Bachata. Salsa. Cha Cha. Even the words sound sensual when you say it (don’t try it with a southern country accent, it doesn’t work). This past weekend was my first dance conference experience. The 4th annual College Salsa Congress this year, located in Long Beach, gathered over 25 college and universities to perform and compete in Latin dance routines showing off some of the most talented Latin dancers in California. Latin dances are really popular to many different ethical backgrounds here in California, it doesn’t only pertain to people from a Latin country. The first salsa class I ever took was in a studio owned by a Chinese lady with my mom and 10 other Chinese friends. In California, I want to say that we are pretty diverse and one of the most diverse activities is located in the atmosphere of Latin social dancing.
Though I wasn’t in the competition team, I really enjoyed just performing in front of a big crowd. It reminds me of my cheer spirit days when I performed on a big stage in Disneyland and around SF Bay every year for 5 years. Coming back to performing, I had forgotten how to do performance facial expressions, so I didn’t work my best on the stage! Also, I think my partner had the heebie jeebies when he stepped on stage and we were off timing for most of the performance. The conference was a 3-day party filled with dancing and bonding with my fellow dancing teammates. How often do you get to dance by the poolside, in a high traffic downtown area, on the sands of the beach, in a moving bus, or in a hotel room without any care of what people think!? Not very often and it sure was fun!
Something I came to love is Bachata! It’s a style of dance and form of music originated from Dominican Republic. It’s a basic three-step and a tap or pop on the fourth beat in an 8-count with a Cuban hip-motion. The knees are slightly bent and everything else consists of sexiness. Often times it’s too sexy for me, but what the partners do is connect forehead to forehead or cheek to cheek, tummy to tummy, hip to hip and if you get lucky…heart to heart. The reason I like this countryside and rural originated dance is because it’s forlorn with emotion, romance, and heartbreak. It’s also sensual, simple, and really heartfelt if you let your body go. The songs usually talk about heartbreak and love, sort of like the blues or country in the U.S. You can usually recognize the songs of bachata based on its use of an electric guitar marking the main rhythm, usually on the 4th and 8th beat. Try dancing this on a moving bus!
BUT!! One particular problem I had during the trip was confusion about this masculine and feminine dance in which I was participating in. At times, I asked myself why am I participating in something that predominantly has a man role and a women role. The men are manly and the women are womanly. Though I love social dancing, this problem itched my bones at certain times I felt uncomfortable. I was certainly confused and surrounding myself with something I don’t believe in. Yes, as a woman, I have a choice to not follow, add some of my own style, and dance on my own, but it comes down to the leader, whom are usually men, leading my steps. I feel like I have no choice. Are Latin dances completely against feminist views? I hope not because I love it and I love bachata and salsa.
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Dandelion Traveler
dandeliontraveler 
I guess it has a bit of non feminist roots, but I think it is related to the fact that it has a bit of romance too in it (flirting). I liked that thing I heard sometime ago: the man has the first step, but its the woman the one who decides if they dance” and now I see you too heard of it.
Since Im not from South Am. (spainnnn), I cant tell , but I think its feels incredibly nice when they lead you softly, its not agressive movements, its like “guiding” more than leading, and I like it. I think dancing is a thing of two, and the fact than the man leads its just how technique is (and since its old, it is based on history and relationships).
do you really feel there´s predominance in this? –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?src_vid=Z4e7VcnWCT0&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_320859&v=U3osIPrc7tM I just find it so awesome!
Im glad hearing you are doing THAT good. I will never be able to do that! I miss you.