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BACHATA Bianca It was about 8.30pm at Xenbar on a wet Monday evening and my feet were already aching after that grueling Ladies’ shine class, which Joyce (One of Xenbar’s instructress) put us through. Serves me right for buying those 3½ inched shoes just last week. Joyce was already prepared to teach intermediate class, clapping her hands and hollering with such enthusiasm and energy I’d almost forget she was sweating it out with us just ten minutes ago. I dragged my feet (literally, cos they were hurting so bad) and braced myself for another agonizing hour on the killer shoes. Then my ears perked up when I heard Joyce announce that it was Bachata for that day’s intermediate class! Nothing gets me more in the mood for grooving than hearing the lilting sounds of a Bachata song! The hit song “Obesion” by the Dominican group Aventura is perpetually on repeat mode on my Ipod. Bachata music comprises mainly the guitar, accompanied usually by other instruments such as claves or bongo drums. The end result is usually a very catchy and danceable tune. It is very easy to identify a Bachata song. Other than the distinctive strumming of the guitar, the music is in counts of 4. Bachata music also has an overall romantic feel to it. This is not surprising, since many of the songs speak of romance and heartbreak (According to a Puerto Rican friend who translated some of the songs for me). Bachata originated in the 1960s in the Dominican Republic and did not have a very prestigious start. Since it came from the rural areas and countryside, Bachata was usually associated with poor rural migrants residing in urban shantytowns and negative cultural value implying rural backwardness and vulgarity. However over the years, that negative association faded, replaced by one that depicted fun, merriment, get-togethers and romance. This popular partner dance is probably familiar to Salsa and Merengue dancers. Even in Singapore, one can hear a number of Bachata songs being played in Union Square every night. Bachata can be danced with an open hold or in an embrace. There are no complicated steps or turns in Bachata, just that dancers need to synchronize their body movements, if not they would look like they are struggling with each other. There is some degree of intimacy involved in the embrace, since the lady has to stand with her legs in between the man. Therefore, unless the ladies are comfortable doing the embrace, I would recommend that the guys stick to the open hold.
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