u/UnctuousRambunctious

***FIRST OF ALL,*** *happy BACHATA BIRTHDAY to me,* today is my actual bachata birthday where nine (long, aka short) years ago I took my *first* lesson and my *first bachata basic* steps after half my life being duly traumatized and ego-injured by salsa 🤣🤣, and as of right now before I go party my ass off tonight, the last dance I had this week was with my first salchata instructor. 🤩

Now that that’s out of the way, I would ***looooooove*** to hear from all and sundry any specific songs you consider to be required listening as a bachata dancer - a song that is classic, a song that you find unique or ground-breaking, a song with a sound or by an artist that you consider iconic to bachata.

I’m just curious as to what people like and value and connect with, and wondering if there will be songs mentioned that I’ve never heard!

For me having started in 2017 in LA I was surrounded by DJ Soltrix (RIP 🤣), and **Cool** is always going to have me in my feels as a classic Soltrix sound. My very first favorite bachata song was **Dile** by Kewin Cosmos, and Romeo released *Golden* so **Imitadora** was played like twice every night.

I *love* traditional but hate that it’s characterized as fast so **Hombre de Tu Vida** by Joe Veras is a standard, as is **Te Mal Informaron** by Allendy. Also Monchy y Alexandra and Romeo’s entire *Utopia* album.

Pinto is amazing, I will never get over JR, and Dani J eventually won me over with his personality and absolute professionalism, though I mostly like his slower stuff like La Piscina and Atemporal.

DJ Husky can do no wrong, DJ Khalid is completely tied to the rise of sensual for me out here, meeting DJ Selphi is one of my favorite memories, and there is a place for DJ Tronky as well 🤣

There are so many good producers out right nowwwwww

but Gawvi’s **Trapchata** is a unique song that I wish there was more of. I don’t think there’s been another song I’ve heard that sounds like it.

Hit me with your thoughts and recs! 🙏

… especially when it’s with a partner you’ve never danced with before, when your partner did the asking, and you have no prior references for their skill level!

So, is there a particular escalating sequence that you try to ascertain what your partner is capable of doing, or what their skill level is with certain technique-based executions? And then what do you look for or observe as you’re progressing through the test drive?

I feel like upon physical connection, I would notice pressure (heavy and light), I would notice frame (engaged lats and controlled upper extremities), timing with regards to the basic, and footwork (size of steps, directionality). I’ll notice general balance, timing of weight changes, control of holding their own weight, etc.

After a few basics (depending on the song composition), I like to change the timing to see if they respond, try rotations, maybe a cuddle into a promenade before a full turn.

I’ll admit I’m not the most experienced lead, I often avoid turns as a general value preference, I get told I feel safe and calm (I never know what is actually meant by comments of being “good” though 🤣), but I would love to hear how other leads sequence moves based on how the follow executes, and what your flow map is of subsequent moves or adjustments you make based on how the follow executed.

I may try to be choreographing or planning a test drive sequence based on moves I like to try or based on moves I want to integrate in my repertoire.

Thank you in advance! 🙏