“Salsa Dance Teachers must keep Bachata Pure”

Recently, I was caught up in the middle of a discussion between a Dominican teacher/performer and some other international Bachata and Salsa dance masters. We were discussing the reasons why many instructors from the Dominican Republic do not advance in the growing Bachata dance industry. Instructor “Ramon” said, “I don't care which Bachata style they're teaching, as long as they can dance Dominican Style!”.

Dominican born Bachata and Salsa Dance instructor “Abel” was explaining to us why he stopped with teaching Bachata. Abel said, “I've been teaching Bachata at some major Salsa dance schools in [country he migrated to] long before Bachata became the hype it is today.” Read more about the Bachata Hype in the article “Is Bachata the New Salsa?” written by Bachata Sensation.com's Aja Estro. Abel continues, “As a Dominican, I was born and raised with Dominican Bachata. I've even taught and did some Bachata dance competitions some neighboring countries. In the last few years I've seen Bachata becoming a joke of the original dance. I refuse to participate in this worldwide raping of my national heritage.”

The successful international Bachata dance instructor and performer “Jose” clearly has another intake in this matter. He answered, “Everything is evolving Abel. Salsa dancing and the music have been  evolving constantly and the same can be said about Bachata. I don't understand why teachers won't admit that they just can't keep up with the changes,” The disillusioned Bachata master continues, “It's just like Cuban and other Latino dance teachers refusing to teach LA Style Salsa or Mambo. They don't go to Salsa congresses to learn the newest dance moves and trends. Their pride is the real cause of them losing many of their students to new competitors. Everything's bad when it becomes too difficult for them. I wish Dominicans would change their mentality, because they're allowing foreigners to earn a lot of the money they themselves should be putting in their pockets,”

Instructor “Ramon” something to say as well, “I see many Salsa dance teachers who don't even even know anything about Bachata teaching their students to make very complicated turns in Bachata. What is it with woman always wanting to make so much turns?” he asked. I explained to him the “Salsa Queen Bee” phenomenon. He said, “I think that these 'Bachata teachers' who are teaching stuff that is completely non-leadable - like in Bachatango - are doing a great job in earning money by giving the people what they want.” “But,” he continues, “these Salsa dance teachers must keep Bachata pure by also teaching real Dominican style Bachata.”

What do you think? Let us know by posting a comment down below. The real names of the teachers have been changed to protect the innocent. Any similarities with Bachata instructors having the names as the ones mentioned in this article is purely coincidental.

In the following video clip Jorge Elizondo - who revolutionized Bachata with his Bachata Fusion - is dancing Freestyle Bachata at the end of his workshop together with Camille Yannantuono.