(Updated 13th October 2024)
I feel like there may be a misunderstanding, at least in my social dance community, of what dance moves are regular moves versus what are advanced tricks. In other words, moves that are safe to do with everybody at a social dance party versus complicated and potentially dangerous moves that you should maybe only try with your dance partner or close dance-friends. To avoid injuries and make everyone have a good time, we should have a good understanding of the differences.
I want to talk specifically about bachata here since this is the dance where as a follower, I get my back and neck hurt most often.
What Is Causing the Confusion?
There can be many reasons for why dancers can’t tell the difference between regular moves vs tricks. For example:
- Leaders who have never tried follower’s role don’t understand how difficult some things can be.
- If followers don’t speak up when they feel uncomfortable in dance classes, leads will never know their struggles and vice versa.
- Leads may forget that followers who have had professional dance training since they were young or do regular fitness training on the side, will find tricks easier to do, hovever not every follower is like that.
- Sometimes instructors just want to teach their students something exciting and flashy, forgetting to mention the potential dangers.
To help you get an idea of what is dangerous and what is not, I put together two lists of bachata moves, one for safe moves and one for advanced tricks.
Dangerous Bachata Moves
Let’s look at some examples of “tricks” aka advanced movements that require good physique, additional training etc. These tend to be moves from sensual bachata style.
Dips/Cambrés
Dips can be dangerous because followers need to have strong core muscles to hold themselves so their lower back doesn’t get hurt. If followers don’t have a flexible upper back, there is added tension to the neck. Strong neck muscles also required because gravity is pulling the neck back. Dips should definitely NOT be done fast or in a whip-like manner!!
There is also a danger of hurting the lead’s back – followers should not throw themselves into a dip unless they’re 110% sure that this was actually lead by their partner.
Head Movements
Head movements can be dangerous for the neck if not led and executed with correct technique, without preparation or too fast. Followers need very good balance, strong neck muscles, flexible upper spine and more to execute them.
Small head roll where upper body is not included and head doesn’t go back is a safer one though.
Tilted Turns
Followers need very good understanding of their body in space and excellent balance required for this move to not lose balance and fall. Proper technique also needed from both followers and leaders.
Lean In
“Leaning in” move can be dangerous if the back of the follower is not flexible enough and you go over her limit. Follower unfortunately has very little control here to adjust how deep she wants to go, she’d have to abort the move completely to save her lower back. The more upright the safer.
Multiple Fast Turns
Multiple fast turns or spins on the spot are not overly dangerous, but followers may lose balance and trip. Requires lots of energy and good core control, therefore not good to do when tired at the end of the night. Leaders should do a very good and clear prep.
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Tricks are moves you could ideally lead to your dance friends who have confirmed they don’t have any back/neck injuries, have good fitness level and like doing tricks on the dancefloor. Simply assuming that someone is fit for these moves is risky, e.g. being young and skinny doesn’t necessarily mean being fit. Followers should choose to follow through with these moves only with advanced leaders who give proper preparation and lead clearly.
If you want to dig deeper, I have an article here that goes a little bit more in depth with the technique for some of the beforementioned advanced tricks.
Safe Bachata Moves
Next let’s look at the safe dance moves. By safe I do not mean boring or easy, I mean you can do these moves with people you have not danced with before and whose skill level you don’t know yet.
- Basic step (to the side, on the spot, forward and back, in box, changing places)
- All Dominican footwork
- Body isolations (Some followers may not have the flexibility or body control for these moves, but it’s not hazardous. Still, be careful not to force it.)
- Body wave to the side (Some followers may not have the flexibility or body control for these moves, but it’s not hazardous. Still, be careful not to force it.)
- “Madrid” step
- Simple turns, half turns, 180° or 360° turns
- Booty roll / hip roll (This may be uncomfortable if your follower doesn’t want to dance sensually, but has little injury risk.)
- Shadow position
- Break forward
- “Paséala” and walk around
- Body wave to the front (Body wave is safe, but don’t add a cambré backwards to come up. May be uncomfortable if your follower doesn’t want to dance sensually.)
- Slide
- Elbows in
- Fall forward
- ( … and more)
These were lists of safe bachata moves to try with everybody, versus advanced tricks you should only do with your dance partner or friends whom you know very well. These lists are by no means exhaustive, but hopefully gave you an idea of what are safe vs risky dance moves.
To make bachata safer for everyone, leads should try to be more careful with their choice of moves and followers should get additional strength training to prevent injuries. If anyone would like to add to the hazardous moves list, let me know in the comments!
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