One of the Most Sensual Dances in the World
Bachata – a dance full of sensual movements, rousing beats and romantic lyrics. Although it has been part of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage since 2019, it is not one of the best-known Latin American dances. In Germany, it is still bit of a niche.tip
What comes to mind when you think of couple dances? In this country, probably the dance school classics: viennese waltz, disco fox, perhaps also Latin American dances such as salsa, tango and cha-cha-cha. Bachata is probably the least likely to come to mind. Yet this dance from the Caribbean not only has just as interesting a history as its better-known siblings, but is also becoming increasingly popular.
In the dance, the leader and the follower look for each other as soon as their hands lose contact.
Bachata music originated in the rural areas of the Dominican Republic. Today, it is widespread and popular in Latin American communities all over the world. In addition to bachata music, there is also the bachata dance, which came later. It is a couple’s dance in 4/4 time.
The romantic elements are a characteristic part of bachata - as in this step, in which the follower leans against the leader.
Bachata music is traditionally played on acoustic guitars accompanied by percussion instruments such as bongos or guira. Over time, other Latin American styles such as merengue were integrated into bachata. The rhythms became faster and more danceable.
Bachata has been experiencing a real boom since the beginning of the 2000s. Modern interpretations make use of electric guitars and synthetic beats and mix traditional elements with pop and R&B music. Bachata is still characterized by romantic, melancholic or sentimental lyrics, which are mainly dedicated to one-sided love and other life problems.
Originally from Africa, the term “bachata” referred to backyard parties in the countryside. Initially danced mainly by the working class, the dance was long associated with poverty and crime. It was not until the 1970s that bachata became part of the rich tradition of Latin American forms of expression and thus became accessible to a wider public. The musician Juan Luis Guerra, whose bachata album was awarded a Grammy in 1992, also contributed to this change in image.
The extended movement of the hands complements the basic step of bachata.
The basic step of bachata is characterized by repetitive movements to the left and right, which change direction after every 4/4 beat. The dance is characterized by the close posture and connection between the dance partners. Like the related dances merengue and salsa, bachata is not a standardized dance. Movements and figures can vary. This type of dance is widespread in Latin America and in most Latin American communities in the United States.
The beginning of the 2000s had a major influence on the development of bachata. Like the associated music, the dance also broke away from tradition and opened up to modern elements. This led to the development of the Bachata Sensual style, which is based on the basic step of the bachata dance. It is characterized by an individual interpretation of the music, a wide variety of figures and show elements. A bachata World Championship has been held since 2005. Bachata festivals are held in various German cities, for example in Hamburg and in Stuttgart . The dance is also becoming increasingly popular at tournaments.
Bachata is a sensual dance. However, the closeness of the dancers to each other can vary depending on the culture.
Despite modern interpretations, one element has been preserved: Bachata is considered one of the most sensual dances in the world. However, there are now also regional differences in the dance culture. While the Caribbean variants are danced very close and hip-emphasized, in Europe a little more body distance is common.
Im Bachata sind Musik und Tanz eng miteinander verbunden.
Both bachata music and the bachata dance were added to the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list in 2019 Bachata is considered typical of Caribbean culture and shows the importance of music and dance in Latin American culture.
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Joel Churquina
Joel Churquina was born in Bolivia in 1995. Even as a child, he wanted to do “something with media”. After a radio internship at the Xperticia station in La Paz, Bolivia, this desire became more concrete. At the same time, he realized that he was passionate about languages of all kinds – he was particularly fond of German. So he decided to pack his bags and emigrate to Germany. Here, he wants to study the language and culture even more intensively. His next goal? To become a professional in intercultural communication!