Rishabh

“Traditional bachata isn't footwork, it's hips. How you use your hips with the music is the core of it, and a lot of people mistake that for footwork.”

Pointing out that competitors used a lot of footwork instead of hips in traditional bachata

“The basic isn't just a step — it's the fundamental of grounding and weight transfer.”

On the criteria used to judge the basic at a Jack & Jill

“When you set the direction, you shift your own weight — not your arms.”

Explaining turn direction changes and how the lead actually creates direction

“You're not consciously trying to make the connection — you just keep it right there. And then the connection happens naturally.”

Said while explaining how to maintain the hand connection

“If you don't transfer weight on a count, it's not bachata.”

Explaining count 1 of the bachata basic and stressing that weight transfer is the core principle

“If your energy is scattered all over the place, your technique can't be clean. Clean technique brings more calm and more control to your movement.”

On what separates people who do the basic well from those who don't

“Traditional bachata is really connected to the ground. You have to keep using the floor and using your hips — and not many people were using their hips.”

On competitors bouncing around like they were jumping

“When people use a lot of footwork, they're not recognizing that the music is in a low-energy section. You really have to feel the music and use your hips with the instruments and the emotion.”

Explaining why footwork-heavy dancing clashes with the energy of the music