Question 1

Rule #0 - Smell Good!

Accepted Answer

By far the most important rule of being a great Bachata Sensual dancer - SMELL GOOD. Breath, body odor, perspiration control, etc. It is really unpleasant to dance with a stinky person, no matter how good they are! This includes being sweaty, if you know you sweat a lot, bring a towel to wipe your face, bring an extra shirt (or two), and if you continue to be sweaty just take a break and cool off.

Question 2

Rule #1 - Nothing on the right side

Accepted Answer

Bachata Sensual is often danced in close position, to avoid any awkward (or worse) scenarios, make sure this is nothing in your right pocket. For guys, make sure you move EVERYTHING to the left.

Question 3

Rule #2 - Do the move yourself

Accepted Answer

Bachata Sensual is famous for its shapes and figures that make it beautiful, but people often misunderstand how these shapes are accomplished and made beautiful!

Leads - If you cannot do the move yourself, do not attempt to lead it. This is how roughness and injury happens. Only when you can lead a movement with your body will it be comfortable and achievable. To this end, practice your isolations and movements on your own so that you will have more ability.

Follows - You also need to be able to complete these moves without a partner. Relying on a partner to accomplish your movements will not only make you difficult to lead, and limit the lead's options, but you will never LOOK good. The shapes look good when the follow can already do them well alone and use the lead to help them make it even more beautiful!

Question 4

Rule #3 - Be Patient

Accepted Answer

People learn Bachata Sensual for FUN, and everyone started somewhere. Be patient with your classmates, everyone learns at different rates, and everyone has different goals. Especially follows tend to lose their patience with the leads and want to move up in level before they are ready.

Follows - We often hear you say, "When I go with the advanced guys I can do the move, but with the beginner guys I cannot do it."  When you feel this way keep a few things in mind.
 • In the beginning, leading is more difficult than following. Leads are learning how to dance and move their bodies, like you, but also learning to prepare ahead, have proper leading technique, and manage another person's body. While following is simpler in the beginning, LOOKING GOOD while following is difficult. 
 • In class you are learning how to follow and look good, not the patterns. Really focus in on the tension, weight transfer, and shapes, rather than the pattern. In social dancing you will not be tasked with remembering or executing a pattern. You are tasked with executing weight transfer, shapes, and tension.
 • Remember rule 2! It feels good with more advanced dancers because they are taking on the responsibility for your success, often limiting their options. An advanced follow, like Anastasia, is able to go with the same beginner students and make the movements look good and make her partner feel good, she is able to add styling and embellishment so that even if her partner is not doing THE pattern, she is still dancing her dance.

code of conduct

The Rules of Bachata SENSUAL