Saturday, August 2, 2008

Coldplay: In Our Words




The next dance craze is bachata, a Dominican dance. Many people have been dancing it incorrectly. Since it's a very close romantic dance, most people dance it in a grinding way. It's not! You can grind during merengue, house, hip-hop and even lambada, but please don't grind during bachata!

There is big difference between gyrating and grinding. Bachata is NOT grinding! I have been trying to figure out why some women avoid dancing bachata. They think it's a freak dance. They think it's perversive. Being a bachata teacher that I am, I take offense with this notion. Any bachata teacher that teaches such false gospel should stick to house and hip-hop.

Grinding involves pelvises. And sometimes crotches. Also, back ends. Take two persons; add hormones, romantica music and lots of friction and you get the point. This dance is called "Freak Dancing," not bachata!

Yes, If you have taken my classes and workshops, I have always emphasized leading from the hips, and that, you must do when you are both close to each other. If you are a good leader, your hips along with your partner's, naturally and automatically, move in unison. If you are grinding, you are doing it wrong!

Bachata is not frottage!

On the other hand, I love the gyration of the hips because this type of movement is accepted since the beginning of dancing. It is one good expression of dancing. Some dancers perform it while dancing solo (merengue or salsa shines), or they gyrate with their partners in unison!

Now If I ever see you in the clubs again grinding to bachata, I'll slap you upside the head!

Rodney Aquino is the founder of http://www.Salsagang.com and a bachata site called http://www.Rodchata.com. He had been dancing Latin dance for 10 years. He holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology, a certified Personal Fitness Trainer and holds 4th Degree Black Belt in the Martial Arts. Contact him at Rodney@rodchata.com

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