Bachata Dance Videos & How To Dance Bachata

A resource for learning about authentic bachata dance. Basic steps, basic turns, footwork, and styling, in the Dominican, Caribbean style, Click on a link in the table of contents below for instructional how to bachata dance videos.

Bachata Timing

Bachata Basic Steps

Bachata Footwork

Bachata Basic Turn Patterns

Bachata Styling

Finding your timing in Bachata

Bachata is in 4/4 time - which means there are four emphasized beats in every measure. Here are some queues to help know where you are: The low bongo usually plays on the 4th beat. The voice accents the 1st beat - often that means that vocal phrases end on the first beat rather than start on it. The bass tends to play on the 3rd, 4th, and 1st beats - but this can change. Dancers usually step on beats 1,2 and 3 - stepping in place on 4 (tap). Sometimes, people will dance on different timings. Bachata is informal, it's not a ballroom dance, so the rules defining it are not rigid. See the last video on the bottom left for a step by step breakdown of bachata's most basic footwork.