Dance of the Week: Bachata

The History

Bachata is a dance and music form that originated in Dominican Republic in the early 20th century, and was initially termed música de amargue, or “bitter music”. It is a mixture of African, Indigenous, and European musical elements, and descended from the earlier musical forms of Bolero and Son. Bachata was considered “low-class” and even distasteful by the wealthy Dominicans, since it was developed in the campo (“country-side”) and was heard mostly in the poorest neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. The death of the dictator Trujillo ended censorship on the island, after which Jose Manuel Calderon recorded the first Bachata in 1962. It wasn’t until the 1980s that Bachata rose in popularity throughout the island, finally being recognized by the Dominican elite.

The Evolution of Bachata

The main instruments involved in what is now known as “Traditional Bachata” were maracas and nylon string Spanish guitars. In the 1990s, Modern Bachata took over, using la güira and electric steel string guitars. Some of the most popular Bachateros at this time included Anthony Santos, Luis Vargas, and Zacarías Ferreiras. Bachata evolved again in the 21st century as Urban Bachata. Some of the bands responsible for the emergence of Urban Bachata included Aventura and Monchy y Alexandra.

Bachata Music

Bachata Dance

For more information check out:

http://www.iasorecords.com/music/history-of-bachata-the-guitar-music-of-the-dominican-republic

http://www.howcast.com/guides/1033-how-to-dance-bachata/

#bachata #dominicanrepublicdance #urbanbachata