13 years ago and I thought Bachata was silly. I didn’t really explore Bachata until about 5 years ago. Which just shows how silly I was. I would watch people dance close, be intimate and I believed all I needed was Salsa. I wish I could go back in time and start my Bachata journey earlier. Here are three reasons why Bachata is so popular with dancers.

Simplicity

Even if you have two left feet you can do Bachata. Unlike Salsa and many other styles of dance (except maybe Merengue), Bachata is rhythmically even in its beats. It has eight even beats – 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. There are no pauses. You move in straight lines with three steps and a tap in one direction and flow back in the opposite direction with another three steps and a tap. In fact, it is so easy that by the end of Bachata Level 1 at our studio we teach leaders how to dip a follower. Dips aren’t covered in Salsa until Level 4. The learning curve in Bachata at the beginning is much smaller compared to Salsa.

A Mini-Vacay

Bachata is like being on a beach with friends. We could all use a little more vacation time and Bachata can give that to you. When you turn on Bachata music it feels like you’re on a beach. There’s a bonfire. The sun is setting. You’re with a group of friends and you’re relaxing, you’re chilling in the warmth and glow of the fire. That’s the vibe of Bachata. Bachata is a very relaxed dance. I like to think of Bachata as a mini stay-cation. Salsa is all about speed, rushing to the next move, Bachata teaches you to slow down, be mindful of the moment you’re in now, and have fun in the process.

Tap into Your Sexy/Cool Side

I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know I had a sexy side until I explored Bachata. Leaders and followers have this sexy, cool energy about them. They drip 24k magic on the dance floor. Bachata is a dance of the heart. When you hear the music, often the singer sings about trying to win someone over. It’s about being romantic, sweet, smooth and playful. I struggled with that. I never thought I would feel sexy or cool on the dance floor. Bachata forced me out of my limited perception of myself. Bachata is all about flowing with your body, with your hips, with your hands. It’s being intimate and close with someone but also intimately connected to your own body and energy. That’s why there was this huge explosion from modern Bachata into sensual Bachata. Great Bachata dancers bring out their inner Shakira or Justin Timerlake or whoever you admire. Wouldn’t it be nice to tap into just a little of that energy?

I can keep listing many other reasons why Bachata is great but ultimately the best advice I can give is don’t make the same mistake as me. Start now! Overall, it gave me more confidence, let me relax like on vacation and allowed me to tap into my sexy side. Why wouldn’t you start? If you want to learn the Basics of Bachata, click on the link.

I can’t wait to welcome you to our big family, have you coming in week to week, having fun, connecting with new friends and letting loose to amazing Latin songs. Click here to check our current schedule.

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