Bachata styles. Basic Principles of Dominican Bachata

Salsa is salsa. But we must not forget about “adjacent” genres.

1. Bachata appeared in the 60s of the twentieth century in the Dominican Republic.
2. Bachatero is the name given to bachata dancers, as well as musicians who play bachata.
3. In Europe, they always play salsa at bachata parties, and bachata at salsa parties.
4. The second name for bachata is Musica del amargue (Spanish music of bitterness).
5. Bachata in the Dominican Republic originally called simple celebrations that took place under the canopy of trees on the street and in the yard. Friends, relatives, neighbors gathered. They sang and played musical instruments. The first dances, which received the same name, were danced there.
6. For a long time in the Dominican Republic, bachata was considered a “low genre,” the music of the marginalized. It was not broadcast on the radio, recorded on records or played at discos.
7. One of the reasons for this attitude was the reception doble sentido — double meaning lyrics in compositions (although it is quite often used in other genres of Latin American music).
   The technique of double meaning implies
   - replacing one word with another that sounds similar; - using words together so that when adjacent syllables are combined, other words are formed; - as well as using rhymes that prepare listeners for a shocking word, but when it comes to pronouncing the second part of the rhyme, it is used another word.
   In the history of the development of bachata, the double meaning of the texts provoked a flurry of criticism - but also made bachata more popular.
8. In the 80s, the themes of the songs also changed - they became more lyrical. Then huge amount people appreciated dance rhythm and gentle bachata melodies. Bachata music began to spread throughout the world. But the dance to it was practically invented anew in Europe.
9. Bachata music can be very different: dynamic, lyrical, or combine several moods.
10. There are usually three main subgenres of bachata — Authentic (Dominican) bachata (sometimes called bachata-traditional)- a dance variant that came from the Dominican Republic. Involves dancing most often in a closed position, moving in small steps, sometimes basic step, going back to the boléro (side, side, forward and side, side, back), as well as syncopated steps depending on the dynamics of the melody;
    
    Within Dominican bachata, in turn, up to twenty smaller styles are distinguished. Not all of them are clearly demarcated from each other. Stands out
    — bachata bolero- This is a dance in a close position. In the Dominican Republic (unlike Europe and Russia), only close people dance it.
    - bachata callejera - “cheeky option”.
    -bachatacampilla — dance of two freestylers. Leading and reporting serve only for general synchronization of the pair. — European bachata (also sometimes “Italian”) - a dance style that appeared in the 1990s in European dance schools. It is distinguished by a characteristic basic step from side to side (according to the “1, 2, 3, tap/hip” pattern). Here characteristic movements of the hips on the fourth count appeared, as well as - sometimes - numerous figures that came to bachata from ballroom dancing;
    -And Bachata fusion (also sometimes “modern”)- a dance style that developed on the basis of European bachata after 2005, incorporating elements of salsa, zouk, hip-hop and other dances.
11. In addition, the teachers’ own styles may appear as separate styles at the seminars - bachata sensual, street bachata, the variations are endless.
12. Several hybrid genres have been created based on bachata. The most popular of them are bachatango and rueda de bachata

Dance Bachata was born more than 50 years ago in the Dominican Republic. There are very few countries in the world that consider dance theirs. cultural heritage And national pride. The Dominican Republic can easily be called an exception to the rule. They were able to preserve their dance culture to this day, practically unchanged.

DominicanBachata(Dominican/Original Bachata)

This is the same style that originated in the Dominican Republic, with which Bachata began. Dominican Bachata is side steps from side to side, characterized by an abundance of complex footwork and freestyle movements. Unlike other Bachata styles, dancers constantly alternate between open and closed positions without getting carried away a large number figures with turns.

Basic principles of DOMINICAN Bachata!

BE SOFT

Real DOMINICAN Bachata - soft and relaxed. You must not pull or push your partner, use force when leading, use special steps, techniques or other unusual actions that require effort.

FOLLOW YOUR STEPS

The only way to start dancing correctly is to take small steps. If you don't "run around the dance floor" for at least 1 minute, your partner will be able to relax and allow you to dance to the end of the song without tension. ;)

KEEP THE RHYTHM

You can dance Bachata on 1, since this is how most Dominicans dance. However, many Dominicans start on the count of 2, 3, 4, and some do not even care about which foot they start dancing on. It all depends on the music. It doesn’t matter what number you start with, it’s more important to stay in the RHYTHM and be MUSICAL!

The position in a couple can be either completely open or romantic - closed. However, interaction in a couple can be very subtle - partners can only lean lightly on each other. The close position often additionally uses carefully selected, small steps, hip and upper body movements.

Attention! If you are inviting someone you don't know to dance, never start the dance in a closed position. This counts in bad taste and may be interpreted incorrectly.

The style, Dominican Bachata, includes about 20 basic dance elements. Currently, a little more than ten more have been added. Now, the Dominican Bachata style itself has been expanded, incorporating hundreds of new elements. However, in order to make these hundreds of elements so that they look natural and beautiful, you need to be a professional in your field. The dance has relatively few turns and complex knots in the hands. However, the partner’s footwork (footwork) can be quite varied.

In other words, instead of adding complex elements in dance, pay attention to style and decoration simple elements, hone your interaction as a couple.

We analyze these, and many other details of the performance of the Dominican Bachata in our classes at Expression Dance Studio!

To be frank, calling bachata Dominican is like calling butter butter. What else is it like if its country of origin is the Dominican Republic? But not everything is so simple: in the cities and towns of our vast country, as well as in most of Europe, they dance mainly the so-called European or Italian bachata. This bachata, of course, retained the main step of the original, music and rhythm, but various “things” were brought into it from the outside, for example, quite large number turns, linearity, and a completely different mood.
U European dance there are quite a lot of adherents, the dance involves close contact and does not place great demands on footwork technique, and generally does not require much skill.
Dominican bachata is unthinkable without games and flirting. Actually, the main emphasis is on the interaction between partners: he seduces, she teases. Both understand that everything is a joke, not for real, and this feeling of lightness and play ensures looseness and improvisation. The partner can demonstrate excellent footwork and bodywork techniques, performed deliberately casually and relaxed, the partner’s task is to look beautiful, feminine and seductive. But there are no limits and boundaries: if desired, the partner can easily take on the male role and compete for the title of the main one in the couple. Of course, no one will allow her to lead, but no one will forbid such innocent entertainment as challenging a partner in terms of dance technique.

This did not exist in the 19th century musical genre and a dance style such as bachata. Bachata was the name given to simple celebrations that took place under the shade of trees on the street and in the yard. It is obvious that the audience singing songs and dancing at such festivities did not belong to the cream of society. The celebrations were accompanied by music played on musical instruments such as maracas, bongos, tambourines, palitos and spoons. They danced to the rhythms of bolero and guaracha. Similar celebrations were held in Puerto Rico and Cuba, but in the Dominican Republic they eventually grew into a musical genre.
As a musical genre and dance style, bachata began to be formed based on the rhythms of bolero, guaracha and Cuban son in the 1960s of the 20th century, in parallel with active migration rural residents to the cities. The music and dance of the “lower classes” did not immediately gain recognition, but gradually spread beyond the Caribbean and conquered Europe and America. For the formation of bachata as a musical genre, as already mentioned, the rhythms of the Caribbean countries were important: Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexicans contributed. But the only people who can boast of having an established musical genre under this name are the Dominicans. Bachata is also usually called “the music of peasants”, “Music of bitterness” (obviously because the songs tell about unhappy love and other hardships in life).
The 80s of the 20th century became a turning point in the history of bachata. Before this, bachata was used in their work only by performers of the so-called “alternative music”, who performed sad songs at night parties as a kind of emotional release. Over time, musicians realized that bachata is perfect for conveying feelings such as nostalgia, melancholy and longing, and began to use its expressive side more widely.
Among popular artists Bachata songs include Raulin Rodriguez, Anthony Santos, Luis Vargas, Frank Reyes, Monchi and Alexandra, etc.

Main role In Dominican bachata, the guitar is played, or almost its Caribbean equivalent is the requinto, the difference between this instrument is its rather sharp iron sound. The technique of playing the requinto is to pluck the strings, much more energetic than on a regular guitar. A similar style of guitar playing exists in many genres of African music, which may indirectly indicate their common roots. The bongo is used as a percussion instrument in bachata. The maracas sometimes act as a second percussion instrument, although nowadays the guira is preferred.

The dance is incredibly easy to learn. It is danced in 4/4 rhythm. Typically, bachata consists of four steps from side to side, or back and forth. Actually, it has no direction of great importance. Partners should be almost close to each other. Because main goal While dance is close bodily contact, bachata is practically devoid of turns.

So, you have already discovered bachata, you like the music, you are attracted by the soft sensuality of the dance, and you want to learn more, but four steps from side to side and close contact with your partner are not enough for you, you need intrigue, play, beauty in dance, improvisation for which authentic Dominican bachata is so famous. If all this sounds like you, welcome to our classes, dance this amazingly beautiful and simple dance.

Bachata is a dance originally from the Dominican Republic, a dance of the lower classes. Bachata music is sad and mainly talks about unrequited love, although initially the music talked about sorrows and life's difficulties people of the Dominican Republic. This simple and romantic dance fell in love with the whole world and became extremely popular. And, as a result of the rapid spread throughout the world, bachata was transformed and changed, and today we have several types of bachata, or styles, as they say:

Dominican or Bachata Dominican
Classic, bachata classic
Modern, bachata-modern

Bachata Dominican is the original style of bachata, that is, this is what the unfortunate poor people of the Dominican Republic danced in order to somehow diversify their hopeless life. Dominican music is quite fast, a lot percussion instruments, and the dance is characterized by a lot of footwork. There are not very many rotations here, and there are practically no supports at all, the main thing is very fast movements of the legs (this is the notorious footwork).

Video example:

Bachata classic, by general opinion, is a Europeanized version of the Dominican Republic. In classical bachata there is not so much footwork, the music is slower and more romantic. Very often a closed position is used, in which the partners' torsos and thighs are almost completely in contact. In addition to the closed position, various rotations and supports are often used.

Video example:

Modern style. There is a lot to talk about this style! But in short, this style differs from the classics only in that the dance contains the basis of another dance, i.e. elements inherent in others are added to bachata dance styles. The most interesting are:
- bachatango, here, of course, bachata was crossed with tango.
- crunkchata, but here it combines bachata, reggaeton, hip-hop and R&B. The creators of the style are considered to be Jorge Ataka and Le Alemana, quite famous instructors in the salsa and bachata world.
Passionate fans also highlight bachata-fusion, bachata-urbana, bachasutra and others, but, in our opinion, they differ too little from the main styles and do not deserve to be singled out as a separate subtype of this wonderful dance!

In Moscow, and throughout Russia, at the moment the most popular style is a classic. In the salsa world, bachata is a kind of slow dance, and usually at discos it is danced with those people who are very nice. The Dominican style has just begun its development in Moscow, and is not yet very popular due to the slightly different purpose of the dance. Dominican Bachata is flirting, flirting between partners, “look at what I am like,” and classic is “another level of relationship,” tender hugs and romance.

Usually, beginners who have just come to the salsa world are very interested in bachata, since this dance is much simpler than salsa, and provides the opportunity for close contact with the opposite sex. However, over time, the wild interest in bachata wanes, precisely because the dance is quite easy to learn.

In order to dance bachata, you do not need to have special choreographic training; it is simple and beautiful dance Anyone can master it with ease! To learn to dance bachata, you don't need a regular partner. Like all social dances, bachata is based on leading from the partner and following from the partner, which is why it can be danced with any partner!