What Is Bachata and Why Is It So Popular?

Every culture has its own groove to the beat and that is what Bachata is to the Dominicans. It's a way to express their joy, pain, and suffering. If you have been in the Latin parts of the UK and America, you would always encounter this type of dance being played in the pub or the club.

But What Exactly Is Bachata?

Bachata is the equivalent of jazz in the United States. It has its music too, the Bachata Music. The dance follows a sequence of three to the beat steps and is characterized by the tap on the fourth beat. The movement focuses on the lower half of the body: the feet, legs, and hips. It's also coupled with a smooth and graceful swaying of the hips that is very important since it is considered the soul of the dance.

When performing Bachata, aside from the movement of the feet and hips, one should bend their knees a little so the performer can sway his or her hips better. In partnering, the lead can opt to perform it in an open or closed position and hand communications (pushing and pulling) are also present. Unlike salsa, it does not have complex turns but is incorporated as the dance evolves.

Why Do People Like To Dance Bachata?

Bachata is very popular because of its easier footwork when compared to other Latin dances. The rhythm tends to be slower than salsa with fewer turns which eliminates the hassle of stepping onto your partner's toes. Thus, it's a great way for any newcomer on the dance floor to get their beat right and join in the fun of the dance. 

What you must also know is that Bachata is coined as a sensual dance because of the intense swaying of the hips and was for some time, being frowned at in its country of origin. However, as more of the population indulge themselves in dancing the Bachata, it's become a crazed dance move in the Dominican Republic and its rhythm and beats have reached across the United States and Europe.

What are the Bachata Dance Styles?

The dance has several varieties and will continue to add more to it as it evolves and grows its base around the world. But, as of late, there are four most popular forms of dance.

Dominican Bachata

This is the original Bachata danced by the people where the fluid and suave movements came from. It's characterized by a box-step and still with the graceful undulating hips.

Bachata Moderna

The modern way of dancing the Bachata is achieved by incorporating upper body movements with a more accentuated lower body styling.

Sensual Bachata

Sensual bachata uses Moderna's style of dancing with fewer turns and the movements are very much dictated by the style of music with fluid and whole-body movements.

Bachatango

As you might have guessed, this is a hybrid of Bachata and Tango. It's morse sensual and has varied elaborate styles that it has become popular with foreign instructors outside the Caribbean.

Bachata, just like many other dance routines, has come from a very simple step that's always going to evolve as its popularity rises every minute this dance is being used all around the world. It's easy and quite very expressive in its moves that people love dancing with its rhythm.