Bachata, a dance that originated from the Dominican Republic and was once seen as vulgar, was celebrated during Latinx Heritage Month on Sept. 28 in the WINN Center.
Cosumnes River College hosted a bachata history and dance lesson by the Multicultural Innovative Community for Academic Success and Achievement Counselor Daniela Zepeda and Sacramento-based director and choreographer Morgan Hernandez.
“When I decided I wanted to be a part of the LatinX Heritage Month Planning Committee, I wanted to do something different,” Zepeda said. “Something where we could all just pause and have fun.”
Bachata music started in the 1960s and was discouraged by people who were in an elite social class because the music was considered something that only lower class individuals listened to. In the 1970s, Bachata was banned from performing at high society venues and was not mentioned in television, radio or prints.
In the early 2000s, bachata gained more popularity by becoming modernized, combining other genres of music such as r&b and hip-hop. The music group Aventura, popularized Bachata with their modernization of r&b mixes in addition to creating English versions of their songs. Some other notable artists of Bachata are Jose Manuel Calderon and Anthony Santos.
Zepeda said she grew up as a dancer as she learned bachata and salsa. She said that she found a dance team put together by Morgan Hernandez on Instagram.
Hernandez is a director and choreographer for the Sacramento-based dance team Libertad, which fuses bachata and heels dance styles. Heels dance is a type of dance that incorporates heeled footwear, typically stilettos while dancing.
“I decided to partner with Hernandez because her approach to dance is very inclusive and she also talks about the importance of acknowledging the history of bachata,” Zepeda said.
Zepeda played music during the history lesson from the different time periods and students were able to determine nuances between the different eras of bachata.
Hernandez showed students how to dance bachata in eight count steps to match with the music. She showed students how to dance with a partner after students danced by themselves and learned the steps to bachata.
Hernandez also let students record her dancing bachata.
Cesar Lopez Ruiz, a 23-year-old fire science major, said that the event was exciting and something new.
“I need to get more out in the world and I liked this a lot,” Ruiz said. “I got to meet new people, that’s the best part about it.”
Ruiz was one of the dozen that attended the event and he said that people should try new things and not be scared.
Tatiana Azua, a 21-year-old fashion major, said that she felt like she learned the steps.
“I thought it was simpler to do it to the eight-count and I was mentally counting as well,” Azua said.
Azua said that she learned something new at this event and that was that modern Bachata also incorporated hip-hop into it.
Clarissa Vargas, a 20-year-old psychology major, said she was looking for a dance class to do for fun and decided to come.
“I felt like I knew a lot of the basics, but it was nice to elevate and spruce up a little on what I knew already,” Vargas said.
Vargas said she felt more connected to everyone else even though she came with a friend.
“I felt secure there, like nobody was judging or anything. Everyone else was learning at their own pace. It was nice,” Vargas said.