Great video! This comes back to the fact that there is a cultural heritage behind bachata which should be respected. Ideally, it should be taught as the primary style and not put on the back end by the community. I’ve been dancing for < 3 years, and like most started with modern/sensual. While I enjoyed most of it the zouky moves kinda felt weird to me. I did traditional bachata classes as well but it was mainly syncopation and shines. It was until 1 year later at a bachata social I saw a couple that stood out to me. When other’s basic was to the side, theirs was either a box or on the spot. When others did body rolls, they were moving their hips. When others danced high they danced grounded. When others took 4 counts to turn, they took at least 1 whole bar. There were no technical patterns, just flow. I couldn’t stop watching because it was the smoothest thing I’ve seen. They don’t even play “traditional” music at that social at it was still musical. Basically while everyone was dancing bachata sensual, they were dancing bachata sensually. They taught me for half a year until they flew back home. Since then I only practice salsa on2 and Cuban, but whenever bachata plays I’m dancing Dominican. It’s a bit polarising, some follows like it, some don’t expect it and need to adjust, and the sensual ‘pros’ look kinda bored lol. There’s just not a big market for it here. Maybe if instructors taught it from the start and DJs played that music it’d be different, but there’s money to be made.

Hi Rasa! I have seen you teach in london and i have danced with you before but never knew you made tutorial videos! This is great! Just a few quick question, as i have dances exclusively on1 for over 10 years and never gave on2 a chance.. it always confused me when i tried to do the basic steps and i always gave up... but i want to learn it and watching this video you explain things very well! Is this all for the leaders timing? And also is the preparation for practically everything still on the same timing as on1? So basically the 1,2 and 3 is like the preparation time? (Hopefully this made sense!)

No!!! I'm a salsero, even though I do bachata as well. End of story 😃

this level is basic, see how luis y andrea or marco y sara dance to get a feeling of how professional dancers dance

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No make up for me either but I always have mints ❤🥰🥰

Bachata was born of a native peoples & held dear to their National identity eventually migrating to European dance schools where it was reinterpreted within the dance schools of Europe. So what we see now is a product of dance schools not a native peoples. Looks & feels ballroom. I didn't dance Bachata because of it. I was in Dominican Republic for month this year solo & within 24 hours I had lost my camera,laptop etc after jumping off a coach & leaving my 2nd bag then chased it into the city while tracking it down found myself within spitting distance of a machete fight which was quickly ended with gun-fire. Only to be reunited with my bag though a network of coach drivers for $20 which included being chaperoned part across town & placed on another coach. There after every coach or taxi the driver 'looked after me & assuring that the next drive would also'. I reached an outpost of an old friend from the early 80's he took me to a Haitian bar where the music was loud & the girls were dark. I.found a love of old Bachata music & native dancing.

Excellent

When can you move from Bachata student to a beginner bachata teacher? The reason I ask this is because I’ve noticed that there is no level 1 Bacahata classes. I see more and more gals and guys not knowing the fundamentals and just moving without really understanding the basics. Unfortunately I can’t move that well to say I could teach but I have a decent understanding of what I would consider level 1 and unfortunately no one is stepping up to the plate. It’s kinda hard to transition from what they teach to a level 1 class. I’m not interested in the money but the value of having good follows and likewise leads is more important to me. Should I do it and face judgement from my peers and possibly by teachers who know more. I’m so reluctant but at the same time I see potential people who would enjoy dancing but the gap is too wide for people who need to practice to get good or decent and stay. I’m in sort of worried that I won’t do well enough.

I find the social dance scene the most trusting place. I leave personal items I spots, shoes, my bevvie.

Beautiful Rasa. I’m Dominican and I have been dancing many different dances for years. I’m extremely happy that you made this video because some people don’t understand that we Dominican feel disrespected when they call it bachata. I wrote a very respectful comment about this topic to someone’s video and he got very angry and said I need it to get on with the modern times and embrace sensual bachata because it was here to stay. I don’t mind that they call it sensual bachata but don’t try to make us feel that if we don’t like it we are old fashioned, have some respect for our bachata. Love your videos🥰🥰🥰

Peoud to be able to call myself a bachatera, started with moderna, fusion and sensual, but now Im in love with dominican, sadly not many leaders dance that, and as the dj puts a more traditional song you can see the dancefloor is almost empty... also youre so right about sensual bachata - its not for everyone! And now its assumed that if Im at a big bachata party Ill be happy and willing to dance that by default. So sad...

I got it from my grandma ❤

Excellent!! Thank you.

There is only bachata domincana, all the rest is shit

is a chocolate chip cookie, still a cookie? If its thicker or flat, is it still a cookie, or is it no longer a cookie because it doesnt conform to a specific view? that being said, i learned traditional for my first 6 months now, when i go to a place where it is primarily sensual, its challenging to find good connection in open position sometimes. There are things they either don't remember or just don't know. There seems to be a lack of following from the ribcage..., or not understanding how to follow a traditional dancer. Its still bachata is many other senses, its just different. Much like there are 20 styles of Karate.

As always,great video and topic Rasa! This is one of the rare subscribed channels that I always check videos! Even the days when I feel down, your videos always pick me up. And I 100% agree with what have been said in this video! Please keep up with good work Rasa!🫶

Agree, and I noticed that in many countries where bachata and other Latin dances are relatively new (like post soviet spaces), they mostly teach and dance sensual which is not for everyone, for various reasons, but they call it bachata and they think this is all bachata is about, mostly ladies swinging their heads and arms around, and guys being rather forceful and dominating. I was uncomfortable with such approach to this beautiful style.

I'd like to share an idea with you regarding today's way of dancing sensual bachata. My approach involves forming hypotheses and testing them through observation and practice. Here are two key ideas I've held almost since I've started dancing: 1. A dance style is defined by its basic step and its relationship to rythmic elements in the song. In the case of Bachata that would be the three steps and a tap and its relationship with the guira and bongo. 2. Given 1, if you are not walking the dance style is not well defined. This is typically the case during during sensual moves and intro. Now, given these points I have a few interesting observations: - Sensual Bachata at some point introduced the notion of standing in place, i.e. no basic, and doing sensual moves in the middle of the song. Am I interpreting correctly? Also, is this one of the features that separates Moderna from Sensual? - Currently Zouk is bringing so many sensual moves into Bachata. Notably, these include moves where the leader walks around a stationary follower without using the basic step (which I think is what you were talking about in the video). These used to be considered Zouk fusion in the past, I believe. Are these incorporations altering what sensual bachata is or just a momentary trend?

While I share your opinion on the overuse of sensual moves, I couldn't disagree more with the semantic revision you're trying to push. Languages borrow words from one another, and the meanings of those words can change in the process. The English word for the vehicle used in medical emergencies, "ambulance," comes from the Latin word meaning "to walk." Several Slavic languages then borrowed the word from English and used it as a general term for a clinic. Similarly, the word "bachata" is used in the Dominican Republic to refer specifically to the local variant of the dance, while the rest of the world uses it as an umbrella term that encompasses Dominican bachata as well as offshoots like urban, sensual, fusion, and whatever other terms people like to apply to their interpretations of the dance. If you want to promote Dominican bachata, trying to police people's language is an exceptionally poor way to go about it. If you want to emphasize how important the Dominican style is to you, you can call yourself a Dominican bachata dancer. Saying, "Here's how you can incorporate my style into yours to improve as a dancer" is probably going to get a much more positive reaction than "You can't call yourself a bachata dancer if you don't dance like me."

Love bachata but I couldn’t dance it all night.

This is interesting, It all looks the same to me, and although I I do think every social dance style suffers this eventually, it's the price of growth. Take kiz and kizomba, kizomba ppl get mad at kiz but they are Disrespecting the authentic ppl, they know they do, Kiz and tarraxo ppl get mad and Douceur ppl for Disrespecting thier style and docure ppl probably have before with something or someone and authentic ppl are not happy if you dance with to many women sexually so everyone is not happy about something. Point is it all depends on your intentions, if you want to teach or be an ambassador of that culture shall we say then I agree with your first points especially. But if you dont want the above then I personally don't see a problem. I like fusion dances personally, that's why I'm drawn to Urban Kiz.but I can't say I care if someone calls themselves kimzombero, Bachatera or salseros I just like.have Good time and be able to express myself, so I'm selective about parties as a result.

So right rasa, If there’s no appreciation of the roots of bachata,it’s dance and importantly it’s music,it’s borderline cultural appropriation IMHO.

Great video and agree 💯. Maybe this is why when I watch sensual bachata couples I either love or dislike their dancing. I.e. I love it when their sensual bachata is a, "sensual extension", of bachata, where you can identify the bachata root. I dislike sensual bachata when it looks like a competition to, "see who can bend their body more than anyone else", dance😅. It's like , ok so someone who's triple jointed is gonna come in and vlow everyone away 😅😅 really. Sorry I respect everyone to enjoy and dance how they like but just my feelings. I like hybrid dance versions of the original root to at least have a flavour of the the original root dance because it uses the name BACHATA 😅. Btw The same point for me goes for Kiz hybrids of kizomba. I hope that Kiz doesn't become totally unrecognisable to have come from kizomba in the future, otherwise there'd be no point in calling it Kiz. Love your videos. Love to all dancers

Great video beautiful Rasa❤

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You are the only one! ❤

Wonderful elaboration! Insp!!!ration appreciation

This really helped me understand quite a lot.. I will try and start noticing these changes. Thank You! it was really helpful!!♥

I always have plasters in case I get stepped on by viscous heels 👠 😢

Rasa is that the regular size waist bag you were showing or the large? I’ve been eyeing it for a while but can’t decide which one would sit better on the waist.

Fan is always in my bag 🪭

Wonderful tips 🙂🙏

I also carry chewing gum (in case I eat), mouthwash, powder, nylon socks (to put over the shoes in case the venue does not allow powder), alcohol wipes in case I have deodorant on my shirt, 100ml of vodka, vapor pen, ear plugs, and a charger.

Where I live is very common to have a baby powder because many times the floor turns out to be not suitable for dancing

SO is this you "going to da club" bag or "attending an event/congress" bag. In my backpack I always have a spare shirt/T-shirt, deodorant spray, some plasters and a flashlight when going to da club. When I'm attending an event, add a 200ml flask of alcohol too 😃Cheers!!!

I discovered your videos and channel couple of days ago and I cannot stop watching them. You are brilliant at explaining, you transfer your positive energy to the viewers, you lift and pinpoint many important aspects of dancing techniques, you are so well-structured in your lessons, you choose the right names and expressions, you are so relaxed, you are good at what you are doing and of course many other good things to mention about you. I started dancing 10 years ago and I haven't met anyone during this time period explaining the dancing so well as you do. Thank you for sharing your joy and knowledge with us!! Big hug to you! :)

I always carry gum, a facecloth and shoe brush. Off topic, but I love your outift in this video!

First of all, I have 3 prs of shoes I my bag!!! 😅 jazz flats, dance sneakers and a pair of heels... bandages, a pair of ankle socks, talcum powder (for sticky floors), a granola bar or trail mix, and my shoe brush. 😅

Thank you Rasa

I always have Gum in my backpack, and deoderant. Never want to smell bad if you are dancing for hours and hours.

You are art, you are love ❤

Thank you

I gave up drinking a few years before taking up Salsa dancing & so it's not really complicated as water is often freely available but I quite like dancing with women that have had a couple of shots. Myself & my friends bumped not a group of Polish girls that were drinkkking & it set a wild edge 🤣 we all had great fun. I didn't want to dance outside of the group because it seemed far to tame.

One of my favorite dancers!

Whenever I have a query / topic to look at, you've done them to help, its great!

You explain so wonderfully well 🙂🙏 Thank you for sharing

This is awesome ❤

Will give it a go

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