My List: Recommended Dancers
I often get asked by my students or anybody who is knew in Bachata, which dancers I can recommend them on social media.
Hands down my most favourite and recommended dancers for Bachata are the local people in the rural neighbourhoods Barrios in the Dominican Republic, the Dominicans who grew up watching other people dancing on the street.
However of course there are many brilliant dancers and dance instructors who have become famous and popular thanks to the internet and social media, amazing people who are contributing to the “Dominican Bachata” dance community worldwide. People who I highly respect for their work, their contribution, passion, knowledge, wisdom, who inspire me and who I have also taken lessons with. Instructors who organise events, classes, even festivals so that social dancers get access to their huge knowledge and experience, in order to understand better the culture of the dance.
So here are some of the artists, who I highly recommend to either follow or definitely take lessons with them if you get the chance.
For me, the dancers I look up to have the following traits : authenticity, naturalness, dance with ease, flow (flow does not mea footwork !), respect to wards culture and the people, who dance very closely to how Dominicans do, and who embody the Feeling of Bachata.
Obviously there are many other amazing dancers, but this time I picked only a few - and btw totally not sponsored or paid to do so, but all according to my very personal taste and beliefs - because I know, these dancers will give you the most accurate picture of what Bachata is like on the island - again, according to my personal way of seeing it!
Hope you enjoy the list, and please share it with your friends who might find it helpful !
And maybe you want to tell me in the comments : who are your recommended dancers ?
Most of them offer dance classes, so make sure to follow, DM, and work with them :)
DISCLAIMER : There is no particular order and it might change or be updated in future.
Edwin & Dakhota “AREÍTO ARTS”
Edwin and Dakhota are one of the very first Bachata instructors I have met in person when I went to my very first Bachata congress (NYC Bachata Festival, New Jersey) back then in 2017.
Edwin M. Ferrera is Dominican (born in San Pedro de Macorís) and Dakhota is American, both based in the U.S., and founded their company called AREÍTO ARTS dedicated to sharing and educating dancers about the Dominican dances and cultures such as Bachata, Merengue, Bolero and more. What makes them so special is their very unique way of teaching. Focusing on the cultural aspects in dance, they actually make you actually experience and feel the dance.
Their workshops have always a very unique concept and I promise you, what you learn with them you will never ever forget !
Isoldita
Isoldita is the perfect example that you do not need to grow up with a certain culture to be able to dance just as natural and as authentic as the Dominicans do. The Swedish and Dominican mixed instructor is based in Gothenburg, Sweden. Despite her talent and fame as a dancer not only in the community but also on Youtube videos by Adam Taub, you would be intrigued by her humbleness and her dedication to deliver valuable materials to her students. Many might think she can only dance that well because she is Dominican, however you would be surprised to hear that she started dancing Bachata much much later as she didn’t grow up with the Dominican culture. If you are curious to find out more about her story, check out the interview with her by Jessica Taylor from For The Love Of Bachata.
The married and mixed couple Argenis and Carolina based in Barcelona, Spain are the perfect example of joining the two worlds together : The Dominican fun and the European strategies :)
Argenis being Dominican (born in San Pedro de Macorís) and Carolina from Spain, they are doing an amazing job in “conquering” their home base country by creating and educating many people and teams across the regions. Not only that they are the organiser of the Europe’s biggest Dominican Bachata festival and one of the best Dominian Bachata festivals in the world A Lo Dominican Festival Barcelona. If you happen to be in Europe around that time, do yourself a favour and go to their festival !
Sueco is Swedish and Spanish mixed, Johanna is from the Dominican Republic and they are based in Madrid, Spain. Their slogan “Sencillo y diferente” never seem to disappoint us, because they truly have this magical connection and power to make everything look effortless and simple yet special ! Maybe it’s because of the style of Johanna who comes from Barahona, where it’s Bachata is known to be more elegant, or maybe it’s because Sueco has this effortless and quiet confidence to dance like a Dominican. The best way to fully understand what I’m talking about, definitely watch their videos and also dance with them, maybe at one of own their events which they have started in 2022 :)
Junior is Dominican ( from Bonao) and Carolina from Colombia, which makes them the powerhouse of Bachata and authentic Latin dance vibes in Stockholm, Sweden, where they are based at. It’s absolutely fascinating and inspiring to watch how fast they have grown over the last few years since I started following them in 2018. They organise festivals such as Keloke Bachata Festival and Mama Rumba Festival, they offer dance trips to the Dominican Republic with Keloke Adventures (one of the most popular trips), they opened their own dance school the Keloke Dance Studio, they also manage Online dance lessons and work together with other amazing instructors together for Bachata teachers certificates. Besides their very unique and powerful dance style which is very much influenced by the Bonao style (a region in the DR famous for their footwork and where Junior originates from), they have successfully created a local community and generate more and more new instructors.
Ana Saldaña
Ana is from Bonao, Dominica Republic, and is one of the most talented dancers and instructors from the island. If you meet her in person you will soon realise that she doesn’t enjoy dancing and teaching as an instructor only, she really loves and enjoys dancing with her full heart. Over the years she has become so popular that you see her in most of the events in the DR. She offers private lessons but also private tours in Bonao, so if you want to support locals and female dancers, definitely message her. (for more tips about Bonao, check out my blog post).
Jeancarlo Rosario
Jeancarlo is probably one of the most popular local social dancer from the DR on social media. As humble as he is, he doesn’t consider himself as a professional dancer or teacher (who knows, maybe this will change one day ? ;)), which makes him even more interesting. No matter what he is, there’s no doubt that we love him for his natural flow and go-with-ease style of dancing and his mesmerising hip movements !
If you are a guy and want to see how sexy a man can be moving their hips naturally, go check out his videos ! He is based in Bonao and you will find him at Rio Fula, and also offers private tours.
Dima Lohmatov
Being an instructor and DJ, Dima is probably the most Dominicanised Israeli you will find on earth - his love for this country and culture is admirable ! Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, he and his previous partners have done a tremendous job in establishing a very solid community by creating an online group Bachata Mania, teaching regularly, and doing festivals. Whatever he does, he always makes sure to give something back to the DR and the people, by hiring Dominican instructors to their festivals, bringing new students to the island, and also working together with the Dominican embassy. It’s not only his activities what makes him so remarkable, but it’s also his way of dancing. He also is one of the few non Dominican men who convince me with his naturalness, his smoothness, and his passion and love for this dance , music and the culture - the best example again that you don’t need to be Dominican to dance like them !
Nyota
Nyota is based in Antwerp, Belgium, where she is currently teaching together with her team Los 3 Golpes
( visit their website and instagram here ).
What I appreciate about her dancing is that she is the embodiment of “pure” Bachata.
You hardly get to watch her dance videos as she is more on the quiet end of exposing herself on social media, and even more rarely you will see her solo dancing - which is a shame, because it is an absolute joy to watch her moving naturally and enjoying the moment.
Indiana
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Indiana is based in Groningen in the Netherlands, where she teaches together with her partner Rik.
Everytime I get the chance to dance with her, it is so much fun both to dance with her but also to watch her dancing as she glides on the dance floor so effortlessly.
Check out her videos for her flow !
Ive Suero
I have found Ive on Instagram a few months ago and she has been my most favourite dancer this year ever since. Based in the Dominican Republic, you will often see her dance in the Batey or at home comfortably by herself or with her fun and equally amazing dancers. Either way I admire her for her playfulness yet effortless dancing with so much flavour ! Make sure to follow her on Instagram if you want to get a better idea of how social dancing in the Dominican Republic looks like!
