How to Master Bachata as a Beginner

Bachata (or cumbachata) is a dance that originated in the Dominican Republic around the 1960s. It was started by ordinary people who gathered to sing, dance, and have a good time!

For a long time, the dance was not accepted in higher society because it was considered vulgar, dirty, and unworthy. But by the 1980s, it began to rapidly gain popularity. People around the world fell in love with its character, passion, powerful energy, and spectacular performance.

Many want to learn to dance bachata – they attend classes, watch instructional videos, practice a lot, but there is one detail without which practicing this dance is quite difficult.

We are talking about a partner, because cumbachata is a partner dance. It's impossible to express all the passion and love without a person to whom it could be directed. But how do you choose a partner? In this article, we have gathered some tips that could help you in this challenging task!

— One of the most important things: your partner must be personally attractive to you. Only then can you fully trust your emotions and start dancing the way the style requires – with fire in your eyes! Plus, it will be pleasant for both of you to spend time rehearsing. You could even bring your loved one to class, which, by the way, would be great practice for strengthening your relationship.

— The level at which both of you are practicing is very important! Try to choose someone with whom you won't feel a huge gap. Otherwise, if there is a gap, it can make you very stiff. And in bachata, you definitely shouldn't be shy with your partner! You should be on the same wavelength for harmonious learning and a smooth process.

— Height is also incredibly important for a beginner in this matter. Having a height difference of more than 15 or 20 centimeters can lead to great difficulties during the dance. You should look harmonious together! If your partner is taller than you, you will inevitably have to tilt your head up to make eye contact, and your partner will have to raise their shoulders too much.

If you are taller, then you both should be prepared to occasionally kick each other in unpleasant places below the waist. Agree, it's not comfortable. In either case, you can certainly get used to it, but it will require tremendous effort, especially if you are a beginner.