Over the last 5 years of so Bachateros and Bachateras all over the world have been the beneficiaries of one of the most rapid and diverse explosions of Bachata stylistic options and Bachata talent that’s ever hit the social dance scene. It was only a handful of years ago that Bachata was ‘that other Latin dance’ taught in studio that made most of their money from Salsa. It was all taught the same way and only few hard-core Bachata traditionalists believed in Bachata as its own dance style.
The Bachata market started to grow because the market was ready for an alternative to overly commercialized sales that dominated the social Latin dance scene. Myself and a handful of other Bachata innovators knew that Bachata’s ‘day’ had arrived and people were ready for Bachata dedicated instructors and instruction (Lots of credit goes to Jorge Elizondo and Tony Lara for being the first ones in the industry).
It is during this time that various instructors from all over the world came up with some unique styles of their own. Some people from the ‘old school’ felt our styles were a bit controversial, and that we were deviating from the roots; but at the same time, a lot of people like them because it brought variety to their dance. If everybody liked the same thing the world would be a pretty dull place, wouldn’t it?
My point in this post is just to encourage everybody to keep experimenting and trying to develop a unique style of your own (as long as you don’t forget the traditional scene of Bachata, of course!). Just as our Bachata Moderna is a little of ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ (as the saying goes)……I think that’s what any art form should be.
My vision for Bachata Moderna has always been for it to be something that lives and grows and has room for continued diversity and experimentation. I was inspired by Inaki’s crosses – Bachata Moderna beginnings, and then I came up with new fundamentals on my own (quick step back, about turn, exits and more). I certainly think there’s a lot more that I can do, and I actually hope it doesn’t look the same a few years from now.
For Bachata Moderna, I hope it will be a catalyst for my students to grow as Bachateros and Bachateras themselves. I think the worst thing that can happen is that my students look to me for 100% of their inspiration. If you’re a Bachatero or Bachatera I think you should always be ‘pushing the envelope’ and trying new stuff yourself.
Just as Bachata has become a passion that guides my daily life, and enriches my friends and students, I hope it will be for you guys as well. So, lets get out there, and lets continue pushing the envelope!
Hi Juan:
Enjoyed your post and I certainly agree with everything you said. I’m still hoping since I’m just a little bit north of you up here in Manila I can get down there ‘down under’ to visit you. They don’t play much Bachata here in Manila.
Regards,
Art
Nice pledge for keeping the bachata flame going!
As always, Juan. you are an inspiration for all of us!
“Some people from the ‘old school’ felt our styles were a bit controversial, and that we were deviating from the roots;”
I keep saying it but you seem not to listen, the problem with your dancing and most people is that the essence of the dance is lost cause you are trying to do certain steps that does not goes with the rhythm and the flow of the dance. Walking thru the dance floor looking that there is something stuck in your @$$ is not the essence of our dance.
…Nice Article (as always)
Juan…what is the future/Importance for a Bachatero evolving??…
Obviously you reach a point where you’re confidently leading the moves you know, and feeling/Interpreting the music to advanced level. But where does one go from there?…
Me…??
As I’ve Primarily learned the ‘Moderna’ styles…which fuses other dances…. I’ve recently been incorporating a bit more of Tango movement (and footwork) into my Bachata dancing…along with some Kizomba movement (when very close)….and moving between Italian / Spanish / Dominican styles in the course of one Song…
The girls I’m dancing seem to really enjoy it…as I’m constantly pushing/Challenging what they can expect from a Bachata dance. As opposed to a lot of the ‘Closed hold – on the spot’ dancing…that I tend to see
Dominican style…is really starting to take hold of me at the moment (shame, so few girls over here can dance it…but when they can…Wow!!)…but Carlos I agree with you, alot of Domincan style really involves feeling the rhythm/Tempo….and (for me) dancing on the different instruments. And maybe I’m missing the essence of the dance…but that music just does something to me that the other latin dances I do…just cant quite match
Lee 🙂
xx
AVENTURA experienced the same when they released their Bachatas. They were told they were not the real exponents of the genre, however, it is thanks to them that Bachata became a worldwide music phenomenon.
I’m confident with what I do, and what I represent. I’ve taken a lot of criticism because of my Moderna style, but at the same time, I have receive a lot of praise for my work (including artists that are releasing new Bachatas).
Hence the point of this article, I don’t want people to just follow others, I want people to create their dance style. LEE, if for your, incorporating a bit of Tango & Kizomba in your Bachata feels good, and for your partner as well.. AWESOME! I encourage you to keep doing it!
First of all, I enjoy reading this article and seeing how everyone is enjoying Bachata in there very own unique way. My mission to spread Bachata started in Dec 2005 and I been sharing my vision and passion with the world. I encourage everyone to feel and express their emotion without boundaries. I have fused Salsa, Tango, Cha Cha and Merengue into my Bachata and I continue to adapt my style to the way that make me feel great and surprises my dance partner.
Juan, I would like to share with you some history you may not be aware of about the roots of Bachata Moderna share with me by Pablo Vilches (Salsa & Bachata Promoter in Madrid). Pablo shared with me the beginning of Bachata “Estilo Madrid” now called Bachata Moderna around the world. Estilo Madrid was developed by two girls who use to teach at Pablo’s club called Cats. He remember these two girls being board with Salsa and bachata basic and they started to fool around with some tango steps. They develop the basic step for Estilo Madrid in 1999. We have video of them teaching Estilo Madrid in Cats in 2005. He also states, that Inaki was known to dance at Cats and take the lessons with these two ladies. Inaki then moved and was showcasing Estilo Madrid to England. Inaki did an amazing job showing the Bachata style “Estilo Madrid” to world and inspired dancers like yourself to continue building on the style.
I would suggest you contact Pablo Vilches and talk to him to learn more about the roots of your Bachata Moderna. I love the Estilo Madrid, so many amazing figures and tango movement incorporated into the dance. I loved it so much that I featured this unique style for the first time in my Dallas Bachata Festival 2011 along with Kizomba.
I also recorded Pablo speaking about this history so I could share it with you. Please email me and I will send you the video.
Jorge
Hola Jorge!
thanks for the info about “Estilo Madrid” bachata. I’m aware of it, as I got the inspiration for Bachata Moderna when I saw Inaki doing the crosses. HOWEVER, Bachata Moderna is more than just the crosses, Bachata Moderna is a series of new fundamentals that were created, in addition to the crosses.
The only thing that I borrowed from “Estilo Madrid” was the Crosses on 1, on 2, and on 3. Fundamentals such as “Quick Step Back”, “Exits”, “About Turns”, “Forward and Back” (and more) are other core elements of the Moderna Style.
You can see it from my videos on youtube, I always type the fundamentals used in it. I’ll try to contact Pablo, but please pass on this information to him, so he knows the difference between both styles
Regards,
Hello Bachateros,
I just read a that and I get really surprise.. I’m sorry Jorge but that is not full truth of it…
That two girls are call Isa and Ade… and both of them were my dancers in that days… Isa was my Salsa dancer and Ade was my bachata dance parter and left Madrid in 2002 to Tenerife and 2003 to London then is impossible that version..
I will speak with Pablo the one that didn’t dance when I started long ago and I will explain everything to him.. actually the cross step or style madrid coming from a old dominican step… Next time please as the one that create and promote the bachata moderna and as Juan say is not just about crosses Madrid style…. I just get back from Spain a week ago and the fundamental that ISA, ADE and me were dancing is lossing more and more …. now is full of lifts and Tango.. something that I never did..! (Check the last Spanish competition 2011, you will see that is not what I teach around)
Un Abrazo…
Thanks for clearing that up, Inaki. As instructors (and instructors that travel the world), it is very hard to document our work, specially the origins of our work. I’m glad that you contributed with your side of the story here. As I always said, you were my inspiration for Bachata Moderna.
Hey Juan and Inaki,
I was happy to read your messages. I am always interested to hear how things develop. Inaki,I shared the story as I was told. Sorry I was not correct in the details. Juan, I know how hard you have worked to develop your own unique style of Bachata Moderna. I am really proud of the hard work you do with developing your own style, sharing it and building a Bachata community in Australia and all over the world that can embrace it.
I do admire how every one of us has our own unique style of Bachata and how we continue to develop the dance. I think Bachata dance and its music inspires us to challenges ourselves to be more expressive and creative. I have seen Bachata change a lot over the past 6 years. Every Country has their unique way of dancing. I agree Spain has changed a lot in the past 3 years. I am always keeping my eyes open for the next big change and development. I think that is what makes Bachata so great. We all as instructors and Promoters, have embraced the idea of diversity in the dance and we welcome change.
Interesting point you make Jorge about keeping your eyes open for Change and Development….as here in the U.K. Bachata (well, for London at least) has really grown…
There are a fair few places teaching Bachata now….with a couple of Bachata-only nights, doing some pretty good Business. If you know where to go…you can pretty much dance Bachata on most days of the week…
Which is a massive change from when I started Bachata…and it was the occasional Bachata song in amongst the 10 Salsa songs before it, and a 4min break for the salsa crowd to go to the bar and get a drink…
For the last year or two has really seen the Sensual Bachata help make Bachata’s appeal more popular, with many many workshops devoted to this particular style….but (thankfully?), there seems to be people that have exhausted that sytle, or fancy a change….so very slowly Dominican-style is starting to make in-roads into lessons….
I’m a bit dubious about the actual quality of Dominican style that’s actual being taught, but it’s better than students not learning it at all, right??
…Still no Spainish-style really being taught, I guess that left the U.K. when Inaki went 🙁
Lee
xx