Re: 1st Annual Steven’s Steakhouse Bachata Championship - April 14, 2010
My name is Rodney Rodchata Aquino and I am one of the pioneers of bachata dancing here in the USA. I started dancing and learning the culture of bachata and merengue 13 years ago. In the year of 2002, I started teaching the dance and have travelled all over USA and the world teaching bachata bootcamps.
In January 2009, I organized the very 1st International Bachata Festival in USA (Reno). This is what many claims started it all in the USA. San Francisco Bachata Festival came a few months later on July 2009 and several bachata festivals came after, organized by the very people that participated in Reno and San Francisco, notably Jorge Contreras and Leslie Ferreira along with Alejandro Rey on whom I consider bachata experts.
Today, I’m inspired that upcoming Bachata Festivals, (5 of them I’m organizing) are now spreading throughout USA (Reno, SF, Hawaii, Chicago, DC, Dallas, Seattle, New Mexico, etc).
I am also the president of International Bachata Competitor’s Association (IBCA). This is an organization responsible for bachata competition with rankings and cumulative points system ensuring fair competition and judging, and is about to launch its 1st World Competition.
On March 24th, I got an invitation from one of your staff to judge your 1st Annual Steven’s Steakhouse Bachata Championship, April 14, 2010. Although I was organizing a local event at the time, I considered the invitation important and accepted it. My agreement with your staff was that “I will be judging if all the other judges are bachateros.” There were 3 judges in total planned (which were enough in the first place).
It is important to note that I have helped your staff with several of the following:
- Provided judging criteria and judging sheet based on IBCA
- Provided “contest rules” taken from IBCA
- Helped answer questions including providing other information regarding running a bachata competition in general.
On April 14th, I found out that you have hired a last-minute additional judge for the competition. I expressed my cautiousness (with your staff) with the selection since the additional judge happened to be a pro salsa dancer and not a bachatero. I foresaw a potential problem with it. Of course, It was too late for me to change my decision in judging the contest. (I prefer running a bachata contests with bachata judges only for obvious reasons.)
When the contest started, I was impressed and inspired by the competitor’s skills, yes, everyone of them. But as judge, not every competitors can win and I had to select and award high points to couples that fitted the judging sheet criteria accordingly.
There was one couple whom I had problem with, they danced bachata to a reggaeton song. Although I was impressed with their dancing skills (and will be welcomed to perform at all of my bachata festivals) and given them points on several criterias, I could not justify giving them points in musicality which relates the contest rule: “80% must be bachata song.” This is based on my expertise with bachata and as an experienced judge on other dance competitions for 15 years. As a result, after the contest, someone had informed a competitor couple that I had given certain couple zero points for musicality.
According to your staff, after tallying all the scores of the judging sheet, score sheets would not be publicized. (FYI, This is not an IBCA rule - we publicize each scores in every criteria). I didn’t mind publicizing it, actually.
Several days after the competition, I found out that that judging sheets were made public that not only created a commotion, but also created a big controversy of several judges, including me. Insulting comments via facebook and websites such as “I didn’t have a clue as what bachata is” “Who the hell are these judges?” “That is f***d up that you gave them zero!” “The judges are amateurs” were posted.
Earlier today, I found out that not only you reversed the results of the competition (disrespecting and ignoring judges decisions and scores) awarding a couple that didn’t even make top three, awarding them $500 and placing them 2nd along with original 2nd place winners (two 2nd place winners). This is a big disappoinment to the judges and to the bachata competition as a whole.
Another bigger disappointment: You posted all the videos of the competitor’s routine, encouraging an online voting as to “who really won the contest.” This is an absolute insult to the judges, to the competitors, to the competition and to the bachata world.
I respectfully request for Steven’s Steakhouse Management regarding the 1st Annual Steven’s Steakhouse Bachata Championship to NOT CHANGE the judges decision and competition results. This is for the respect of your future contests, your reputation, honoring the judges and respecting the competitors and for their sportsmanship.
I await your kind response in this matter.
Sincerely,
Rodney Rodchata Aquino
Rodney@rodchata.com
IBCA - President
www.rodneyaquino.com
www.rodchata.com
What’s so fun about dancing a dance in a side to side manner with twings and twangs of the guitar?
This is what non-bachateros ask us. I am sure you heard such question before, right? You could still remember their smirk and mocking facial expressions.
But you see, bachata dancing is beyond side to side steps… It’s being ONE with the music.
I didn’t realize it then, but in my 12 years of dancing bachata, it had become an eye-opening journey. Based on my extensive research, my article, “Bachata Dance, an innovative approach” (search google), I wrote how innovation as an intensive process, a journey, a life changing experience.
Today, as I travel the world over, teaching bachata, I have seen and experienced it all; Dominican bachata, bachatango, European style, Modern, Moderna, tracidional, bachata rueda, the lists goes on and on…bachata has grown and is growing fast!
Bachata is also now being recognized by DJs, clubs, Latin promoters, Grammys, and mind you, even the current president of the United States (Obama honors Aventura, search google).
How is bachata suppose to be danced anyways?
From what I’ve seen so far, bachata is danced with different interpretations. Most students interpret the dance and music on their own, and some just follow their teacher’s instructions.
But I have been noticing something (that doesn’t fit) that I am compelled to note here… There is no feeling, no passion and flavor is missing. It is becoming mechanical. What gives?
Let me offer a few solutions (concepts I teach in my workshops)…
- Listen to the music. A vital ingredient that must be included during a dance. For example, some salsa dancers fail to listen to the beat. When there’s a pause or break, they fail to recognize it and still doing innumerable patterns and spins. It’s also becoming of bachata dancers.
- No connection with the partner This is why I always emphasize the ABC’s of connection in the beginning of all my classes. Just like in a love relationship, connection is a must otherwise, there’s no emotion and relationship becomes boring. Dancing bachata is a 3 to 4 minutes relationship. It’s a short journey that can go long for more without being aware that the music has ceased.
- Recognize the Trinity, 3 in 1 The music, you and your partner…you are three yet one while dancing. 1 x 1 x 1 = 1 and not 1 + 1 +1 = 3.
-Have you tried closing your eyes when your heads touch together? You’d be surprised at the dramatic effects and transformations while dancing.
- Get to know every bachata songs played. Put ‘em on iPod and listen to them everyday. Especially for non-Spanish speaking, google the songs and translate the lyrics. Your Dominican style footwork will improve tremendously and you will be able to feel the music more.
- Listen to the instruments of the music; congas, bass, guitar, etc
- Complicated patterns are designed to IMPRESS. You dance bachata not to impress but to FEEL.
- Relax, no pressure! If you can’t move your hips, don’t move your hips! You don’t need to move your hips, but if you are able, do it! Dancing bachata is meant to be fun and in a relax manner.
- If you are not performing, do not do performance tricks, jumps or acrobats on the dancefloor It’s is about feeling the music and it’s being one with your partner, closed position or open position, it makes no difference. Bachata dancing is fun, energetic at times, or emotional and sexy as well.
Dance like no one is watching. Most importantly, bachata is not a set form and it’s not just one form.
To quote Bruce Lee who was once a Chachacha champion, “Don’t get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” -
http://www.rodneyaquino.com - http://www.rodchata.com
She looked me up and down, thought for a few seconds and said, “OK.” As we were dancing, she suddenly stopped, looked at me and clapped her hands several times, imitating the clave beat. I didn’t know what it meant at the time, but I knew enough by looking at the expression on her face that she didn’t like my dancing. I interrupted her clapping, thanked her and walked out.
That night changed my life, made a promise to myself, that no woman would ever embarass me like that again. I thought of befriending some people at salsa classes, got their email addresses and phone…I told them, I will be sending them a weekly salsa updates - Salsagang was born. The main idea of the group was to have fun dancing at the clubs together.
2 years later, Salsagang.com grew. On my birthday, the original members of Salsagang (there were 9 of them) gave me a small statue with an imprint saying, “the best president.”
It is one thing to be recognized by certain people in a community, but it’s another to be truly recognized by your peers, the very same people that had been there with you from the beginning. It is much more meaningful. I was touched and I never forgotten it to this day. This was 15 years ago.
This inspired and made me started recognizing and appreciating people for their contributions to the dance community, after all, no one else were recognizing them. The dance scene is so selfish and territorial that nobody would give a sh*t.
Salsagang has given numerous Award of Recognition over the years and I am happy to this day that such appreciation made an impact to the awardee and to me personally.
Recently, certain celebrities passed away, Michael Jackson, particularly. There were many celebrities that died over the years, but the passing of MJ truly made me sad.
In a way, it was kinda uplifting to see people appreciating and remembering the legend. Then I got sadder and ask myself a question, “Why is it that people begin to appreciate, give praise, give tribute to a dead person?” “Where are the praises and appreciation when the person was still alive and aware enough to feel such gesture?”
3 days ago, I was watching an interview of Al Sharpton by CNN recently about MJ, he was asked on how he was feeling of MJ’s death, he responded by saying, “It’s a good thing that people are now coming out appreciating the king of pop, but he’s dead. Where were they when he was still alive?”
This year at the SF Bachata Festival, we have the night of awards by Salsagang.com. It has now become a tradition on my events such as the festival in Reno and now in SF.
We are giving awards of recognition to 10 people this year and I am very excited. My criteria in giving such awards is not because the recipient has been doing a certain service or a certain job for a long time, longevity has nothing to do with it, but rather very simple, the recipient made a difference, directly and indirectly, changing a community and most importantly, changing someone elses life.
In the past, we have given recognition to Ricardo Sanchez, Michelle Castro, Luis Santiago, Luis Torres. Armando Tam, Jorge Elizondo, Diana, Mr Maracas, BB of Salsa Reno and others ( i can’t remember all of them)
Giving award of recognition to these special people always bring me back to my early days in Salsagang. These people are our colleagues, they are our peers and they deserve to be recognized by the same people they work with.
Going back to Michael Jackson…i do hope that we all realize - the best thing to tell people you appreciate and admire them is when they’re still alive and can actually utter words such as “thank you.”
Despite all the crap, the tribulations and the trials of life we all go through, there’s always that space provided for us to appreciate and enjoy what life has to offer.
Enjoying life to its fullest for me is appreciating small things around me.
Here’s My Top Absolute 25 things to fully enjoy life…(not only you’d be happy, but you will be able to maintain a positive outlook on everything)
25. Walk! Don’t take the bus or don’t drive you car. If you have a camera, bring it with you. You’d be surprise what you can actually see when you have a camera in your hand. It makes you notice things you’ve never seen or appreciated before – things that you don’t see normally yet they’re there all along. I recently have done this and walked all of the streets of San Francisco and it was an awesome time.
24. Take your friend to dinner. It doesn’t have to be a date! Call someone you haven’t hung out in a while and catch-up. Go to a new restaurant and just let it be; let the conversation flow with good food.
23. Drive to the beach early in the morning. You can either stay in your car or go outside staring at the ocean for half and hour. It’s a form of meditation and reflection. The sound of the ocean is an absolute therapy.
22. Watch a movie once-a-week. ALONE! Seriously, there is something meaningful when you watch a movie alone. I highly recommend watching Independent or Foreign films.
21. Play Poker! Now, I’m not telling you to become a gambler, but play poker with your friends. My friend Jenesa host a salsa poker once-a-month and let me tell you, it’s damn fun!
20. Log on to several Social Network. If you haven’t done this, you’re missing out. It can be salsa, bachata, or a non-dance network group. Sign up, build your profile and post away and express your opinion. It doesn’t really matter whether millions would listen to you, but it’s for you to express yourself.
19. Take a dance class. No, don’t bring a partner. Learn a dance you like that you’ve never danced before and go there with an “empty cup” and open mind. Not only you’d get to meet new friends but you’d get know another side of you.
18. Go and travel! If you have the money, fly somewhere far. If you are tight on a budget, drive somewhere far. Do not go on the tourist spots but go to places where the locals hangout. Bring camera, etc.
17. Read a book. It doesn’t matter whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. Follow your gut-feeling, buy a book and finish reading it. You’d be surprised how enlightening it is.
16. Flirt with someone. Flirting is an art. Some are natural at it and some need to really learn how to flirt. A flirt can be innocent, healthy and just plain fun.
15. Attend a dance congress or festival. It’s a weekend full of people, dancing and workshops. To get the whole essence of the event, buy a full pass and stay at the event’s hotel. Do not attend the big ones. I recommend a bachata festival; you get to meet and dance with everyone, making new friends at the same time.
14. Go to the wine country on a date. There’s just something about wine tasting and enjoying the whole wine country atmosphere. It’s so serene.
13. Visit your parents! Spend time with your mom or your dad. Nope, don’t wait for thanksgiving. You will make them happy.
12. Go to the gym! A healthy heart goes a long way enjoying life at its fullest. Take a cardio class and spend time at the sauna after.
11. Challenge your fear of heights! Bungee jumped, sky dive or fly a plane. You’ll be proud of yourself you did it.
10. Dance with someone more than once. Recognizing chemistry and appreciating it is enjoying what life has to offer.
9. Take a private lesson. Going beyond an interest on a certain dance you like is an investment. Private lessons corrects your ego, fixes your foundation and fundamental problems.
8. Talk to a stranger! “Hi” is the best line-opener you can ever deliver. Location isn’t important. You can be in a plane, a bus, a train on walking on a street, enhancing your social skill.
7. Enjoy a facial treatment. Get a full-body massage. Why not, eh? Pampering yourself from time to time is part of enjoying life.
6. Go to the doctor every 6 months. Yup, physical check-up is part of enjoying life. You don’t go to a doctor when there’s something wrong. Prevention is the key to living life at its fullest.
5. Tantric Sex. Extended orgasm, anyone? Tantric sex will reinvigorate your lovemaking. If you like Kama Sutra manuals, you’d even love tantric sex.
4. Laugh hysterically! Go and see stand up comic with your friends. It is very true; laughter is the best medicine.
3. Watch a Broadway musical. I recommend Les Miserable’s or Phantom of the Opera. Bring a date and dressed up a little.
2. Compliment your love one. It feels good to make someone smile. “I can live for two months on a good compliment. - Twain”
1. Look at yourself in the mirror, smile and say, “God, I love you.”
So what’s new with me? Let me tell ya…
It’s been a while that I had the most fun dancing and partying in a dance congress, but last weekend at the Reno Bachata Convention, I was reborn. It was not a congress, mind you, it was just a bachata convention…I mean whodathought, right? Let me tell you how I created an event called Reno Bachata Convention….
Oh trust me, dear diary, there were some doubters there floating around. Come to think of it, they have been doubting Thomases since I started promoting bachata dance 8 years ago anyways. It is such a simple dance with lots of twings and twangs of the guitar, yeah, I know, it’s not that alluring to hardcore salseros that love xylophones and all, but it has evolved and fast evolving.
But past is PAST and moving forward is always the wise choice…burning bridges is not my cup of tea, after all, I know that sooner or later I’ll be crossing lots of bridges, so yeah, my motto; don’t mess with bridges because it more important to be nice than being important.
I have to admit, Reno Bachata Convention wasn’t part of the plan. The real plan was just to concentrate on planning the 1st San Francisco Bachata Festival. Of course, realistically, all things don’t exactly go perfectly according to plan.
November of 2008, I got a FB message from Juan I. Ruiz, one of the founding fathers of successful Sydney Bachata Festival, saying,
You see, Sydney Bachata Festival is pretty much the event that made me “international” - you could say that I was baptized there as an international dance teacher. And I will never forget the hospitality of Australian bachateros. Their attitude and friendship is still immensely felt here in my heart a year later- little good things that done to me will be appreciated and never be forgotten.
“Juan, let me see what I can do, brotha. Bay Area ain’t that really fanatic for bachata compared to Sydney, but let me ponder and think of something.”
And so I pondered, indeed…
Hmmm, maybe a bootcamp…
Maybe, a series of workshops in SF, San Jose and Sac…
Hmmm…
I called Jorge Elizondo, “Bro, Juan is coming to SF and he wants to hang out, you in? I mean, I’ll still do it without you, if you can’t do it”
“Tell me more, when and what do you have in mind…” Jorge was curious
Jorge loves SF and everytime he was here, he stayed at my place. I have sponsored him several times dong botcamps in the Bay Area.” So yes, he owes me and he won’t say no. We develop a friendship over the years because of bachata. I love bachata instructors that love the dance and promote it at the same time. I could care less which bachata style they teach or dance as long they have passion and really believe in what they’re doing. I dislike haters who are up to no good and just talk shit about each other, it’s a lose-lose situation and they sound like losers.
I had to make sure he knows my intention and reaffirm my vision. So I said, “Bro, I’m thinking of bachata bootcamp with you, Juan and Camille in San Fran. Juan treated me well when I was in Sydney, so let’s give him a good time here in SF. I need your help in this.”
Like I said, he can’t say no, Jorge was in…
Last time I hosted a bootcamp here in the Bay Area, although well attended, I didn’t like it and it didn’t feel like an accomplishment for me. I was secretly disappointed that it didn’t make a dent in my vision – for bachata to be respected and recognized, not only by salsa dancers but salsa Djs as well as Latin dance enthusiasts.
Last question in my mind was, “Do I continue hosting little workshops here and there or do something really big before the SF fest?”
So the pondering ended with the question above, on which, I never pondered again, not until I taught a bachata workshop in Reno…
I love Reno people, you know why? Because they love to party and they don’t give a shit whether you are Cuban stylist or Mambo stylists or OutOfTiming stylist. They dance for fun and they learn to dance for fun. I especially love them when they always ask when I’m coming back to Reno after the end of teaching a workshop.
I have been sponsored by BB of Salsa Reno and Chuck from Reno Dance Sensation numerous times there, and everytime I went and taught, the community there loved my workshops.
After teaching an enthusiastic crowd of 400 people, I thought to myself, “Hmmm, I think I just found my answer here.”
I drove Back to the Bay Area. I needed to confirm to Juan and Jorge about the proposed SF Bootcamp. I wasn’t 100% about the bootcamp idea. I needed to make a decision fast. There was no time to lose and January was just around the corner.
I went to a Chinese restaurant and ordered my fave; Pan Fried Eggs with oysters. Oysters are filled with zinc and of course eggs are filled with B vitamins, in other words, it keeps your testosterone level high 
You know what they say, you think faster and smarter when your testosterone levels are high.
In the middle of my meal, I came up with an idea and I texted BB of Salsa Reno,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5….phone rang…
“Hello BB…”
BB was in… (he couldn’t possibly say no)
After talking to BB, I called Jorge,
“Jorge, change of plan…we’re going to Reno and we’re gonna do the 1st Bachata event in USA, Reno International Bachata Convention. I think 400 people would suffice.”
It’s hard to believe that the year went so fast! Just a year ago, I flew for 14 hours to Sydney and stayed with Nestor and Lidia. It was one of the most fun and unforgettable experience for me.
I stayed there for one week and every night, I mean, EVERY NIGHT, there was salsa and mind you, every night was good with great dancers!
Another thing about salseros and bachateros in Australia is that they’re welcoming and accomodating. And did I mention that they dance everything? You name it, Kizomba, Zouk, Salsa, Casino, Mambo, Merengue and of course, BACHATA!
Juan, Skye, Nestor and Lidia in particular along with Modus Vivendi members are just hospitable as ever.
I had the pleasure of hanging out with Juan Ruiz at the Reno Bachata Convention and I’m excited to hang out with Nestor, Lidia and yes, Juan again, at the SF Bachata Festival on July 2009. But let’s talk about April’s Bachata fest in Sydney…
4EVER is in da house! I have been enjoying their music since January ever since Juan gave me their CD and I can’t wait to see them perform LIVE.
And if you want to check out the schedule for the festival - http://www.bachatafestival.com.au, I’ll be teaching two workshops that you shouldn’t miss!
They have a total of 16 top teachers in the world - http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=54369360847&ref=ts
I’m bringing some of my dance members with me (Jose and Elena), I want them to experience Sydney dance scene.
So Juan, Nestor, Skye, Lidia and to all the participants of Sydney Bachata Fest, here’s to another successful year…Ill see you very soon!
Sydney Bachata Festival - April 24-26, 2009
Just like salsa, Bachata Dance is becoming progressively popular not only in the United States, but in the world. But there are some dancers out there that instead of rejoicing over bachata’s popularity, they have become prejudiced to whomever is dancing bachata dissimilar to the way they dance. Perhaps I can offer enlightenment in this article on why bachata is where it is now and where it is supposed to be going.
It’s called innovation. Innovation in Latin Dance is really not a modern phenomenon. In fact, dance innovation did not begin and end with Eddie Torres or Francisco Vasquez. Although Eddie was one of our foremost contemporary dance innovators, innovation is as old as the Cuban Son or traditional Bachata themselves. In fact, all of the Latin Dance are a product of innovation. The annals are full of examples: Cuban Son, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Cumbia, Bolero, Merengue and Mambo are just but a few.
To define innovation, a device or process created by study and experimentation, the creation of something in the mind.
Since constant innovations of street dance such as bachata is not new, there is a very troublesome trend developing among many of today’s bachata dancers. It is the tendency to launch cavalierly off to proclaim true style of bachata dancing, supposedly each better than the last. In fact, far too many of these so-called teachers (see: Pseudo Dance Teachers) and dancers are motivated for all the wrong reasons. Some seek ego gratification, money, or fame. Others simply lack the discipline to persevere in a particular dance style while some are just close minded, not to mention territorial, that they refuse to recognize (in a thinking term) other “colors’ except black or white.
Many dance teachers are unaware of the inherent complexity, responsibility and sacrifice of valid dance innovation. They fail to realize that innovation is an evolutionary process of methodical modification and refinement, rather than a revolutionary product rendered out of whole cloth. It takes serious passion and countless experimentation. Motivation must come from deep within the soul, heart, and mind.
I hope to give my readers an unbiased look into my own search for and acquisition at dance innovation. I will try to provide a logical overview of a Dance Infrastructure, Dance Thesis, and Dance Research necessary for a logical dance style innovation. I will also share a brief history of how I came to dance the style I dance with bachata.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF A DANCE
It is ridiculous to think of developing a new style of dancing without an extensive infrastructure or background in body movements. By infrastructure, I am not referring to superficial excursions into various dance styles. I am speaking about the foundation, core knowledge, and a cornerstone. A knowledgeable foundation can be built only on consistent training, theory and practice. All great innovators were obsessed with experimenting and constant practice, and each had an extensive foundation in the art before even considering innovation.
International Latin Ballroom dancing has played a large part in my early dance history. During those years I have been perfecting the skills and techniques necessary for excellent dancing, and they have helped me understand the complexities of dancing in general. Prior to Latin Ballroom, I’ve trained extensively in the Martial Arts, studied and familiarized myself with body dynamics and kinetics earning myself a 4th degree Black Belt and a certificate in Fitness Training. For many years, I have been teaching others these same techniques and principles, helping them reach their social or competitive goals. While I embarked myself to spread the bachata dance, I also specialize in other dances like salsa dance, I don’t practice ballroom no longer, since I prefer to dance free rather than in a structured manner.
A strong foundation establishes the physical, mental, and creativity of a great dance style. Extensive dance training develops and refines the attributes of the dance (i.e., speed, timing, balance, fluidity, grace, partner- ability, etc.). A broad intellectual grasp of various dance techniques are critical to any effort to modify and refine. Theoretical and conceptual analyses are touchstones of innovation.
Finally, a strong foundation will begin to open the dancer’s inner self to the creative component of dancing. The innovator must become his art. Simply put, there are no shortcuts! Every dance innovator starts at the bottom and works his way up. The greatest are beginners. If you are unprepared to embrace the principles, forget rushing ahead to modify and create. A dance innovator can only succeed with a deep conception of the various movements, techniques, and related elements of dancing. Innovation requires that you learn to walk before you can run.
THE THESIS OF A DANCE
Innovation in every major field is based on a thesis. The thesis may be an aphorism, a concept, a rule, or any other valid reason to modify and go beyond that, which has already been established. Generally speaking, a valid thesis is the culmination of an analytical process. It is not something “thought up” or created on whim or fancy. Every foundational thesis for innovation has origination in what has gone before. For example, in science Einstein’s theory of relativity would not have come about without Newtonian physics and the significant prior discoveries in electromagnetic physics. In art, the cubists and abstract expressionists owed much to the discoveries of traditional realists. Bruce Lee wouldn’t have had developed his style, Jeet Kune Do, if he hadn’t extensively trained in the art of Wing Chun first.
The same is true for dancing! Modifications and innovations in the sciences are based upon scientifically established thesis. Thesis for dance innovation may be the result of cultural eccentricities or any number of other factors, including geography, culture and topography. For example, salsa historians attribute the development of mambo timing steps to the clave beat or tumbao. In the same manner, the rapid salsa shines are attributed to the bongos.
Given the important role of the thesis for innovation, it is disturbing that far too many so-called “innovators” set out to create and promote new dance styles without the background, study, and analysis necessary to formulate a valid reason for modifications. I know for a fact that some of these self-proclaimed experts are motivated for all the wrong reasons. For example, the “so called innovator” would discard the origin of the dance because his knowledge of history, tradition and culture is minimal. He develops a modified dance style according to his limited knowledge.
In my case, I have devoted more than 7 years to practicing, studying, researching, and analyzing bachata dance styles. I extensively studied the music, history and culture. My 15 years of experience in the Latin Dance (salsa on1, on2, son, casino, merengue, paso doble, rumba, cumbia, chachacha, samba) helped a great deal since I came to know bachata dancing at a Dominican Restaurant in the El Alto area of Manhattan .
I have watched countless bachata dancers in the clubs and social parties. I have also carefully observed numerous Dominican dancers and even befriended some of them. These experiences led me to the awareness that many essential concepts, methods, and potential styles were NOT being taught or established in the so-called bachata dance classes and workshops. More and more it became alarmingly obvious to me that accurate information was being neglected. My primary concerns centered on the concept of hip movements, partner- ability and basic steps. Side steps became electric slides. Hip movements turned into grinding or humping. And dance partner-ability became stiffly robotic with no sensuality and passion. Bachata dancing is about feeling the music.
Originally, the concept of the bachata dance was formulated based on simplicity, sensuality, sexuality, heartaches and was danced at house parties, backyard celebration, whorehouses and bars. Of course, eventually, bachata music evolved to a more acceptable romantic and passionate music. Thanks to innovators such as Anthony Santos, Juan Luis Guerra, Aventura, Frank Reyes and others. They helped innovate bachata music to what it is today.
THE DANCE RESEARCH
Research is a continuous and painstaking process of observing, analyzing, testing, and documenting information relevant to the innovator’s thesis. There are two broad categories of research that, in reality, overlap in very significant ways: academic and practical research.
Academic research is a process requiring dedication, patience, and an insatiable desire to learn. The innovator truly must want to know all there is! Once again, his thesis enters the picture in the all-important role of a beacon, directing him to information that has some relevance and bearing on his ultimate goal. Without this direction he is likely to waste time sorting and separating valuable data from a tremendous amount of junk and misinformation.
Research involves rapacious reading and observing all kinds of dancers. An important thing to note is that the body of printed materials on Latin dance, particularly; salsa dance has evolved geographically over the last 20 years. Instructional DVDs and the Internet have added a whole new and interesting database, and workshops are offered around the world. Bachata information on the Internet is catching up. But let me offer a word of caution: the innovator can’t just expose himself passively to these sources. Literature must be dissected and noted. Videos must be viewed over and over again. Music must be listened to and understood. Strategically sound and weak points should be recorded and analyzed in personal journals. And finally, workshops and training programs should be attended with an open mind, balanced with healthy skepticism.
Realistic research thus begins. The innovator’s information has been analyzed, cross-referenced, and refined to theoretical applications. It’s time to break away from the black board and head for the lab. Obviously there are some difficulties in approaching simple and sound practical or experimental research. Somehow, somewhere, the innovator has to get it right. The dance club is the answer. The innovator will need innumerable social dancing, with all kinds of dancers to test the result of his new dance concept. This is the only way to test the innovator’s hypotheses. The bottom line is - the innovator must have the on-hands experience of dancing in the clubs with all kinds of dancers, if he is going to preach it! He must walk the talk!
Finally, once the innovator’s academic and practical research have been compatibly merged and his hypothesis adequately tested and proven, he will be in a position to crystallize and articulate a dance truth, in this case, his own style of dancing bachata. Over time this process and the resulting truths will build and evolve. Eventually, if successful, the innovator’s research and experiments will lead to the structuring of a complex array of truths. This will be the innovator’s dance style and teachings. This may sound easy to some, but I can tell you that it isn’t. It didn’t come easy for the Mambo King, Eddie Torres to develop Modern Mambo. It wasn’t an overnight revelation for Frankie Martinez to develop Abakua style. And certainly, it didn’t come easy for Francisco Vasquez with his electrifying LA style of dancing on 1. Of course, last important factors with your innovation; did people like it? Or to be more specific, did she like it?
Buy the Bachata Stimulus Package DVD here…
…and of course, Summer Season will be peeking in by late month of May. Bachata Season is on July 
My good friends from Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, Finland, Lithuania, Italy, Belgium, Argentina, and the entire USA will be present at the SF Bachata Festival;
In a word, HOT…ok, two words, VERY HOT
We’re gonna start celebrating on Tuesday, July 14 until July 19th, yes, that is my birthday 
We will feature over 70 Workshops for everyone:
- Bachata, Kizomba, Tango, Salsa, Merengue, ZOUK, Reggaeton, Bolero
- The famous LAP DANCING for bachateras
- Zumba-Bachata Connection
- SELF DEFENSE: Taught by Bruce Sando and Yours Truly - Krav Maga & Kenpo Jeet Kune Do for beginners
- There’s more to come, we will make sure that everyhting is covered for everyone
Jorge and I are working hard on finalizing the schedule
Bachata Jack and Jill
- This is going to an open Contest and of course, everyone knows how fun it was in Reno! It’ll rock in SF!
- We will also have all the dance artists participate on the Masters Jack and Jill. I didn’t get to see How Gringuito and Camille won it but iheard there is a clip somewhere - ahem
Performances
- Everyone knows how San Francisco take pride on quality performances, therefore, Friday and Saturday, there will be tech-reheasals -NO EXCEPTION
- Tony and Daniela has one routine I particularly like that going to impress everyone! And no one has seen this routine yet except in Sydney.
- And Remember this name: Enrique Jarquin
AWARD CEREMONY - don’t miss this on Saturday Night, it’s like the Oscars for bachateros.
NEWSFLASH: Hotel is Half-Full! what this means is that the rooms we blocked are half sold-out!
The $160 Full Pass is closing soon, get your tickets now at www.sfbif.com
VENDORS, CONTACT ME ASAP TO RESERVE YOUR TABLES! It’s for 1st come for serve basis only! Rodney@rodchata.com
…
Last night, I couldn’t say no to a friend to watch, ”He’s just not that into you,” a chick flick. I thought to myself, “oh god, I read that book already, not to mention I also read “She’s just not that into you” also. “This is going to be boring and corny.” So I thought…
There is a character there named, Alex (Justin Long), the know-it-all, doesnt-fall-in-love, emotionally-independent, kinda guy. Oh man, it was as if I was looking at myself in the mirror. Especially in the end when he actually finally admit and surrender to his top nemesis, feelings.
Here’s the rule of thumb of being in love…
You become stupid, dumb, hypnotized. The grea thing about it? Your friend around you who aren’t in love are there to share their know-it-all advice, they’re in the smart zone, why? Cuz they ain’t in love. Don’t worry, you’d return the favor later when your “in-love” subsides and it’s their turn falling in-love. You become smarter and become the “know-it-all, ” it’s a vicious cycle, really
Anyways, all men are not jerks, some are robots, players, mind slayers, losers, shy, virgins, or just plain nice…
So to all the nice men that have their hearts broken one way or another,here is your rough guide to deciphering women.
10 Signs that She’s just not into you, so move on! (Yes, I am having a “know-it-all” moment, don’t be hatin)
1. She gave you fake digits.
-OK, don’t even think that she made a mistake writing it down. There is no if or but or maybe, you’re not her type.
2. She doesn’t return you calls.
-You call her…great, you left her a message, one day later, no return of the call. Do not call her again.
3. She flakes on you.
-She’d cancel a date with you a day or an hour before.
4. She’s busy or “made other plans.”
-If she’s into you, she’ll make time, period.
5. She avoids making eye contact with you.
-she just can’t stand looking at you for a long time.
6. She mentions her boyfriend (even though she doesn’t have one)
7. She doesn’t date salsa dancers.
-ok, she really doesn’t like you.
8. She just got out of a relationship and needs a break.
9. After 20 seconds of a phone conversation, she tells you that she’s gotta go cuz she’s late for Yoga/Pilates/Tae Bo appointment.
10. She tells you “you’re cute.”
This is a test blog post where I can rant all I want in this section.
