Created in the Dominican Republic in the first half of the 20th century, Bachata music and dancing emerged together with the influence of Bolero and Son music and dancing. Bachata is danced to 4/4 time music featuring a requinto guitar, bass, guira, and bongo drums. At dance socials, bachata is often the slower and more romantic compliment to salsa music and dancing that features lots of spins at a fast tempo.
Created in the Dominican Republic in the first half of the 20th century, Bachata music and dancing emerged together with the influence of Bolero and Son music and dancing. In the 1980s, Merengue also influenced the development of the dance.
Bachata was initially a close embrace dance, but in more recent times incorporates more open dance holds. It’s basic step was danced in a box in the Dominican Republic, but the western basic moves side to side. Bachata is danced to 4/4 time music featuring a requinto guitar, bass, guira, and bongo drums. At dance socials, bachata is often the slower and more romantic compliment to salsa music and dancing that features lots of spins at a fast tempo.
The original term for the genre of music that was Bachata was amargue which means (“bitterness”, “bitter music”, or “blues music”). Bachata became the more mood neutral term used to refer to the dance. In vein with it’s origins, many Bachata songs, include elements of heartbreak and sadness.
