If you haven’t seen the latest viral video of Sofia Vergara getting her swerve on at an Emmy after party, no fear, just click here. If there is one lessoned to be learned from the video ‘LLERO’s it pays to know how to dance. Damn that Derrick Hough!!
We enlisted the experts to give you some pointers — Island Touch Dance Academy’s Jorge “Ataca” Burgos and Tanja “La Alemana” Kensinger. Don’t believe us, well with their Bachata and Salsa routines, they’ve danced their way to the top-tier of the professional Latin Dance scene, attaining worldwide fame as well as choreography gigs for acts such as Xtreme, Prince Royce and Toby Love. Need we say more?
First a bit about our Bachata guru’s. Earlier in life, both of their families played key roles in their penchant for dancing. Jorge grew up watching his family play instruments and dance the night away during their many parrandas. While Tanja’s dance history goes back to Germany, where her mother – a professional ballroom dancer – signed her up for classes in ballroom dancing, ballet and tap dance at three-years-old.
While working for a mortgage company, Jorge met Rudi Lopez (a.k.a. El Tiguere Del Mambo).
“One day, [Rudi] called me into his office and was like, ‘I’ve seen you grow into this very mature, high-level dancer. I’ve always wanted to start a dance company. What do you think about going in it with me?’ And, I said, ‘Of course!’”
Tanja – who had already been running her own dance company with a former partner – met Jorge through the dance scene. Sometime later, Tanja split with her partner and was in search of a new dance mate.
“[Jorge] found out that I was looking for a dance partner, he gave me a call, and that’s when we started talking,” Tanja recounted. The two linked up, and along with Rudi, Island Touch was ready to
“touch the world.”
Today, Tanja and Jorge travel the globe performing, teaching Bachata, and building up the brand through events and by forming Island Touch dance teams around the world. Island Touch is also responsible for the annual BachaTu International Bachata Festival held during the last weekend of May in the Dominican Republic. Only two years in, the festival has already become a must-attend event, which has seen musical performances from big names such as, “El Torito” Hector Acosta, Luis Vargas and the legendary Luis Segura.
‘LLERO caught up with “Ataca” and “La Alemana” to get you some knowhow on dancing Bachata, and to clue you in on what the ladies expect from you on the dance floor. BACHATEA…TEA…TEA!
Moves To Know According To Ataca
1. Side-To-Side Basics
This is one-two-three-tap to the right, one-two-three-tap to your left – you can count sequentially to six if you like. There is also the Forward And Back Basics, which is just one-two-three-tap forward, one-two-three-tap back. According to Ataca, “You can technically live off that and be good to go. That’s one of the beauties of Bachata!”
2. Turns
“Some people don’t like turning, some people do,” he said. You have your left turns and your right turns for both the men and women. The male turns the female, however, REMEMBER THIS – the dama never turns the ‘LLERO. He simply turns himself.
3. Connect With Your Partner
“Where the sexy comes in is with the connection,” Ataca explained. “You have this window where you can get close. Not too close — there’s obviously a fine line,” he added. You can also blow your dance partner a kiss or bite your lips seductively. But, don’t be creepy. You want to be cool about it.
Ladies’ Expectations According To La Alemana
1. Be A Caba(‘LLERO)
“No girl wants a guy to just grab her on the dance floor. A guy should always ask a lady to dance instead,” La Alemana expressed. “A lot of guys get drunk at nightclubs and they cross that line by touching her inappropriately,” she also pointed out. As long as you’re respectful, though, you should be fine.
2. Take Control
The guy needs to be able to take charge of the girl. “Even though there are a lot of independent ladies out there, they still want the guy to take charge,” she shared.
3. Know Your Stuff
La Alemana also said, “Don’t be too proud to take classes, so you actually know what you are doing.”
For more on La Alemana, Ataca, Island Touch and any of their upcoming projects, visit IslandTouchDance.com, or hit up their Facebook listed as “Island Touch Dance Academy.”