Gaining confidence and connection through BACHATA

As a social butterfly, I needed an outlet to use my creative energies and at the same time connect with people or join a community. And the solution to that dilemma was Social dancing!

My memories brought me back to a time when I went to a spiritual retreat in 2019, a dance teacher introduced us some AfroLatino dances. That's when I learned about Bachata and from there I tracked her down and where her studio was. However the pandemic happen and classes were stopped. So while waiting, I've been watching videos about Bachata and I've been dying to learn its dance moves.

Social dance is a category of dances that have a social function and context.[1] Social dances are intended for participation rather than performance and can be led and followed with relative ease.

So when V9 Dance Hub opened its doors last May 2021, I immediately without a doubt enrolled for the Bachata Class. The course costs Php 3,500 for 8 sessions. Classes were held every Tuesdays and Fridays. We started on the 3rd week of May.

Bachata is just one of the many styles of Afro Latin Dances. It originates from the Dominican Republic. I was initially comparing it to Kizomba but after watching tons of videos, I deduced that Bachata is much more easier to learn. So I went with that first. Our young amazing Bachata teachers taught us a little about each styles of Bachata dance - the original version, the modern and the traditional.

The basics to the dance are three-step with a Cuban hip motion, followed by a tap including a hip movement on the 4th beat. The knees should be slightly bent so the performer can sway the hips easier. The movement of the hips is very important because it’s a part of the soul of the dance. Generally, most of the dancer’s movement is in the lower body up to the hips, and the upper body moves much less. Source

After learning the fundamentals of Bachata, our dance recital was held last June 13, 2021 (Sunday) together with the Kizomba and Tango student dancers to showcase what we learned . It was a fun filled activity! The dance instructors also showcased their expertise and awesome dance moves. We met with other social dancers old and new and get to dance with them prior to the start of the program. Here are some photos of the event.

When it came for us to present our dance number, it was nerve-racking but really fun! We were wearing neon tops to differentiate ourselves from the rest. I can't stop smiling throughout our dance piece. After our recital, I am more confident when someone asks me to be their partner and just have fun dancing it. Although I'm still not a pro.

After learning Bachata for beginners, I had a mental breakthrough that our bodies are so much more than its weight or its shape. I still have insecurities however our dance partners really don't care how we look, how big or how small we are but on how we can connect through our bodies. And most of the people I met through that community have this great passion for social dancing and that is all they care about.

I used to think that dancing is for the naturally gifted ones but I was wrong. Anyone can dance! Anyone can learn how to do it. Now, I think dancing is one way to release those stuck energies in your bodies and is also a means to use that creativity inside you. Besides that, its one way to easily connect with people. No words needed, just your presence and the dance moves.

So I encourage all of you, the young or old that its never too late to learn something new especially dancing! So go out there and have fun! Special thanks to my Bachata classmates and teachers for an amazing experience! See you on Bachata Level 2!