Bachata is a style of music and dance originating from the Dominican Republic. It places emphasis on the social aspect of dance, with the classic Bachata being a lively couple’s dance accompanied by Bachata music.
The roots of Bachata can be traced back to 1960s rural Dominican Republic amongst the lower-class communities, evolving from the Bolero. It was seen as vulgar and obscene by the middle and upper class at the time, particularly because of the sensual movements and romantic music which accompanied. However perceptions began to change into the 1980s, with Dominican musicians such as Juan Luis Guerra helped legitimize the genre by bringing it to a mainstream audience.
A key aspect of Bachata is the emotional expression shown by the dancers. It is a romantic dance, often accompanied by romantic music and emotive body language and facial expressions. Setting it apart from other Latin dances, Bachata has a distinct rhythm, often at a slower pace and placing emphasis on the first and third beat.
The steps often seen in Bachata consist of the basic step, typically danced side to side or back to forth for eight counts. On top of this footwork, the dancer can add turns, dips and plenty of hip work. Bachata is a sensual dance so swaying your hips to compliment the footwork is a must!
Throughout the decades, both Bachata dancing and music adapted to keep up with the modern times. Bachata music often consists of guitars, bongos and call-and-response vocals focused on heartbreak and longing, amplifying the emotional aspect of the dance. Bachata dancing and music come hand in hand – you cannot have one without the other.
Below are 5 Benefits of Bachata for your Body and Brain:
Improve your Joint Health
Compared to most forms of exercise, dancing the Bachata is rather low impact, meaning it is gentler on the joints than most fitness activities. Though gentle, there is still plenty of smooth and continuous movement in the joints which leads to greater flexibility and reduces stiffness.
As we age, we often experience issues with our joints and bones, whether that be aches and pains or something more, such as arthritis or osteoporosis. Regular dancing with gentle but consistent low impact movement can help ease the side effects of this pain.
Emotional Expression
As previously mentioned, the emotive and performative expression prevalent in Bachata provides a great outlet for creativity, particularly when improvising or dancing with a partner. Your movements and gestures should complement the music and other dancers (and vice versa).
Emotive dancing can also be extremely therapeutic. If you’re somebody who struggles with expressing their emotions, it can be an excellent outlet to practice this in.
Muscle Toning and Strength
The range of movements in Bachata such as the footwork, hip rotations and dips, all engage varying muscle groups. Doing these movements regularly will over time strengthen and tone your muscles, particularly in your legs, hips and core.
Working all your different muscles on a regular basis is important no matter your age. Over time our bodies naturally get weaker, so building our strength is necessary to avoid injuries and help make everyday activities such as walking, running, and climbing the stairs easier for our bodies.
Reduces Stress
When we dance, our brains release endorphins, whose primary purpose is to reduce our stress hormones (cortisol). Producing these natural mood enhancers is a surefire way to lift your mood and an ideal way to start your day.
Additionally, when your mind is focused on the steps and perfecting your performance, your mind is often ‘in the moment’, putting your other worries at bay.
The Bachata music and lively atmosphere is the perfect recipe for enjoyment and will immediately boost your mood.
Social Interaction
Since its humble beginnings, Bachata has primarily been a social dance, and the romantic themes naturally celebrate human passion and connection. Often performed at events, bars and parties, the emotive and rhythmic atmosphere created by the dancing and music creates a strong feeling of community and togetherness.
“To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful.”
– Agnes De Mille
Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC run weekly Keep Dancing classes, suitable for older adults across, Birmingham, Solihull, Walsall, Sandwell and online. Keep Dancing will teach you dances from around the world with no need for a dance partner. Find your nearest Keep Dancing class here.
If you enjoyed reading 5 Benefits of Bachata For your Body and Brain, you might want to consider reading 5 Benefits of Jazz Dancing For Your Mind and Body.
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