Latin Motion

What is that dance?

Sometimes when Salseros (people who like to dance salsa) want a break to move to other types of music with a different rhythm, you might suddenly see them moving tightly and closely in a very provocative way.

You might even break a sweat watching this steamy dance and have to ask, “Is that salsa?!” in a very perplexed way. I’m not talking about the Cha Cha Cha which can be danced to Cuban music or Latin Pop or Rock such as Carlos Santana’s, “Oye Come Va”, it too can be very sexy, but not like this dance.
Nor is it merengue or cumbia which consists of moving from side to side, with very basic steps in an upbeat, jovial way.

What I’m talking about was once censored in its country of origin and had a very slow uprising to international status due to its lack of acceptance.

I’m talking about Bachata which sounds like the Mexican rice drink called horchata and only in recent years became popular and gained international recognition.

Bachata is a mixture of two Cuban styles, the Bolero and Son. From 1950 onward bachata had mixed with the romantic bolero, the Mexican corridor and other styles which gave birth to this new sound that identified the Dominican Republic in the same way merengue did for this region.

There are many different styles of bachata but the originated style is from the Caribbean. The dance is a four-step beat and can be performed both in open and closed position depending on the setting, mood of the partners, and how well you know the person you’re dancing with.

Or how well you want to get to know them – ha! The dance can involve dancing in place or in circles and at times complicated footwork can be integrated.

The word “Bachata” means “party” or “social gathering”. In the beginning, this music and dance was associated with parties in gardens, on terraces and streets of the gorgeous city of Santo Domingo. The festivities were carried out with or without the presence of music hence giving its more significance in that it’s more about the Caribbean way of life instead of just the music and dance. However, in its inception it wasn’t as celebrated.

It was associated as part of the poor class system and dismissed on the radio airwaves for many years. Bachata musicians had to find a way to develop their own system of producing and distributing their music. It had lost popularity in the 70’s but saw a revival in the 80’s.

The modern era of bachata was born in 1987 with the use of electrical instruments and the masterful use of the guitar. In modern day, the music is frequently faster than the older songs and is more danceable than before. You will see bachata danced in many parts of the world now, which is why Puerto Vallarta is beginning to see an emergence of this dance also.

It’s as sexy as you want to make it, but it’s also great exercise and a lot of fun just like the other Latin dances. So when you see a couple dancing really closely and have to ask in a heated state, “Is that Salsa?!” Remember it’s the dance that sounds like horchata called bachata… and then go order a real drink.

Marcella Castellanos teaches salsa at Yoga Vallarta. You can contact her via Facebook or Twitter at Latin Motion PV or at www.latinmotionpv.com or visit her blog at http://latinmotionpv.blogspot.com/.