(Bachata) The hottest man in the bachata scene right now — technique nerd, musicality obsessive, leading perfectionist. We met Aitor. KYAAA!!!!!! Interview w/Aitor Barredo

“One of the secrets to becoming a good dancer is finding a good teacher.”

CONTEXTTalking about learning from Chavez and from Eric and Monica

“The most important training, to me, is social dancing. I really do try to social dance as much as I can.”

On what mattered most out of everything he learned from Korke y Judith

“The heart of good leading isn't just leading my own partner well — it's being able to lead every follower according to her level and the way she dances.”

On the single most important concept he picked up from the Korke y Judith mentoring team

“Traditional bachata and sensual bachata are merging into one. When they complement each other, you can reach a much higher musicality.”

CONTEXTOn the styles blending in the bachata scene, with a nod to his teachers in Barcelona

“My dancing is always decided by whatever I'm listening to. I try to pull all my knowledge together and fit the dance to the music in the best way I can.”

Defining his own style, which he calls "Aitor Baredo style"

“Sensual bachata isn't always soft and unbroken. To follow the music, you always have to find the balance between soft and sharp.”

CONTEXTOn what people get wrong about sensual bachata, name-checking Gero y Migle's style

“JR's guitarist is incredible. The way he shifts the energy of the music — he plays with the lyrics and the music together through those dynamic changes in energy and flow.”

CONTEXTPicking JR as his favorite musician, explaining why that music is hard to dance to

“If you want to express the music, you have to listen to the same song over and over and over again.”

On why JR's music is hard to dance to, and how to build musicality

“Don't just dance with your head. I want to teach you how to dance with your heart.”

Explaining what he feels he can give to students in the Korean bachata scene

“Every variation of hip movement comes out of basic isolation. That part really matters.”

CONTEXTAsked about his enormous range of hip motion — he answers by demonstrating it

“If you watch my early videos, you can plainly see I was stiff as a wooden stick. But learning from the best teachers, I got insanely picky about technique.”

CONTEXTLooking back on how he grew, right after demonstrating a basic hip movement

“The basics are the root of everything.”

Saying he still takes classes, still learns, still drills and practices his fundamentals

“It's because I broke my basics and my movement down this finely that I have so much to hand to my students.”

CONTEXTOn how his habit of analyzing technique in fine detail feeds his teaching