r/Bachata

Sound association might be the most underrated musicality skill in dance.

Whenever we talk about musicality, we talk about "dancing to different instruments." That's part of it. You've got to be able to hear those instruments in the first place. But the other half is knowing what to do when you hear them. Not just knowing but having something on autopilot so your body moves before you think.

That's sound association. Hear something, do something.

Practical example. Pull up Summer Love by Justin Timberlake and listen to the first 20 seconds. Boom-Boom. Clap-Ba-Boom. That's the sound. Now come up with a way to match it. For me, that's a chest pop, a pause, and shoulder isolations. For you, it might be footwork. A styling accent. Body isolations. Anything works. The point is that when you hear that rhythm, your body already knows what to do.

That specific beat is consistent throughout Summer Love, so the combo you built works in multiple spots in that one song. But music is patterns, and patterns repeat. That same rhythm shows up in other songs too. Different instruments, different chords, same underlying pattern. That's why some songs feel familiar the first time you hear them. And because the pattern repeats, the same combo works across songs.

Even better: if you miss it the first time in a song, it's probably coming back. You just have to be actively listening.

The concept applies everywhere. For Bachata, I recommend starting with the chorus or instrumental of a song. There tends to be less going on in the verses, so while you can still do this there, it will be harder and a little out of touch musically if you start going crazy. El Viejo Oeste and Vibras by Pinto Picasso are good ones for this. As is Call On Me by Johnny Sky

How to train it. Summer Love is an easy example because the beat is clear. Most songs aren't that forgiving. You need a way to separate the layers so you can actually hear what's the individual instruments and vocals.

There are a bunch of tools for this. Google around. Show Me the Counts is one. Use whatever you like. Listen once with the full mix, then once with just one instrument. Take your time. Repeat sections as many times as you need. Come up with a move. Then try a different instrument. Different section. Different song.

Hear something, do something. Play with the music.

I’m fairly new to bachata. I’ve been going to salsa/bachata socials for about a year, so I mostly picked things up from parties rather than formal classes.

A couple of months ago, a friend and I started practicing together since we don’t have a bachata instructor where we live. He’s more experienced than me (he dances salsa and has taken some bachata classes), and sometimes another friend joins us and helps us improve.

We’ve been practicing regularly, and I’ve noticed something that’s been confusing me a bit.

When we dance together, there are moments where the connection feels really strong..like everything just flows naturally: the timing, the leading/following, the energy. It feels kind of intense, and very real, in a “crush” way. I don’t have romantic feelings for him, but the connection itself feels so strong that I don’t really know how to interpret it.

Because of that, I’ve started getting in my head even before we dance sometimes. I’ll start thinking things like, “What if it doesn’t feel the same this time?” or even being aware of how it might look from the outside. And then I end up overthinking so much that I don’t fully enjoy it, or I mess up because I’m not present.

Other times, though, when I’m not in my head, it feels amazing. Like everything just clicks, and when the song ends, you wish it didn’t.

I think what’s really confusing me is that he’s my friend, and I don’t see him in a romantic way, so I don’t know how to “place” that feeling. And because I can’t label it, I feel like I end up overanalyzing it instead of just experiencing it.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is this just what a good dance connection feels like?

How do you just enjoy that moment and connection without overanalyzing it or turning it into something it’s not?

Hi everyone. I'm very new in bachata, never danced in my life and I recently turned 28, so started with 27'5 yrs xD.

Started in January 15th as leader role, with a group that had started on November, so I had to adapt, but learning basics in home and struggling in some classes was enough to get the level.

The group was Bachata 0. So, basic entry level. Right now and after 4 months with them I'm ok, so, I could dance entire songs in socials with my low level and basic steps, but not bad tbh.

My biggest problem is sometimes I collapse during some figures while learning them, I think it's called cognitive overload. Because I can't handle to move and coordinate feet, hands and signal of leader.

I wanted to give another class in my school to reinforce, in bachata 0, but there are no groups of this level, it has to be level 1, and I think I'm not at the level still.

Went to another school, and they have 0 and 0.5, the problem is: 0 is too low, and 0.5 is kind of a bit high because they started at September.

I talked about this with Chat GPT xD and told me to reinforce better with 0 and taking fundamentals.

What happened in both classes with the new school: At 0 I was almost bored and at 0.5 kind of struggled and suffered more of cognitive overload, but could follow the class until the end.

I want to know your opinion about this because what I realized at socials is that I can't guide well the most complex figures I know. So, for example simple turns and waves and basic steps it's ok, it's when I try anything more complex.

I would apprecite any reccomendation! Thanks.

Hello everyone,

I went to my first class a few days back and today i'm going for the second one, so you understand how new I am.

In the first class they explained us how to stop the follower from continuing the basic to change direction for example sith your feame by pushing her hand a bit to the opposite direction.

I'm wonderring if there is a thread here or if someone can list most of the signals a lead can give to the follower. I've seen that when the lead wants her to turn he touches her on the waist and she turns. I mean these kind of signals. Also is there any facial expressions or head movements that may help the followers that are standard or thats about connection and not rules?

I know they will teach us this in classes, but i'm watching a lot of videos and I want to look for these signals and learn them in advance.

Thank you

Thanks in advance!

hi,

I am searching for a while now for dance shoes that also look good (am lead). I think panamios also look good, but unfortunately I am in between sizes here.

I see all the people on insta dancing in nikes (eg intiatior, p-6000, or some variation) or new balance or Fila (eg Migle). I have nike initiators myself and tried dancing in them once and it was impossible because I like doing turns myself too, and they were just too sticky. I tried few of my other sneakers and with one pair I had actually okay results on a good floor but still not quite as good as my dancing shoes.

Now my question: How do you people dancing in cool sneakers do it? Especially the followers? Do you prepare the shoes in some way? Or you just found a pair that work okayish?

ps.: I know that for instance Nike Airforce or low dunks are good for dancing but I dont think they look too good 🙈

Hi

I am fully aware this might be a controversial topic but I do want to talk about it so please hear me out before judging.

I (M lead) started bachata 7-8 months ago and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE it!

Over the course of those months I got to know a lot of people, both men and women, leads and followers, that I can genuinely call friends. I think I am also quite a decent lead for my level since I get asked by followers to dance often.

Over the course of those months I have also had 2-3 "crushes" on other followers that I felt I connected really well with. I dance bachata for the love of the dance but as a single lead it is also very much preferred if I end up with a girlfriend that also dances Bachata.

Thing is that I genuinely do not know how to move past just the dancing to something more. Whether that be dating or even just something casual. I have asked someone out once and they denied, saying that I am nice and look good etc but that they are not in the headspace for anything right now. Ok no problem of course! Since then however I haven't done that anymore. Not because of fear of rejection necessarily but mainly because I do not want to be known as "that guy", possibly creep someone out and lose this amazing dancing community.

I just feel like being interested in dating someone is kinda viewed as bad? When I dance I do not see it as something sexual and as just a sensual dance but that makes it more difficult as well of course.

I guess my main question is: how do you even notice if a follower is interested in you beyond dancing? In a regular club it's easy, they dance close --> most likely interested. But here it's part of the dance and not any indicator of interest.

Please help this lead out regarding this cause I love this dance and community and it would be even better with a romantic partner to enjoy it with together.

This ended up as quite a rambling so here is a little tldr 😅:

How do you see if a follower is interested/ how did you start dating in the bachata scene without coming over as "that guy"?

I just started dancing Bachata two months ago, and I'm the youngest in this community, ppl always feel so shocked about my age.(I'm still a high schooler 😁)

In my country the average age in bachata studios are around 30up

And I’m so curious, how old did you guys start dancing?

I am from the US but originally got into dancing Salsa and later Bachata hanging out with Puerto Rican and Dominican people in my hometown. It always felt like dancing was something you do for fun when you are inspired by the music, and while there is a perception of a “good dancer” it seemed alien to judge a person’s dancing in any academic sense. It would be like saying their feet are the wrong shape or something.

I’ve since been learning both salsa and bachata in academies, and I am shocked by how different the approach is. People that didn’t grow up dancing see it almost like a martial art or something? Where you have to display certain technical mastery before you earn the right to dance in certain ways or with more “advanced” people. Reading this sub I see so much anxiety about dancing correctly or being able to achieve certain moves! I even sometimes invite friends to come dancing and they’re terrified if they can’t do all the million complicated things you see on TikTok they’re not really dancing.

I’m intermediate level bachata dancer these days and when I dance with beginners from non-bachata cultures I try to just do simple stuff, they always say “I’m so sorry, thank you for your patience” and I’m just thinking “what do you mean you’re sorry? We are just dancing together, this is for fun!”. There was a post on here about a lead walking off mid dance because the follow couldn’t do advanced moves! What!!! That is so far away from how this all started in the first place!

I actually think it’s cool that dance has become more formalized and people are innovating the limits of the art form. When I dance salsa which I am advanced academically with a really experienced follow, the feeling of exploration and connection is divine.

Most of all I think the value of learning in an academy is to do the movements safely and make sure you are never hurting somebody else.

But at the end of the day, these things began as a way to have fun, make friends, and most of all as an excuse to be together with others and enjoy life and music. And I feel that should be remembered more often.

Saw a post from years ago on this topic, interesting.

Basically. do you think that bachata / salsa pulls in people who have more avoidant personalities?

The idea is that the hobby includes getting close to someone without having actual intimacy or there is nothing to lose. like you can get the thrill, the closeness but you don't need to risk any kind of vulnerability...like perpetually single people always returning to the hobby...

could be erroneous or could it have some merit?

Hi our level 1 class graduated to level 2 today and I don't have anyone to celebrate it with so I thought I'd post it here. It's has been an amazing ride. In just 6 weeks we've learned so much. I'm just over all very proud of our little group. Bachata has made such a positive influence in my life definitely in the self esteem department. Im just having so much fun and cant wait for the next step.

For example, a loose / baggy or rather tight fit?

Classy or sports wear?

Make-Up or Natural?

Also, is this purely aesthetic preference or does it have an impact on how you move, how the connection feels etc.

Hi, y'all! I started dancing in August and among other styles, I have grown very fond of latin dancing. However, I was wondering about styling. I know one thing I can do with both my arms while free spinning, but I'd like to know more.

Hey everyone,

Like many of you, I was frustrated that our community is scattered across old Facebook groups and chaotic WhatsApp chats. When you want to dance, you shouldn't have to spend an hour scrolling through messages.

Based on the feedback I got from my last post here, I’ve completely rebuilt DanceBuddy from the ground up. It’s now live on the Play Store and also iOS, and it’s faster and cleaner than before. You can discover all dancers, chat with dancers ,look for a dance partner and also create events (Dance nights-Workshops and more) .

It is available for all dance styles (Bachata-Salsa-West Coast Swing-Swing-Tango-Kizomba)

But here’s the truth: An app without dancers is just a ghost town. I can build the house, but you guys are the heartbeat.

I’m looking for "pioneers" to help me bring this to your cities. If you’re tired of the fragmented groups, help me build this "roof" for all of us for dancers. Install it, create a profile, share in your city and let's make it the place everyone knows to check when the topic is dance.

Let’s stop searching and start dancing. Links are in Comments.

If you notice any bugs or other feauture you would like to see write a comment and I will answer all. Thank you.

Apple Store IOS : Dancebuddyy

Google Play : Dance Buddy

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