Left to Right: Leslie Contreras, Juan Ruiz, Josie Cote, Eymar and Tessa, Zeke Ruvalcaba, Camile Yanantuono, Jo Figueroa. Sitting: Ataca and La Alemana
Not so long ago, there was an article published about the most influential Bachateros on the BachataBabe blog. It listed the top 5 Bachateros according to the author’s opinion. It caused a lot of controversy in the Bachata community, as many people around the world commented about who was their favorite Bachateros, and why some of them were not on the list.
It would be very difficult to determine a list of the most influential Bachateros in the world, and it’s probably a list that shouldn’t be created at all. Such a list would cause disagreements within the Bachata community, as instructors/promoters would want to be recognized and have their name mentioned (it is human nature to look for recognition). However, it would be good to make the world aware of ALL the Bachateros that are working for the growth of Bachata, either as an instructor, promoter, performer, etc. There are so many Bachateros in the world that we haven’t heard about, and I’m sure they are contributing greatly in their own community.
So, I want to open this article for you to comment on your favorite Bachateros. There is no right or wrong comment. The purpose of this article is to create awareness of the Bachateros working hard for Bachata! Put their name, their website (if they have one) and even a youtube video as it will be good to show their work to the world.
Looking forward to discover new Bachateros from all over the world!
PS. Let’s try to keep this discussion positive and respect each other’s opinion J
I will mention few Bachateros from the Australian community that are making an impact!
– Nestor and Katrina from Modus Vivendi: great choreos and musicality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZFcFczSPbU
– Moro and Alegria from Buena Vista: awesome Dominican Style bachata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxE6VNr34oA
– Sky Blue (Picante Dance) and Leonardo Quiroz (Bachata Inc): for pushing Bachata in Melbourne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKflQ2ztmNk
– Johan and Kari from Latin Dance Nation: your passion and dedication is inspiring!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RRQbwnHEXk
And that’s just a few, there is a lot more!
Hey Juan
I love what everyone is doing in the Bachata community. The scene is growing so fast and everyone is always filled with such positive energy. I love it.
As far as my favorite Bachateros, I will say for me it is Ataca and La Alemana. I know I may be a little biased because I currently train with them now but what honestly keeps me with them is their genuine and humble natures. They are always so full of energy and fun to be around, yet are soo patient, motivating and encouraging. They’ve helped me take my Bachata up to a higher level and continually challenge me to grow as a dancer everytime I walk through the studio doors. I thank them soo much for everything they do.
Juan, what a great article. I agree that we should be promoting the work of all bachateros around the world. Not so long ago bachata was a dance frowned upon and isolated to one beautiful little island in the caribbean. Today it is bringing joy to so many around the world through the hard work and committment of SO MANY bachateros.
I have personally been inspired by so many.
Of course, Ataca and La Alemana have taken bachata to the world with over 10 million views of their sexy ‘Extreme’ Routine, and indeed inspired us from the beginning of our bachata addiction.
http://www.islandtouchdance.com/
And lets not forget Juan himself, with Sam (and her incredible gold shorts) continue to push the boundaries of what is known as bachata, bringing a fusion of so many dance styles and expanding the potential of bachata. Bachata Moderna!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Qc_AvcqsY (personal fave)
http://www.bachateros.com.au
…and then there’s Inaki, so smooth!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1nEgns5oho
Finally, this is one of my favourite bachata performances… so much going on, so sexy… by Alma Latina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4pMMxSVbQc
As a final note, I find it is important to look to dancers of a variety of dance styles to spice up your bachata ‘performance’… performing bachata is so different to the intimate social dance we love. lets keep pushing the limits and spice it up with something new and innovative for our audiences. Just a thought…
Some very good bachateros who have influenced my own growth in bachata and who have inspired me to go to greater heights in bachata…
Inaki Fernandez, Juan Ruiz, Tony Lara, Jorge Elizondo, Captain Bachata Nestor… there are still many great names in bachata who deserves a lot of recognition for their work… Carlos Cinta, Jorge Conteras, Vince Torres, Frank Santos, Lucky Spin… am at a loss for names now. Seems like I left out the female bachateras… sorry ladies! Next update is for you!
@Hector, I totally agree with you, Ataca and La Alemana changed the history of Bachata with their beautiful routine! and not to mention the great personalities that they have.
@Jaxen, we have to start mentioning the most influential bachateras as well, we can’t forget about the ladies…
People have the right to like or prefer a certain instructor for their own reason but let me correct you about the article made by Bachatababe.
She did not mention her favourite, what she was doing was trying to say who are the Godfathers of making Bachata popular today! She went on to say she did alot of research to come to her conclusion but infact she did none and was trying to manipulate the history of how bachata became popular. So yeah a few of us stood up against her to correct it since manipulating the truth is disrespectful to those who really gave up everything to make it happen!
These are my favourite in no particular order, bachateros who dance well and are giving their life to it 100%:
Frank Santos & Alina – Estonia
Gabryel & Bergona – Spain
Korke & Judith – Spain
Inaki & Sylvia – UK/Spain
Ataca & Tanya – Tampa
Jorge & Lesley – LA
Zeke Ruvalcaba _ Chicago
Nestor & Katrina – Sydney
Leslie Contreras, huh??!!! She, uh, he, uhm…THEY’RE MY FAVORITE! BACHATA CALIENTE all the way!
dear all
im start learning and dance bachata since early this year.as an aerobic fitness instructor,the routine of bachata is good for low impact class.But there are some comments from my students say that it,s too sexy dance when it goes for coupling.so i hav to do in individual style…meeting with Juan is great for me even in short time. im willing to learn more on bachata and i wish to see more bachata instructor.I think Malaysian start to accept this dance and it becomes popular nowadays. Eventhough the muslim quiet sceptical & a bit shy….
great stuff! Thanks Juan for publishing it!
I have lots of new bachateros to follow now, can’t wait for more people to comment on it
I like the style bachata of Juan Ruiz and Jorge Elizondo. I learned a lot from them. Thank you very much
Bachatero Ngoc Nam – from Ha Noi, VN.
My Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWGaNCTd9UA
The Top 5 Names I’ve mentioned in my blog still holds true; Rodchata, Juan Ruiz, Nestor Manuelian, Gregory and Nanda, Vesa Parkkari, Tony Lara.
I’ll add BachataSouls from Lithuanuia as well.
The keyword here is “influential”, not “who started it” or “who was there first”
There will be more article written on my blog, very soon…
i just love the way BACHATA has been growing, so many styles bringing the world together sharing the same passion for BACHATA!!!!!!! so much talent out there, my favorites ATACA AND LA ALEMANA, JUAN RUIZ AND SAMANTHA AND JOSIE, ANTHONY UMINA AND MARISSA, TROY AND JORJET, JORGE AND LESLIE… there’s more people with so much talent though!!!!! BACHATA MODERNA BABY!!!! =)
i’m impressed, ngoc nam! that dance was amazing. =D two thumbs up.
the only people that you all should be thanfull about bachata is us dominican and i have not hear anyone to say so..we dominican call all your dances,,,epilectic dances attack….we do not appreciated that you are distroing our miusic. why dont you call your stuped way of dancing another name than bachata….if you want to see bachata you have to go to the dominican republic..the epilectic dance attact is no bachata….all of you keep your mouth closed if you do not know the history of bachata. the father and mther of bachata are in the dominican republic…
ataca and la alemana.you both dance salsa with a bachata miusic..that it nto bachata but because this people dont know what is bachata for them what you dances is bachata. why dont you stay with your f… salsa from puerto rico and we dominican keep our misic the way it was supost to be dances…people that do not know how to dance bachata like you say “”we cambine dominican bachata ,modern bachata,tango bachata and all the stuped name that now call our miusic…is because is more easi for you eventhough it is not the way bachata is supost to be dance..we dominican call what you dance epilectic dances attack…..
Hi Nina,
everybody is entitled to their opinion. We all Bachateros are thankful to the Dominincan Republic for creating such a beautiful rhythm. So yes, Dominincans are the number one influential bachateros. However, there is people around the world that love the music and dance and it is because of them that Bachata has become so popular worldwide.
Dear Nina,
There is no need to get personal with your comments. We all know that Bachata comes from the Dominican Republic, in fact all teachers say that. We acknowledge and thank the Dominican people for this wonderful music. I think you should acknowledge that if it were not for the people who have been mentioned in this discussion, Bachata would not be as popular around the world as it is now. The Dominican Republic and its people are now better known around the world with more people buying your music and now coming as tourists to visit your wonderful country and experience bachata as you dance it. You now have your first Bachata Festival there in 2011. All this would not have been possible without the people who fell in love with Bachata and decided to spread it around the world before the Dominicans themselves did! The different styles of Bachata taught are an expression of their creators and do not replace the original styling of the Dominicans. You will be happy to know that many people are now learning to dance like the Dominicans. In the end we all love Bachata and love being part of the worldwide Bachata dancing family!! Besos from Australia
I remember seeing this article a while back on its original posting on Bachatababes site, and it causing heated debate…
It was incorrectly (although I’m sure unintentionally), presented as a widely accepted view of who were the most influential Bachateros/Bachatera’s, in the field of dance. And both Tony Lara/Juan…correcting her, by stating it should have been present as “Her own personal view on the best Bachata Dancers” rather than a widely accepted view…
Juan: I mean this in the most respectful way possible, but your Comment regarding a list of the most influential Bachataeros: “is probably a list that shouldn’t be created at all..”
Why Not??…it would be perfectly acceptable for us to have a debate on the best Films/Music/Art/Literature….and seeing as we are all involved in the world of dance, it would be perfectly reasonable to have a discussion at some-point as to who are the leading lights in our field of dance…
It’s perfectly fine to have a conversational discussion as to who should/shouldn’t be included…as the great thing about opinions is that everyone has one, and although we may strongly agree/disagree with people, the key thing is to not be rude about it, and be respectful of other people’s opinions…(as you so rightly state)
Anyways my Choices…(if anyone cares)
Inaki Fernandez: (totally biased choice…as he teaches me Bachata….but I remember watching his performances, and thinking “I want to be able to do that”…..and even a year into him teaching me, he is still doing things in Bachata, I haven’t seen anyone else doing, and as has been the biggest inspiration to my Bachata dancing, more than anyone)
Ataca Jorgie & La Alemana (For the “Te Extrano” performance….and for inspiring probably a million dancers, with that performance)
Troy & Jorjet (for their beautiful Dominican style Bachata….that has prompted me to focus on learning Dominican style footwork and to try and include Dominican style, when I dance Bachata these days)
Tony Lara & Danielle: (Tony is such a incredibly fun, Friendly instructor…that I love attending his Central London workshops as always have a great time at them, and come away from them feeling more confident about my dancing…and his tireless promotion of Bachata, needs to be recognised)
Juan Ruiz & Sam (I wasn’t aware that Australia (*Sydney*) had a Bachata scene until I came across youtube videos of Juan…and i did more investigating….his very smooth Moderna style is widely acknowledged, but his very approachable manner, and willingness to promote the Bachata scene, is totally commendable) …..One Day I’ll get to meet him
Carlos Cinita: (His early YouTube videos, really got me into turn patterns in Bachata…and although his style seems to have changed and it’s more Dominican these days (*fine, by me*)…I used to constantly watch his videos, trying to figure out how he did those turn Patterns)
P.s. Juan, How do I go about getting one of those white “Bachateros.au” t-shirts??…..I’d love to have one, and I’d be one of the only people on the other side of the world, to be sporting one (or, are they just for students/Performers?)
Lee
xx
@Laurie – spot on, Laurie! It is because of these promoters/dancers that Bachata has become as popular as it is now. I know ALL promoters/dancers refer to the DR as the mother of Bachata. Bachata is growing, therefore it is changing and improving in its form. We have to embrace this change.
@Lee – In regards to the sentence “is probably a list that shouldn’t be created at all..” because the list will mostly be based on popularity and I know there are many instructors around the world that have touch and inspired many Bachateros. My intention with this article was to discover theses instructors/promoters that are helping to the growth of Bachata, but we haven’t heard of them yet.
Good to see the list of your most influential Bachateros! I must agree with all of them on your list.
As for the t-shirt, yes, not a problem. I’ll email you with more details!
-Juan
Hey!
My personal favourites in no particular order:
Gabriel y Begona
Daniel y Desiree
Juan Ruiz
Ataka Y La Alemana