Last year, May 2011, Bachateros released a Worldwide Bachata Survey. The aim of this survey was to better understand the Bachata community and its members. The survey focused on 3 main topics:

1. Bachata history
2. Bachata music
3. Bachata dancing

There were a total of 346 responses from all over the world.  I’m happy with this number of respondents, as it was the first time something like this was ever attempted! So I believe it is an accomplishment by itself.

This was an unbiased exercise. The results of the survey are displayed below for everybody to see, as in contains very interesting information useful not only for Bachata singers and instructors, but for anybody that works and promotes the Bachata scene.

If you want a copy of the data collected, please contact me directly.

The major highlights are:

1.    93% of the respondents know that Bachata is from the Dominican Republic! And around 40% of the responded said that they confidently know the history of Bachata.

You might think this is a no-brainer, but there are still people there that don’t know much about the history of Bachata. So lets make sure everybody knows things like this

2.    Urban Latin Bachata (ie. Aventura, Xtreme, etc) is more popular than Dominican Style Bachata (ie. Luis Vargas, Frank Reyes, etc)

Urban Latin Bachata obtained 67% of popularity from the total number of respondents compared to the 40% of popularity that Dominican Bachata got.

This is not a surprised, as majority of people are introduced to Bachata music by the Urban Latin bands, as their music is played more in nightclubs and radios worldwide.

3.    Respondents relate Bachata music to “romantics times with partner” and “dancing and hanging out with friends” (56% and 50% respectively) instead of referring Bachata as a bittersweet music.

When Bachata started (back in the 50’s and 60’s), Bachata was considered a bittersweet music, as it sang about broken love, money problems and other life struggles. Nowadays, this conception has changed completely, and majority of the people relate Bachata to positive feelings.

4.    Word of mouth and free downloads are the most popular ways people get Bachata music

Only 16% of respondents said that they buy Bachata music CDs. Due to today’s social media trends and the easy way to share music, it is not surprising this low number of CD’s buyers. Artists need to think on different ways to distribute music (i.e. giving away free samples) to gain exposure, or sponsor Bachata dancers, allowing them to legally use their music for their shows.

Also, Bachata singers should consider different and more engaging type of live shows, as that will be the major differentiator between them.

5.    Majority of respondents said that they know how to dance Bachata Traditional and Bachata Moderna (both got 76%), compared to the 59% that said they are know Dominican Bachata.

Again, it shows the influence of the Urban Latin Bachata music, as people are introduced to Bachata through these artists, people learn the Traditional and Moderna style before they learn Dominican style. Think of Usher doing traditional Bachata steps at the Latin Grammys!

However, Dominican style is rapidly becoming one of the most common styles nowadays.

6.    Bachata classes are the number one option for people to learn Bachata.

67% of respondents said they took classes to learn Bachata, however, 45% were self-taught.  (Keep in mind; respondents could select various options in this question).

As an instructor, I am happy with the numbers here as it shows that people are giving Bachata the respect that is needed and that they want to learn the proper basics; as on previous years, Bachata was seen as a second class dance, meaning that you could learn the steps on the dance floor and forget about taking classes.

7.    People prefer experimenting and creating new moves with their dance partner instead of purchasing Bachata DVDs.

Only 15% of respondents said they watch Bachata DVDs in order to learn new moves compared to the 38% that learn new moves by watching videos on YouTube, Facebook and other sites. 61% said they create new moves with their dance partner.

This is not a surprise; once again we see the strong influence of social media here. As instructors, we need to use social media to reach a larger numbers, and the instructional DVDs should contain material that could be shared online, or use a hybrid type of online and video instruction.

FAVORITE BACHATA BANDS (TAG CLOUD)

FAVORITE BACHATA INSTRUCTORS (TAG CLOUD)

These are just the major insights of the data collected; I do recommend that you should look at the answers as you might find other insights as well.

Feel free to comment on this survey, and also, please share these results with the Bachata community, as the more we know about our community, the more we can help it grow.

Regards,

-Juan

SURVEY RESULTS

NEW BACHATEROS CHOREOGRAPHIES

After 4 successful years The Sydney International Bachata Festival looks forward to inspiring you with more Bachata love in 2012, at the 5^th Annual event!

Get ready for 3 days of awesome workshops & 4 nights of prestigious parties, world-class performances & an urban Bachata concert!

Back by popular demand we are bringing you International dancers ATACA Y LA ALEMANA plus for the Dominican Bachata fanatics TROY & JORGET!
Also, live in concert for the first time in Australia, famous Bachata singer DOMINIC MARTE all the way from New York. It certainly is going to be one of the best Bachata Festivals yet!

The festival focuses on celebrating Bachata, a sexy & sensual partner dance from the Dominican Republic. It also includes other popular Latin rhythms like Salsa, Merengue, Zouk, Kizomba & Reggaeton.

With more then 40 workshops for beginners to advanced dancers, there is something for everyone. Soak up new dance knowledge at the workshops & master classes, dance to your hearts content at the great Parties & be awe inspired by the amazing performances!

The festival will be held at the Roundhouse, UNSW, a spacious & well-equipped venue with great space for workshops & parties. An awesome production set up & a nice out door terrace area perfect for socializing or sampling Latin American food & products.

International & National guests gather every year to experience & share their love for Bachata & have fun with friends.

See you all at the Bachata Festival in beautiful Sydney, Australia!

-The SIBF Team

I started my professional Bachata career 4 years ago. Even though I was teaching Bachata before, it is not until 2008 that I decided to push it as far as I can. Now, 2011 is coming to an end, and as every year, I like to look back and remember the year’s accomplishments, wonderful memories, be grateful for what has been achieved and plan for the next year, 2012!

The best reward for 2011 is that I have met so many Bachateros all over the world! In every country that I taught Bachata – New Caledonia, Holland, France, Singapore, USA – I was welcomed by wonderful Bachateros that were eager to learn, dance and enjoy themselves! In my homeland, Australia, I was a judge for the NSW, ACT, VIC and National Bachata Championships (4 competitions). I also had the opportunity to be part of the first Bachata dedicated events in Perth, Coffs Harbour and Tasmania, and kicking-off the Bachata revolution there!

Also, for this year, Bachateros finally had a home: TROPICAL SOUL Dance Studio! In April 2011, together with my partner Josie, we opened our dream, our own dance studio! At Tropical Soul, Bachateros has grown even stronger and faster. We have 2 teams full of dedicated Bachateros! I love the Bachateros teams!

The Bachateros website continues to grow and generate more traffic, we’ve had visits from all over the world! We have 51 Bachata songs on the Download section for free, and close to 400 Bachata posts and 300+ comments! The website accomplished all that even though we were under the Australian domain name (Bachateros.com.au). Imagine what will happen if we go with the International domain name (Bachateros.com)?!

The Bachateros brand also grew online. We doubled up on the number of Bachata Moderna fans on Facebook (close to 2000 fans) and on our twitter account (600+ followers), and we finally passed the 1000 subscribers on our Youtube Bachata channel!

So, the question I ask myself every year is: What’s next for 2012?

• The famous Sydney International Bachata Festival will continue to lead the way (have you checked out the website? It’s going to be an awesome event!)
• Bachata Moderna DVDs Volume 4 and 5. Yes, thanks to popular demand, they are coming soon!
• New choreographies for the Bachateros team that will be showcased at the Tropical Gala Parties, the SIBF and the Byron Latin Fiesta.
• More travels to teach and promote Bachata all over Australia and the world.

I feel privileged and grateful that God has put me in this wonderful path. The lovely dance of Bachata has definitely changed and improved my life, and I hope I’ve been able to do the same for all my students.  2011 has been a wonderful year! So I raise my glass…. Here’s to a great year with Bachateros!

- Juan Ruiz

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!

Bachata – Bachata Moderna Footwork and Combo

Bachata Moderna performance 2011

On the 22^nd of October, 2011, Australia crowned its new AUSTRALIA BACHATA CHAMPION! This yes, it was no other than the very famous Oliver Pineda, with dance partner Vali Damaskou. We sat with Oli and chatted about his winning choreography and his views in Bachata. Enjoy!

BACHATEROS: Oliver, you are a very influential and respected person in the Salsa world. Tell us, what inspired to you take on the Australia Bachata Competition?

OLIVER: with the return of Vali from her Europe tour, I became inspired to challenge myself & do something different. I really enjoying debuting Zouk with Vali at HQ & Brazil Central so the Australian Bachata Championships seemed like the next logical challenge . Vali is also a very versatile dancer, hence giving me the opportunity to explore other avenues. But don’t worry, this is just the beginning.

BACHATEROS: The connection that you and Vali on the dance floor, was incredible. How did you guys’ train and what did you focus on, on this competition to make sure that your Bachata look amazing?

OLIVER: although we are quite competent at Bachata, we both have neither performed and competed in Bachata. Having 40 years of dance experience between the two of us however helps, no matter what style we are executing. It is because of this experience that our rehearsal schedules are not very intense. In terms of connection, well that is something that just comes naturally

BACHATEROS – Naturally you guys had a great connection, indeed Any funny anecdotes to share whilst choreographing the winning routine?

OLIVER: No funny anecdotes, just a couple of disagreements along the way , after all, being familiar & comfortable with your partner does come with it’s ups & downs & pro’s & con’s

BACHATEROS – As the Bachata Champions, how do you see Bachata in Australia? and in the world?

OLIVER: Australians in general could always focus more on the ‘flavour’ of each dance & less on the actual patterns as they so often get caught up in. The flavour or as we say, Sabor is the essence of the dance & represents the feeling one should encompass to truly understand & interpret the style properly, whatever style that may be. Bachata is no exception. Don’t get me wrong; Australia in general has a very high level of dance, as we by nature are quite the perfectionist, competitive type of people, just not a high level of Flavour or Sabor that’s all. However coming from a country where dance is not part of our culture, that’s not surprising!! I therefor believe that it is the responsibility of the instructors to implement this focal point back into teaching, as students will only replicate what they’re taught.

BACHATEROS – As you mentioned before, this is just the beginning of Oliver and Vali in the Bachata world. Can you tell us what else can we expect from you guys?

OLIVER: Well right now we are happy with our Australian title. Other than that, our next natural progression would be competing at an international level which is very much on the cards. We will obviously continue teaching & performing bachata worldwide as well & come up with new choreographies in the future.

BACHATEROS: WOAH! It will be great if you compete internationally in Bachata! With your experience, what is your advice for the Bachateros our there?

OLIVER:  My advice would be to learn dance, have fun and get out there! Get out of your comfort zones, meet new people and enjoy the ride But beware, you WILL become addicted! 

BACHATEROS: How can people contact you and learn from you guys?

OLIVER: Latin Motion; the school of the 5 time World Salsa Champions specialises in Salsa, Zouk & Bachata and offers other great styles such as Samba & Zumba as well! Classes for ALL AGES in ALL LEVELS in 4 venues to choose from!

Latin Motion Dance Academy
9557 7751
info@latinmotion.com.au
www.latinmotion.com.au

Hope to see you dancing real soon

YouTube was a key contributor to the popularization of Bachata back in mid 2000s. Whilst there were artist teaching Bachata in early 2000’s, it is not until the mid 2000’s that Bachata started to become a worldwide phenomenon.

YouTube has helped many instructors reach new audiences, far beyond to where the artists could imagine (including myself for this case).

The list below is not necessary by the number of views or popularity, but instead, they have been organized by the impact they had in the dance community. (Please note that all videos in this list have been posted around 2006 – 2008)

TOP 7 BACHATA VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE – And why they are important

7. Bachata By Susana Montero – Very sexy

Video uploaded in Oct 2006. This video showed a different way of dancing Bachata, as the dancers Inaki Fernandez and Susana Montero were using crosses and other steps, creating a different dynamic on the dance (creating the fundamentals of the Bachata Moderna style). This video also introduced us to the new genre of Bachata music, Spanish Pop music turned into Bachata (ie. Lamento Boliviano – Bachata version). It was a very popular video back in 2006, but when the Dominincan style started to become popular, this video lost its popularity.

6. Milton Rodas – Sensual Bachata

Video uploaded on Jan 2006. Honestly, this video is not a great example of Bachata, as it doesn’t show the true flavour of Bachata, however, it was important because it demonstrated that Bachata was becoming a legitimate dance recognized by international dance organization, especially the Ballroom organizations.

5. Bachata Dance

Video uploaded on Jan 2006. One of the first Bachata videos out there. This video showed the traditional style Bachata, with emphasis on close connection, hip rotations and lots of hips movements. Believe or not, that is how most of the people started dancing Bachata back in the 2000s!

I don’t know who are the dancers on this video, or where the video is from. If some of you guys know, please let me know. Finally I know, the dancer in this video is Diego Sanchez, from Grupo America, a company based in Vancouver, Canada.

4. Carlos Cinta – Bachata

This video was posted in Jan 2007. A very popular Bachata video even to this date because it showed that traditional Bachata could incorporate intricate combinations besides the close connection and body movement that everybody was used to.

3. Sensual Bachata

Video uploaded on Aug 2006… This was one of the first Bachata performance videos out there – performed by Cristian Sola and Jackie Rozzo.  This video carried the true flavour of the Bachata traditional style, with emphasis on close connections and romantic moves with your partner.

2. Bachata Dominican Style – Troy & Jorjet

Video uploaded on Nov 2006. Troy and Jorjet became worldwide Dominican Style Bachata ambassadors when they started posting their Bachata videos online (we all remember the Barbershop Bachata video series). This video in particular helped push the popularity of the Dominican style, and most importantly it was one of the first Dominican Bachata video on YouTube

1. Ataca & La Alemana – Te Extrano routine

The most important video of them all, uploaded on May 2008. This Bachata video helped popularize Bachata worldwide, creating a devoted following of Bachateros around the world.  Audience has labelled this video as “the true form of dancing Bachata”.

And as with any other list, please feel free to comment and share other videos that you think should have been listed here. I’m always open to feedback But if you add a video, you have to tell us why it was important to the community

What an amazing 3 months of the Sydney’s Best Social Dancing Comp! Every wednesday night, Coolabar was the place to be with amazing energy, great people and phenomenal dancing! If you were there on the nights, you know what I mean.

Congratulations to all the contestants of the SAMBA competition, and a BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER

AIMEE BAINES!

Here’s the list of the winners of the Sydney Best Social Dancing Comp 2011:

ZOUK SERIES
- Andrew & Ashley

BACHATA SERIES
- Nestor & Katrina

SALSA SERIES
- Ulysses & Jasmine

SAME SEX COMPETITON

- A tie between Oliver & Michale, and Porshee & Poy

SAMBA SERIES
- Aimee Baines

The competition brought together more than 1000 people together, it gave away close to $2,000 in cash prizes, 10+ passes to different National events, and large number of tickets to different parties around Sydney

Big thanks to

• ALL the judges for each of the series (a total of 27 judges)
• Hanson Oii for his help videoing the competition
• Andrew Holland for taking amazing shots on the nights
• Josie Cote for promoting the comp and organising the competitors

It has been a great season, we are looking forward for 2012!

- Juan & Sherylanne

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDREW HOLLAND – thanks Andrew for the amazing shots!

Dance the night away with a mix of Salsa, Merengue and Bachata as we witness some of the hottest dancers in NSW heat up the dance floor with their killer moves for the title of NSW Bachata Champion 2011 and the right to represent NSW at the 4th Annual Bachata Championship on the 21st and 22nd of October.

Four hot Latin DJs will keep you in the dance floor till early hours of the morning, DJ WillieSabor, DJ Vicco el Sonero, DJ AV el Cubano and DJ Carlos el Rumbero.

A complimentary Bachata class from 8 to 9pm with Juan Ruiz from Tropical Soul Bachateros plus some exciting door prizes.

Our Panel of Judges:

We have a strong panel of dancers for this competition:

Becky Lee / Marcia Pinheiro Percival / Mauricio Hernandez / Luda Kroitor / Juan Ruiz / Lidia McMahon

GET YOUR TICKETS!

We won’t be mailing paper tickets. Bring the paypal receipt to the registration desk with your ID. You will be given your ticket there.$1 is added as Shipping and Handling to cover the Credit Card fee

Watch the winners from last year comp

Last night was an amazing night! Sydney definitely saw some of the best Bachata dancing ever!
Congratulation to ALL of the couples for representing the Bachata lovers in Sydney and Australia!

1st Place: Nestor Manuelian & Katrina Quintal (second year in a row)
2nd Place: Santino Di Fede & Denisse Dimatatac
3rd Place: Felino Millare & Rebecca Vallejo
4th Place: Marc Ly & Efi Madentzoglu

The beauty of social dancing is that you can see the true “sabor” of the dancers, something that it is difficult to see on performances and shows. Social dancing is dancing in its pure form!

What a great night! Congratulations to ALL competitors