(Bachata) What's hot in Spanish bachata right now? And what even is BachaZouk over there? Mini interview with Nuri & Dagyo, fresh off the Spain tour ❤️

“I tend to lead by focusing on the woman and bringing out her feeling.”

CONTEXTOn the leading style of Spanish leaders these days

“For the people who make it to the top of a competition, musicality is pretty much the number one thing. What matters is whether you can breathe and move with me in line with that musicality.”

CONTEXTOn the shared standard among Spain's top-level dancers

“If someone's got no musicality but they're technically solid — then it's just kind of a "mmm, so-so" feeling.”

CONTEXTComparing which matters more: technique or musicality

“Back in the day, leading that stayed glued together the whole way through was considered good — now, if you stay stuck together like that, it comes across as "isn't that a bit much?"”

CONTEXTOn how connection and tension in Spanish bachata have shifted compared to five years ago

“Korea somehow feels focused on the one count, whereas in Spain we focus on the 3&4& — the closing stretch — or try to express getting the rhythm to land nicely in that stretch.”

On how musicality is expressed differently in Spanish and Korean bachata

“In that stretch you wait for her, then bring the body back in, set her up, and carry her through — that's how you bring out the impact of the music.”

CONTEXTOn how tension and timing get used in the Spanish-style lead these days