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How To Find The 1 Beat In Salsa Music

Richie Kirwan
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How To Find The 1 Beat In Salsa Music

You’re getting better.

You’ve nailed the basic step and you can even lead a basic turn and a cross body lead.

You’re confidence is up (a little).

Then your big moment comes: time to dance with someone… to real music.

The song starts. You get a little nervous. This is all up to you. You listen carefully, desperately trying to hear that elusive 1 count.

Was that it? Just there? The milliseconds feel like minutes. You break into a sweat.

You’re not sure if you’re right but you decide to go for it. You do it, you step forward praying that your partner is going to follow the same beat as you, pleading with all the gods above that you can think of that you’ll both be in time together, wishing that this will be your moment to shine.

It’s not.

You move forward on a random beat and take your partner by surprise; their reaction is too slow. You start together but it’s far from synchronized and you both know it. Their eyes meet yours and you can see a look of pure terror in them. You know what that look is saying: “Why have you done this to me? Why did you dance on the wrong beat? Why?!”

You look around and see everyone in the club looking at you, some staring in horror, some shaking their heads in shocked disapproval, the rest laughing. Laughing so hard that your unborn children will have to go to therapy to get over it. All because you can’t find the beat.

The laughing gets louder and louder and finally… you wake up screaming, breathing like you’ve just run a 100m sprint, drenched in a cold sweat.

If you’re anything like me you’ve had this dream at least once (or maybe I just have issues).

That Damn 1

The truth is, when you’re starting out, finding the beat in salsa can be a bit of a nightmare. You listen to the music trying to hear that magical 1 so you can get your boogie on, but somehow it seems to elude you.

Let me tell you, friend, you are not alone! For many people not exposed to salsa music from a young age, finding the appropriate beat to start on can be tough. Or at least, it can be initially.

But just remember: if a bloody bearded Irishman like myself can do it, then so can you!

There Are Two Ways To Find The Beat In Salsa:

There’s the –
1:  Dance, dance and dance some more until you finally pound the beat into your skull method.

And there is the –
2: Learn all about the instruments and intricacies of salsa music so you can specifically pinpoint that god damn 1 method (pretty catchy titles, eh?)

You might also like The Musicality Myth

I’ll try to keep the explanations short and sweet.

Method 1:

Get out there and dance song after song with someone who knows the rhythm until you finally “get it”.
This is the method that has been used for years by virtually 99.99% (disclaimer: may be a completely made up figure) of salsa dancers.

It is completely unscientific and this annoys a lot of people because we would all love a more definite marker in the music. But it works.

The only caveat is that you have to dance with someone who already knows how to dance well. Otherwise, it’s a true case of the blind leading the blind and you may end up with something reminiscent of my nightmare above.

Just give it time and practice and you’ll get it. I promise.

Method 2:

For those of you who aren’t content with the “wishy-washy, unscientific, New Age, hippy, natural” method above, there’s a more in-depth (read: complicated) method.

In its original form, salsa’s rhythm comes from two percussion instruments: the clave and the congas. The clave is basically 2 sticks struck together in either a 2/3 or 3/2 rhythm. Clave literally translates as “key” or “code” and is the original base beat of cuban son (the precursor of salsa).

The congas are the tall African-style hand drums that you may have seen if you’ve ever seen live salsa music. Congas provide the back beat to salsa music.

If you can only hear the clave or the conga, you can hear the beat and dance to salsa music.

In order to use these instruments to find the beat in salsa, we need to understand a little more about salsa itself.

Salsa Beats 101

Salsa is danced to two measures of four beats each making a a total of eight beats. Of these eight beats, we normally step (or transfer weight) on only six beats (1, 2, 3… 5, 6, 7…). The 4 and the 8 beats are used for a slower weight transfer (i.e. we don’t actually step on them but can transfer our weight more slowly between each measure). Salsa generally starts on the 1 count with the directional change (break) occurring “on 1” or “on 2” (depending on the type of salsa).

Now, with this knowledge we can use the instruments to help us find the beat, i.e. to tell us when to start dancing.

With The Clave

With the 3/2 clave rhythm, the first sound of the first three beats is the 1 count.

With the 2/3 clave rhythm, the first sound of the first two beats is the 2 count. The third sound of the last three beats is the 8, thus you will start dancing immediately after that. Here’s a song with a nice clear 2/3 clave (starting at 0:23) for reference:

Of course, often the clave can be difficult to hear.

Find out more in Where Did The Clave Go?

So…

With The Congas

In my opinion, it is far easier to hear the congas in a song and the truth is we (inadvertently) wait for the congas to start before we start dancing.

There is a basic salsa beat for congas. It consists of three parts: gentle slapping with the left hand called “masacote”, a heavy slap with the right hand called “quemado”, and a hollow sounding double tap with the right hand called “abierto” (I’m sure there are terms in English for these, but my conga teacher only speaks Spanish so we’ll have to make do).

It is the abierto, that double tap, that is the easiest sound to pick out in salsa music. It occurs on  the 4 and 8 beats, which means you need to step immediately after it (the double tap) to hit your 1.

Now, I said that it’s a double tap (and it usually is) but occasionally it may only be a single tap or it may be a combination of a single and a double tap (or sometimes something more complicated). The fact of the matter is: that prominent hollow beat in a salsa song is the conga and is perfect marker of the 4 and 8 beat.

Dissecting The Music

All of this technical talk about claves and congas and beats, however, requires that you actually distinguish them from each other in the song. Salsa bands are usually huge meaning a great many instruments are used which makes picking out individual instruments tricky, especially to the untrained ear.

The best homework you can do for yourself is sitting down and consciously listening to salsa music. Pop on some headphones and try to pick out the different instruments in the song. Follow them all, especially the percussion instruments; the drums, the cow bell, the congas and the clave. All help you to maintain your timing during a dance. If you have trouble finding the beat, then ask someone to give you a hand.

Technology: The Final Frontier

Luckily, other people, who are far more tech-savvy than me, have thought of different ways to find the elusive “1”.

Some have even created these great videos that mark the 1 for you in a specific song so you can practice with it and never have to worry about losing your place. Here’s one featuring one of my favourite songs, La Pantera Mambo:

You should be able to find plenty more such videos on YouTube.

Practice Makes Perfect

As I’ve mentioned countless times before, this type of information is worthless unless you put it into practice. Practise with real salsa music (and an experienced friend) and I guarantee you, finding the beat in salsa will become as automatic for you as walking… or your money back (can’t beat that now, can ya?)

Oh, and if you have any other tips of finding the beat that have worked for you then let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear about them.

Keep dancing, folks.

Enjoyed this? Check out How To Improve Your Salsa Basic

Four Latin Rhythms – Salsa, Guajira, Son Montuno and Cha Cha Cha

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Four Latin Rhythms – Salsa, Guajira, Son Montuno and Cha Cha Cha

Learning to recognize and interpret the different rhythms in music is an important step to improving in dance.  In the video below, Mitchell Herrera breaks down several latin rhythms: Salsa, Guajira, Son Montuno and Cha Cha Cha.  It’s a very quick lesson, but it will help train your ear to recognize which rhythm is being performed – which will help you know how to dance to the song.  As Mitchell points out, the examples he gives are very basic, but they provide a template for each rhythm.

Checkout Mitchell’s YouTube channel for more great videos!

Below are examples of songs that include each particular rhythm.

SALSA

GUAJIRA

SON MONTUNO

CHA CHA CHA

Dance Spotlight – Gerard Smithwrick

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Dance Spotlight – Gerard Smithwrick

Gerard Smithwrick is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight!  Gerard is an up and coming dancer in Austin, TX and is an instructor with the Austin Inspired Movement dance team.  He was nominated by Jason Haynes.  Check out a few fun facts and information about Gerard including his dance pet peeves and his thoughts on having a ‘dance conversation’ during a social dance.

Want to nominate someone to be in the Dance Spotlight? Contact us!

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in New Jersey. I learned to dance salsa and bachata in Miami where I lived for 2 years and now I reside in Austin, TX.

You recently offered a great dance observation in a Facebook post. You said, “This is why dance is so amazing! I can literally go to almost any country, ask someone to dance Salsa and we can have a full on dance-conversation like we’ve danced for years. It’s incredible. Dance is a universal language.” For you, what qualities of a social dance make it a ‘dance-conversation’?

Love this question. In order to have a “dance conversation” there needs to be authenticity, courage, passion, respect and fun!

  • Authenticity is you being your true self once you hit the floor, whether that’s through arm/hand styling, body movement, or footwork, I should be able to get sense of who you are (your spirit, your personality) from how you dance.
  • Courage to try new things, allow yourself to relax, and truly hear and encompass the music.
  • Passion is feeling the music, connecting with your partner, and loving what you’re doing.
  • Respect is to constantly be mindful of your partner, not be selfish, not aim to harm, to adapt when things don’t go as planned and treat others how they’d like to be treated.
  • Fun because that’s most important of all!

Favorite places in Austin to dance?

Austin Inspired Movement of course! Shameless plug because I’m an instructor there, but I do believe that we have something special and our community is welcoming, inclusive and growing. But other than Inspired Movement, Salsamania is my FAVORITE social of the month it’s a Must-Go!

Dance Pet Peeve: (Hygiene, No connection, People who teach while dancing, etc)

Where do I begin?! I’ve got a few:

  1. Super Sweaty dancers – We all sweat. It’s natural – but take steps to ensure you aren’t dripping all over your partner. Bring an extra shirt, buy good material, bring a towel, etc.
  2. Know It All Leads – Unless you both lead and follow or you’re an instructor, you as a lead probably shouldn’t be telling your partner how they’re “supposed to do the move” in the middle of the dance. If a follow can’t or chooses not to do the move you want, abort mission and try something else. Keep dancing, it’s all respect.

Favorite moment from your dance life thus far?

Performing my first partnered Salsa On2 routine with my coach and mentor, Karla Blanco (El Sabor de Houston) at B.I.G. San Antonio in 2019. I am in LOVE with salsa and it’s my dream to keep performing, there’s nothing else like it.

What tips would you give to dancers who are thinking about performing?

My tip as someone who has been both the team member and team Director: GO FOR IT, YOU CAN DO IT! I know it may appear scary and nerve-racking (it is for a lot of people and that’s natural), but it’s so worth it. The people you meet, the connections you make, the achievements you reach, and the ceilings you’ll break are all worth the work. Give it a try!

What are your current favorite songs to dance to? Top two or three…

OMG my favorite joints to play on repeat are:

  1. “Tu Con El” – both versions by Frankie Ruiz & Bobby Martïnez
  2. “Ran Kan Kan (Adolfo’s Version)” – El Chino y la Diferencia
  3. “Vente Negra” – Habana con Kola

Favorite dance video you’d like to share?

This video of my Salsa dance idol: Terry “SalsAlianza” Tauliaut! I pray that I can train to be just as good as him. His musicality, artistry, lead, creativity and passion gives me LIFE!!!!

Silent Rhythms – Teaching Salsa to the Deaf

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Silent Rhythms – Teaching Salsa to the Deaf

Recently we profiled a Deaf dancer living in Maryland named Raven Sutton. She is helping to raise awareness for the Deaf population of dancers in the latin dance community and showing us that they can dance just as well as anyone else. Today, I want to highlight a non-profit organization based in Boston called Silent Rhythms.  Their mission statement is below:

Silent rhythms was founded with the mission to use inclusive arts as a way to bring communities together – deaf and hearing, people with and without disabilities – to educate, raise awareness, promote inclusion, and inspire creativity to marginalized communities.

Kerry Thompson is the Founding Executive Director.  The video is from a feature done by the Boston Herald and profiles Kerry and her work in the salsa community.  It’s really cool!

Dance Spotlight – Raven Sutton

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Dance Spotlight – Raven Sutton

Raven Sutton is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight!  Raven lives in Maryland and was nominated by Ciara Morales.  Ciara said, “Raven is a talented dancer who faces adversity with grace and ease as a black Deaf woman. She is paving the way for other bachateras to claim space and own who they are with all of their magic.” Check out some fun facts and information on Raven including her most memorable dance moment and her experience as a deaf dancer in the community.

Want to nominate someone to be in the Dance Spotlight? Contact us!

Where are you from?

I am from Alabama, but currently live in Maryland.

What (or who) inspired you to try latin dancing? Why?

My mom. My mom had such a variety of tastes in music. We dance together all the time. She also was my biggest fan, and supported me in everything I did. She was the one that gave me the pep talk before I auditioned to join Ferocity Dance Company.

What is your most memorable dance moment/experience? (Performance? Dancing with a favorite dancer? Etc.)

My most memorable dance moment was teaching a beginner bachata class to my fellow Deaf community. The feedback I received from them about the class was so positive. They told me that taking a class with a Deaf instructor inspired them and showed them that they too can dance bachata. That ignited the spark in me and my vision of bringing the Latin dance world and deaf world together.

What are your social dance pet peeve(s)? (Hygiene, No connection, People who teach while dancing, etc)

My pet peeve when it comes to social dancing is that black women who are latin dancers often do not get asked to dance a lot. To receive a good amount of dances, we often become leads or we are going up to people and asking them for a dance. Some of us black latin dancers have came together and created a hashtag that says #BlackGirlsDoSocialDance. So when you see us on the dance floor, don’t be shy. Ask us to dance.

Do you have any favorite dancers you like to watch dance or perform or who you find inspirational? If so, who and why?

My favorite dancers are Ace and Ciara! I may be a little biased since they both are my close friends, but they inspire me everyday. The work that they are doing to bring awareness of inclusivity in the dance community is amazing. They are breaking down a lot of barriers and starting conversations that need to be had. People are starting to take notice. They are dancing by example, and I am rooting for them.

Favorite latin dance genre? Why?

I would have to go with Traditional Bachata. I love the roots/history of how bachata started. I feel like I can express myself the best when dancing bachata and it sparks my creativity with footwork and freestyles.

What has your experience been like as a Deaf dancer in the latin dance community. Positive? Negative? A little of both?

My experience have been a mixture of positive and negative.

Positive because I am educating dancers, instructors, and promoters of latin dance events on the importance of getting American Sign Language Interpreters hired for their events and how to include that information on their flyers when promoting the events. A lot of dancers, instructors, and promoters are really eager to learn. That is exciting!

Negative because when social dancing I don’t normally tell people that I am Deaf. So, sometimes when people find out I am Deaf they think I am lying. I’ve had someone try and test me by putting there hands over their mouth and talking to see if I would know what they were saying. Some dancers have told people to dance with me because they couldn’t believe that I am Deaf and such a great dancer. It becomes the lead topic of conversation. I came to dance just like everyone else, not to answer hundreds of questions all night because people do not believe that I can be Deaf and a dancer.

As a Deaf dancer, I feel the vibration of the instruments that are playing in the music. I close my eyes and let it run through me, and my body moves accordingly.

Favorite dance video(s) you’d like to share?

Dance Spotlight – Adam Taub

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Dance Spotlight – Adam Taub

Adam Taub is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight!  Adam is a well-known bachata dance instructor, historian and documentarian.  He is based in Denver, but travels the globe spreading his love and knowledge of bachata.  He was nominated by Edwin Ferreras and Annmarie Löfvenholm.

Annmarie said, “Adam knows the history of bachata.  He has lived in the Dominican Republic and he learned the dance from the people there. He travels the globe educating others on bachata and he also introduced many dancers to the wonderful musician, songwriter and bachatero, Joan Soriano.”

Check out a few fun facts and information about Adam including his first memories of bachata and his favorite documentary projects – which you can view in their entirety in this post!

Want to nominate someone to be in the Dance Spotlight? Contact us!

What are your first memories of bachata? How were you introduced to the music and dance?

I first heard bachata in the late ’90s when I was working in Washington D.C. with youth in the city.  One of the teenagers gave me a mix tape that had bachata on side-A and rap on side-B.  I saw them dancing bachata a little bit.  I didn’t learn how to dance in D.C. and the kids didn’t dance very much as partners – but I definitely connected with the music there first.  Later, in Colorado, I’d go to clubs and they would play one or two bachata songs per night.  They’d have a five minute class and that was my first real introduction to the dance.  Those experiences influenced my decision to study abroad for a year in the Dominican Republic and that is where I got a deeper introduction to bachata music, culture and dance.

You have done a lot to educate dancers on the rich history and culture of bachata music and dance. What has been your favorite project thus far?

It has to be the first documentary project that I completed, El Duque De La Bachata (The Duke of Bachata)*.  I started that documentary shortly after graduating from the University of Colorado (Boulder).  So many of my other projects branched off from that documentary including a film with Joan’s parents (Juana y Cande*). The bachata dance teaching branched off from The Duke of Bachata documentary because I started showing the film at different dance venues during the early days of the bachata festivals.  It was shown at the first San Francisco Bachata Festival.  I would show the film and then often do a short dance class.  The Duke of Bachata is certainly the most influential project that I’ve done. I’ve maintained a friendship with Joan and his knowledge, friendship, and life in general have had a huge influence on how I perceive bachata.

*Both documentaries ( The Duke of Bachata and Juan Y Cande ) are available below for your convenience.  They are well worth watching!

Do you have any current projects that you’re working on?

Absolutely! I’ve continued to post documentaries, social dance videos, and interviews with musicians on my YouTube channel. My current goal is to create educational content that will help bachata teachers and dancers.

You recorded the video ‘8 Tips to CONNECT Your Dance Students to music – Bachata teaching tips’. Why do you feel it is important that teachers follow these tips?

I think we recognize intuitively how important music is to dance. It’s surprising how often music doesn’t get the attention it deserves when planning or teaching a dance class.  I wanted to recognize how important it is to the dance experience.  Dance and music go hand in hand, but that is often overlooked during a dance class.  The class becomes more about turn patterns and certain techniques, so those tips capture a variety of ways to connect dancers to the music.

The goal isn’t that teachers do all of these tips perfectly within every dance class, but I wanted to give instructors further awareness of ways music can affect the dance class and enhance their students experience.

Social Dance Pet Peeves? (Hygiene, No connection, People who teach while dancing, etc.)

I would say it’s not about the physical frame or connection – but rather if they are present in the dance and having a good time.  I definitely notice if someone is distracted or looking around.  I’m happy to do the fundamental steps for the entire dance as long as the person is connected and present – so distracted dancing would definitely be a pet peeve.

One thing that bothers me in general is a lack of respect for others boundaries and safety.  Unfortunately, I see that a lot.

You’re a veteran of the bachata dance scene and have witnessed bachata rise from a fringe dance to one that now can be the focal point of festivals/congresses. What are your thoughts on why bachata music and dance have gained such a foothold in the latin dance community?

I think the rise of the internet has played a major role.  I found Joan Soriano online through his production company website.  After I finished the documentary, I had no idea that bachata festivals existed, but I was able to find and contact organizers of festivals through their websites.  The trajectory of my work certainly has been influenced by the internet.  If you look at the influential teachers in the late 2010s, and even today, social channels such as YouTube have been a major factor in their exposure and ability to connect to dancers.

Favorite dance video you’d like to share?

One of my favorite videos that I’ve filmed is with Yemy and Alejandra in the Dominican Republic.  They’re dancing to music that’s playing from a club nearby where we were filming.  I think it’s a spontaneous, organic and high level dance.  Getting a spontaneous social dance video in this type of environment that isn’t choreographed is really challenging.

Check out Adam’s YouTube channel by clicking on the banner below!

Is that a Bachata Song, Remix or not Bachata?

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Is that a Bachata Song, Remix or not Bachata?

Ever hear a song that sounds like bachata, but is actually R&B because it is similar enough rhythmically that you can still dance bachata steps to it? We all have.  Carlos Cinta, one of the most influential bachata instructors in the latin dance scene, provides a video to help you tell the difference.

You may be saying to yourself, ‘Who cares? All I want to do is dance!” Well – it’s still a great lesson in bachata instrumentation and you can impress your fellow dancers with your newfound knowledge. Check it out!

Visit GotBachata.com for more bachata tips and lessons from Carlos.

Bachata Dance Basic Steps

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Bachata Dance Basic Steps

Adam Taub is a bachata documentary filmmaker, researcher and dance teacher. He has lived in the Dominican Republic and conducted extensive research, in-depth video projects, and recorded interviews with bachata legends. Adam is widely recognized for his innovative presentations and the unique pedagogy he has developed for teaching bachata dance and musicology. Adam has been invited to teach and present his work at dozens of national and international salsa and bachata festivals, libraries, cultural centers, and universities.

In this 6-minute video, Adam breaks down six bachata basic steps:

  1. Forward & Back in Place
  2. Forward and Back Progressive
  3. Forward and Back Progressive Pass
  4. Box Step
  5. Diagonal Box Step
  6. Triple Step or Cha Cha

The three videos below take a closer looks at the Box Step, Diagonal Box Step and Triple Step or Cha Cha.

Box Step: (3.5 minutes)

Diagonal Box Step: (4 minutes)

Triple Step or Cha Cha: (6 minutes)

Check out Adam’s YouTube channel for a wealth of videos detailing authentic bachata dance, culture and music.

Dance Spotlight – Damian Guzman

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Dance Spotlight – Damian Guzman

Damian Guzman is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight!  Damian is a well-known latin dancer instructor and DJ based in the Houston area.  He was nominated by Jason Haynes.  Check out a few fun facts about Damian including his favorite places in Houston to dance and his most memorable dance moment!

Want to nominate someone to be in the Dance Spotlight? Contact us!

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Puerto Rico. I grew up in one of the largest Dominican neighborhoods in Puerto Rico and I’ve listened to salsa and bachata since I was a kid.  I also have lived in Boston, Chicago, and I’m currently based out of Houston.

What (or who) originally inspired you to try Latin dancing?

I have been dancing since I was a child, but when I saw the YouTube video of Ataca & Alemana dancing to the song ‘Te Extrano’ by Extreme (video below), I became extremely inspired to take it to the next level and learn more technique.

Favorite places in Houston to dance?

My top favorites are the Houston Loves Bachata Social, which only happens about four times a year.  I also love the Houston Salsa Dura Social, the Culture Beat Social, and the Salrica socials that occur every first, second, and third Saturday, respectively.

Social Dance Pet Peeves? (Hygiene, No connection, People who teach while dancing, etc)

My main pet peeve is when the follow is more concerned with what’s going around us instead on focusing on the connection. It really kills the vibe for me because I feel that they’re only going through the motions and not fully enjoying it. For me, the most important thing on the floor is not who has the best technique or who is the best dancer.  What truly matters is who is having the most fun and that’s the person I want to dance with.

Favorite dance moment from your career as an instructor?

One of my favorite moments was in 2016. I went to a city named Cadiz in Spain, which is the place where Bachata Sensual was created.  Visiting the city, dancing, and getting certified by the creators of the Bachata Sensual dance style was one of my most gratifying moments in my dance life. I was one of the first two Bachata Sensual certified instructors in the US!

Favorite congresses or festivals in the US/World to attend/teach?

My absolute favorite three US festivals are (in order): (1) DCBX in Washington D.C. (2) the Chicago Salsa & Bachata Festival, and (3) the Dallas Bachata Festival. These festivals are extremely well organized, provide excellent value for the price, and they bring an amazing international line-up.

What are your current favorite songs to dance to? Top two or three…

I’m a hardcore bachatero and I love “Estado Decadente” by Kewin Cosmo & Jensen Hasir and “Paris” by Pinto Picasso.  One of my all time favorites is “Amigos Con Derechos” by DJ Khalid, Mr. Don and Johandy.

Favorite dance video(s) you’d like to share?

Some of my own favorite dance videos are these two filmed in New York and Budapest, Hungary.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BziEYLThEvQ/?igshid=qck1jq7a3ict
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx-Uqd1hsWd/?igshid=1758m0zaw1291

My absolute favorite show has to be this performance by Ronald & Alba from Spain.  They demonstrate an incredible mastery of performance and technique through all bachata styles in one show.

Dance Spotlight – Edwin Ferreras

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Dance Spotlight – Edwin Ferreras

Edwin Ferreras is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight!  Edwin, International Ambassador of Dominican Arts, is a Dominican-born dancer, producer, and educator – and one of the most gifted bachata dancers on the planet today. He and his equally talented and knowledgeable partner, Dakhota Romero, founded Areíto Arts and together they form a powerhouse duo that is one of the most influential in the global latin dance scene. They travel the world performing and educating dancers on bachata, bolero, son, merengue, and dembow.

Edwin was nominated by Jason Haynes (one of the Go Latin Dance admin’s).  Check out some fun facts and information about Edwin including some of his favorite bachata songs and his advice for dancers who wish to follow in his footsteps.

Want to nominate someone to be in the Dance Spotlight? Contact us!

What are your first memories of dancing bachata?

Definitely with family. My earliest memory of dancing bachata and merengue was in 1989 at a small farewell party my great aunt threw for my mom, brother, and I before we first left our home town in the Dominican Republic for our new life in New York City. Bachata made up a huge part of our lives while we were living in the Dominican Republic and to our surprise, we found its influence and presence even in Washington Heights. Bachata is more than just a hobby or an interest; music and dance is generally an integral part of our every day lives.

You’ve traveled the world inspiring others to be better dancers…Do you have any particular dancers that inspire you to be a better instructor and/or performer? If so, who and why?

If I start naming the dancers that have influenced or inspired me, this interview will last for days!

As an educator who works in public schools and also teaches adults around the globe, some of my main influences are my college professors in the Music Education program at City College such as my former program director, Stephen Jablonski, my music education teacher, Janet Steele, former director of the Dominican Studies Institute, Ramona Hernandez, and Patricia Ruffin, my student teacher from the first school I worked. All of these individuals have in some way helped me to develop core content (standardized and cultural), build my curricula (multicultural music and dance), and develop techniques for teaching with pedagogy and inquiry based learning, which is still utilized in our content to this very day.

As for performers, again there are way too many to mention, but I have been influenced by Michael Jackson, Misty Copeland, and The Nicholas Brothers (for general dance) and, as far as hip hop goes, Ellen Kim, Keone & Mari, and Kelly Peters. In the Latin dance scene, my influences include Mykel Fonts, Bersy Cortez, Shani Talmor, and Karen and Ricardo. I have admired them all not only for their stage presence and ability to connect to the audience, but also for their rigorous work ethic and commitment to their craft which I find admirable and motivating.

As far as the core of my own dancing, my primary and earliest influence is my mother, Izora Madrigal. She not only taught me my first steps in Son, Bolero, Bachata, Merengue, etc but has also in many ways influenced and inspired content that my partner and I teach around the world.

My dance partner and co-founder of Areito Arts, Dakhota Romero, has been a huge influence on me as well as our work. We teach world-wide,  and her multicultural experiences and variety of talents contribute to the core of our content and our approach when we teach around the world.

Additionally, we have been influenced by our peers and colleagues: Adam Taub, Carlos Cinta, Ciara and Andrea, Bailamar owners Maria and Alexander, and the President of Alianza Dominicana Ivan Dominguez, the latter being a Dominican folklorist, and a personal mentor. These contemporaries of mine have helped with my personal growth as an educator, dance instructor and as an ethnomusicologist.

What are your current favorite songs to dance to? Top two or three…

Oh man! In every single interview I am asked this question and I am never able to answer it because there are just too many, but for you I’ll try my best.

I’m currently in love with everything from merengue artists Miriam Cruz as well as Fefita La Grande. As far as Bachata music,  I personally know and work with many of my favorite Bachata artists so I’ll mention the ones I do not work with and do not know personally in order to avoid bias. I’m loving every hit song of Alexandra from her days with Monchy, all the Haitian Bachata artist, such as Felix Cumbe, and pretty much everything by Raulin, Antony Santos, and Luis Vargas. I’m still loving Romeo Santos’s “Utopia” album and no song gets me in my feels as much as “El Beso Que No Le Di” with Kiko Rodriguez and “Amor Enterrado” with Joe Veras.

Favorite local places in NYC to dance?

Although NYC has a ton of places to dance, I only frequent one of them. This place isn’t your typical “Latin dance social”. It is held inside a cultural center called “Centro Cultural Manoguayabo” and organized by a Dominican gentleman named Pablo Abreu, who hosts this event every Sunday.  It is a mature people’s party so it is quite the hidden gem for us younger people (which is part of why I love it so much).

The average attendees are Dominican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican. I have a very special bond to this place because of my mom who is a member of this club. It’s a family style party with the best Bachata, Merengue, Son, Bolero, and Salsa music. It is my favorite party in the world! All my close friends and peers have at some point gotten an invitation to this place from me and each and everyone of them end up loving it. It is difficult to do describe just how incredible the atmosphere is with words.

Outside of NYC, I have truly enjoyed party’s like Friday nights at La Rumba in Denver. In Dominican Republic, we frequent the car washes in Santo Domingo, and the town of Los Pescadores in Las Terrenas where we take the guests of the cultural excursion we manage twice a year. My favorite party in Dominican Republic however is in Las Ruinas of Zona Colonial in the Capital. This party happens outdoors every Sunday with Grupo Bonye and it’s simply amazing and a must see attraction for anyone visiting my country.

Describe an accomplishment in your dance career that made you proud.

In 2017,  I was nominated for a position as an International Ambassador of Dominican Arts & Culture. The nomination alone left me speechless, so you can only imagine how I felt when I won. This was by far the biggest accomplishment I have received and being awarded for this feat at the Dominican Cultural Center Manoguayabo on my favorite day, Feb 27th (Dominican Independence Day), added to my joy. Later that year, at the 2017 Dominican Day Parade in New York, I was inaugurated for my ambassadorship and my partner was also honored as an Advocate of Dominican Arts. Pleasant side note: my dance team, LFX, participated and danced in the parade along with our close friends and supporters. 2017 was a year that will be remembered as one of my proudest and greatest. This honor has opened up so many doors for me and created a path to my cultural enrichment and since then I have been working to become an official diplomat of the Dominican Republic.

What advice would you have for someone who wants to be a professional latin dance instructor?

First, keep digging, keep learning, and when you feel you know something inside out, forget everything you thought you knew and re-learn it from scratch. Go straight to the source of what you want to learn. Develop good work ethics and positive working relationships. Be kind, have empathy, be inclusive, and don’t resist your own growth. Learn to network, collaborate, and help others grow. You don’t have to do everything alone, in fact you will go much further when you learn to work with others. Remember that there were instructors before you and there will be plenty more after you. The mark you leave today will only last as long as the amount of people you inspired, supported, collaborated with, and helped grow. This is the advice I continuously give myself and the one that I give to others wishing for success in this business that’s intermixed with culture.

What dance goal are you still striving to achieve?

My partner and I are striving to build a stronger online presence. A way we plan to accomplish this is by expanding our content to an online platform, AreitoArtsOnline.com. In the past, I was passionately against creating an online platform, in part, because of my feelings against standardizing dance styles. As a tenured music and dance teacher in the Department of Education, I have very strong belief that teachers need to be present, and that teaching should be personal. I believe it is difficult to explore effective teaching methods without the aesthetics and practicality of being there in person with your students.

Thanks to my partner Dakhota and our platform partners, however, I’ve come to learn that online content provides more accessibility and inclusivity, especially to those who cannot afford to come to the events where we teach, or to those who don’t have the luxury of time to attend classes in person. This method of teaching/learning may provide a more inclusive approach where students of all ages, backgrounds, identity, and special needs can learn from the comfort of their own safe spaces.

Dance video(s) you’d like to share?

 

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