Here is the complete list, with detailed explanations for each figure / sequence / topic, of the Rueda of Bachata. You will find the names of the figures, names of the steps, and explanation and video for every move. Rueda of Bachata doesn't have a standard, so we tried the basic moves most commonly executed.
Let's get started now! 😊 (this is the english version)
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We talked in italian, but no problem if you don't understand, read to the follow instructions and just watch the steps and moves in these videos.
The bachata Rueda, like the other ruedas, is performed in a circle, starting in pairs, each with their partner.
In case of disparity the roles can be mixed (women can also play men sometimes) or some dancers could be without a partner: they will perform the same steps as the others and will wait for the partner after the first called couple change.
The rueda begins with all couples in a closed position with the man's left towards the center rueda; all directional commands will be given from the man's point of view as he is still driving.
There will be a Cantador calling the figures; he calls them with an advance of about one musical bar (4 quarter notes), with the exception of some commands that are executed immediately (open / closed, forward, backward, we will see them later).
The basic step is the lateral basis, which being the basis can also not be called.
Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking)
These commands do not guide either figures or different steps, you stay on the same step you were performing but you do it with a different setting.
With these commands the position (closed position or open position) of the pairs in rueda is changed.
Open position: further apart, holding both hands.
Closed position: you are closer, you hug each other lightly with one arm and hold hands with the other.
These commands are an exception to the rule of starting the new figure at the following musical 1; in fact they must be performed immediately as soon as they are called by the cantador.
Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking)
With these commands the couples are made to go forward or backward (directions from the man's point of view), but always continuing to take the step they were taking.
For example, if you are in lateral basic and you call "Forward", the result will be a diagonal step: forward and lateral at the same time.
Here is the Video demonstration for this command.
The basic steps are either called by themselves, or are included in the various figures. Remember to always start with the new step on the 1st of the following musical bar .
Below you will find the description and name of all the basic steps, and in this Video demonstration you can see them in action:
Basic Steps Video Tutorial.
The basic lateral step of the bachata to the left and then to the right.
« 1234 Basic left
» 5678 Basic right
It is a lateral basic with the second step crossing in front of the other foot.
This creates an even wider and more fluid lateral movement.
The weight changes are the same as for the lateral basic, but you don't move laterally, you stay in place.
The basis on only 4 strokes.
< 12 Left
> 34 Right
The forward and backward basic (same open-close logic as the lateral base):
1234 Basic forward
5678 Basic backward
The change of partner usually takes place with the command "Dame"; let's see the variations, and then watch the Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking).
Change of partners.
« Lateral basic and in the meantime the man brings the right arm of the lady behind the neck
» The couples part, then the man proceeds diagonally front-right, towards the next lady and the lady only does a basic to the left, waiting the man who arrives (if the man is far he will go even a little forward to come against him).
« We start again in lateral basic, closed position.
Exactly like the Dame only that the man goes to the still following dame; in this case also the woman will move slightly forward to favor this passage.
Dame and Dame dos, can also be called while the rueda is going "back"; in this case the roles are reversed, i.e. after the man has moved sideways and has put the woman's right arm behind her neck, as with the traditional Dame, the woman will advance towards the man and no longer vice versa; meanwhile the man does a simple lateral basic, with the exception of the Dame dos in which he will advance slightly to help reach the woman.
Then he takes back the lateral basic going back.
Turns of the man and the woman, on a musical beat. Turns demonstration Video.
Always called in the closed position. This is one turn of the full pair 180 degrees to the right in 5678 times; with this command the orientation of the pairs in the rueda will be changed.
« Lateral basic
» 180 turn right
The 180 turn has its own. Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking).
« Side basic (on 4 the man gives a pre-command of turn)
» Lady's left turn (the man leads with the left hand)
« Lateral basic
» Women's turn
« Men's turn
« Lateral basic (in the meantime the man creates an arc with his right arm)
» The man passes under the created arc and turns to the right
If one of the rounds (woman, man or woman+man) and "Grip change" is called, it means that at the end of the round the man will have to enter a cross grip, simply by taking the hand of the woman who was holding during the turn and I take the other hand under.
Clapping all together in the center of the rueda mimics the gesture of squashing an annoying insect. And after the explanation of the origin of the name, let's see the variations and how to execute them.
Read below and then watch the Fly Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking).
« The queen is thrown towards the rueda center (executing a right turn); on 4 she claps her hands.
» The woman returns to the man with a crossed lateral base.
♂ Meanwhile the man runs a basic on the spot.
« The man lunges towards the rueda center and claps his hands on 4
» He returns to the woman performing a lateral cross basic
♀ In the meantime the woman performs a basic on the spot.
« Both man and woman launch with a turn without a catch towards the center of the rueda and clap their hands at 4
» We all return to the outside rueda with a lateral cross base.
Same as Fly Couple, only we add an exclamation to the clapping: "HEY"
It's just one of the things you can come up with. In this case, in the Neapolitan style, instead of simply yelling "EHI!", you yell "UEE!!" with the typical hand gesture in full south-italian style.
And other nice variants can easily come out on the spot with the collaboration of your ruedists.
This figure is one of those that makes an exception regarding the start of the execution: it must be executed immediately on the fly; usually the cantador starts doing it who maybe can introduce the movement with an "and now we all go down", then he will start doing the basic step on the spot, going to every quarter: Down, even more down, even more down,
and so on.
Ditto in 5678.
While it is being performed the cantador calls "down down down up".
Let's see it in the tutorial.
Caricie can be called to loosen or change grips.
Caricia man: caricia on man
Caricia woman: caricia on woman
Obvious... but let's see them put into practice quickly: Caricie Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking).
« Contained side basic in which the man prepares by throwing the woman's right arm over her shoulders and holding the woman's nape with his left hand.
» Slow Casquet going from left to right; try to finish the move by 7 so that by 8 you will be ready to go back to basics.
Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking) on the Casquet.
A series of figures in 70 position. Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking) about 70.
cit. "If you try to do el Setenta". 70 is a lady's right turn in which her left hand is held low and steady; thus ending up behind her back.
« Woman's turn to the right in 70
» Lateral Basic
« Lateral Basic
» Woman's turn to the left returning to normal grip
Also very nice to do as a couple.
« Woman's right turn in 70
» Woman's low kick left hand (man's hand) and lateral basic
« Basic in place
» Woman's left turn (the guide is to simply pull the arms outwards)
« Woman turn right in 70
» We turn: the man towards the center rueda, the woman towards the outside rueda and we walk: man backwards - woman forward
« we walk: man forward - woman backwards
» We return to the front and the woman's left turn is executed.
Superb to do even in couple dance.
« Lateral basic
» Woman left turn
« Man left turn and hand change (right with right)
» Lateral basic and I also take the left hand (left with left)
« Woman right turn
» Man left load (do not leave this load) and lateral basic
« Man left turn
» The man moves the load from himself to the woman and returns to the closed position
Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking) on the Diabla.
A series of figures that we perform in Toalla position.
See also the Video demonstration (ignore the italian talking).
« Lateral basic and in the meantime step in right crossed grip above
» Woman's turn blocked in high roll
« High roll also on the other side
» Woman's turn not blocked to get out of the roll
« Lateral basic and in the meantime step in right crossed grip above
» Lap locked in Toalla, then both partners position themselves towards the center of the rueda
according to the command called: Toalla high and... Steps side by side
A front basic is executed towards the rueda center and then towards the outside.
A front basic is performed on the spot with forward / backward movements of the torso.
A walk is performed (all steps forward and all steps backwards) towards the center of the rueda and then outwards.
The pivot is a movement that is performed in place of the support at beat 4: the leg will be thrown forward and then brought back and directly take the step backwards at beat 5.
The walk is carried out and, having reached the rueda centre, a jump is performed on time 4, together with a small yell "Eh!".
The side-by-side passages in Toalla are performed continuously until the Cantador calls out.
When the exit is called you have to make a turn on the 1234, the time in which you were going towards the rueda center, at 5678 you continue on a lateral basis.
It is usually called during a high Toalla.
2 side bases in low Toalla are added.
Very similar to the Toalla, but the crossing of the arms is different.
In the Cattura we will start with the double hold, after which we will do the exact same thing as for the High Toalla (see above); including variations for side-by-side steps.
Video Tutorial on Capture.
However, the crossing of the arms of the toalla allows you to add yet another variant.
It is performed in a cross (the line perpendicular to the dance line).
In the first quarter after the side-by-side position we move forward.
On the second it turns.
The third one goes back.
On the fourth, the usual support with the step forward.
You will find yourself turned 180 degrees from before.
At this point you can decide whether to continue with the right-left movements, whether to make a side-by-side variant or whether to make another change of direction.
Obviously to return to rueda, after having called a change of direction, one must call another before exiting the Capture; otherwise we all find ourselves in the center of rueda facing the opposite way.
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