Bachata Basic — Apparently This Is What's Hip Now? The Dominican Big Three That Add Swagger Between Sensual Patterns: Merengue, Pullaito, Patín — Bachata Basic

“No matter how many combinations a leader has, almost none of them have ever moved me with that. Honestly, just playing around and enjoying it is a way more fun way to dance.”

CONTEXTReflecting on dancing with all kinds of leaders at socials

“You don't need to prove you're a dancer with combinations. If you just know how to enjoy the dance, that alone looks beautiful to me.”

CONTEXTTalking about dancing with different leaders she's met at socials

“When you step, the hip goes the opposite way.”

CONTEXTExplaining how hip movement works in the merengue basic step

“As a follower, I'm always trying to understand where the leader's energy is going. Is the lead coming from the hips, or from the upper body? But when both happen at the same time, it's just way too confusing for me.”

During a merengue frame drill, describing when a lead gets confusing from the follower's side

“When you move your legs, you have to focus on your legs and know what you're doing. But try taking this excitement — this energy — down into your lower body.”

CONTEXTStressing to the leaders how to separate upper- and lower-body energy

“The hips move a lot, but the upper body doesn't.”

CONTEXTExplaining how much the hips move versus the upper body in the merengue basic

“I'm not pushing the follower back. The one who has to find her position again is the follower.”

CONTEXTExplaining the lead in the move that opens up the merengue frame

“It depends on which part of the song you're in. When the musical energy is low, like the derecho part, I just enjoy the dance and the music more, and when the energy comes up, I move differently. Depending on where the song's energy is, you add this step or you add that step.”

CONTEXTExplaining how he decides whether to use the hips on a puyaíto step

“Don't transfer your weight all the way. The weight always stays back. The heel touches the floor, but before it fully lands, it comes right back.”

CONTEXTExplaining the details of weight transfer in the patín step

“My intention is to transfer the weight, but it never fully transfers. It's just like a bumper.”

CONTEXTComparing the weight transfer in the patín step to a bumper