
FAKE BACHATA TEACHERS AND HOW TO SPOT THEM
In an industry where most dance disciplines aren't standardized, regulated and no formal governing body, it's very easy to fake your way out of being a "dance instructor' using modern technology e.g, social media, Craigslist, et al.
Because there are no governing bodies in bachata, it's no surprise that there are legions of pseudo-teachers in the world claiming that they can transfrom you into a social dance machine with "their own" bachata style.
HERE ARE 15 WAYS TO SPOT THEM...
1. He came out of nowhere ( no one has ever seen him before)
2. He pronounce ba-cha-ta, ba-cha-RA
3. He says merengue is from Mexico
4. When he execute basic side-to-side or forward-backward, he walks like there's a big stick in his butthole (There is no side-to-side basics in real bachata).
5. He claims he's been dancing bachata for 100 yrs, yet his basic fundamentals are all messed-up, i.e., broken hip movements, stationary steps, posture, etc.
6. He claims his style is fusion, or moderna, or freestyle, but when you see him execute a basic dip, not only it's not performed properly, but it is outright dangerous ,and is a countdown to injury.
7. He doesn't know what's a "box step"
8. He dances like he is stepping on hot coals.
9. He doesn't know the difference between an urban bachata and techno bachata
10. He doesn't know what bolero is. (The reason he doesn't is because he never had a formal training with someone who knows)
11. One of his excuse is, "Um, I don't like that style. I have my own style" (He only says that because he couldn't handle real bachata and could not execute the techniques properly)
12. I took private lessons from lots of legendary teachers (when you ask the legendary ones, they have never heard of him)
13. He doesn't know how to explain and break down techniques.
14. He doesn't know what's contra tiempo, contra body movement or any other contrarian moves
15. He has no videos demonstrating what he's suppose to do best.
It is one thing when Fake Teachers talk or write about their credentials beautifully in a paper, or website or pages, but it's another thing when they actually demonstrate techniques, teach techniques, and most importantly, social dance. STUDENTS AS THEY GRADUATE FOR BEING NAIVE, EVENTUALLY FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DUPED AND SCAMMED.
Do these teachers even know what a "line" is? Do they even know the concept of "tension" "connection" "frame" "partnering", and even "dance theory" etc?
Next time you see you so-called teacher, ask him or her how they became teachers. It is always good to ask, after, all, you are the customer, you cannot be scammed.
Note: I posted a video below about a fake "black belt" in the Martial Arts. Anyone dancers and teacher can also relate this to dancing.
Rodney Rodchata Aquino teaches bachata every Wednesday at Allegro Ballroom, 5855 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA (SF East Bay). Aside from organizing several dance festival, he is the founder of the first bachata festivals in the USA; Reno Bachata Festival San Francisco Bachata Festival and the first Dominican Republic Bachata Festival. He travels frequently all over the world teaching bachata workshops. He is a certified dance teacher and personal trainer. He has been dancing for 19 yrs. www.RodchataClasses.com. Buy his Dance DVDs @ www.rodchatatickets.com
In an industry where most dance disciplines aren't standardized, regulated and no formal governing body, it's very easy to fake your way out of being a "dance instructor' using modern technology e.g, social media, Craigslist, et al.
Because there are no governing bodies in bachata, it's no surprise that there are legions of pseudo-teachers in the world claiming that they can transfrom you into a social dance machine with "their own" bachata style.
HERE ARE 15 WAYS TO SPOT THEM...
1. He came out of nowhere ( no one has ever seen him before)
2. He pronounce ba-cha-ta, ba-cha-RA
3. He says merengue is from Mexico
4. When he execute basic side-to-side or forward-backward, he walks like there's a big stick in his butthole (There is no side-to-side basics in real bachata).
5. He claims he's been dancing bachata for 100 yrs, yet his basic fundamentals are all messed-up, i.e., broken hip movements, stationary steps, posture, etc.
6. He claims his style is fusion, or moderna, or freestyle, but when you see him execute a basic dip, not only it's not performed properly, but it is outright dangerous ,and is a countdown to injury.
7. He doesn't know what's a "box step"
8. He dances like he is stepping on hot coals.
9. He doesn't know the difference between an urban bachata and techno bachata
10. He doesn't know what bolero is. (The reason he doesn't is because he never had a formal training with someone who knows)
11. One of his excuse is, "Um, I don't like that style. I have my own style" (He only says that because he couldn't handle real bachata and could not execute the techniques properly)
12. I took private lessons from lots of legendary teachers (when you ask the legendary ones, they have never heard of him)
13. He doesn't know how to explain and break down techniques.
14. He doesn't know what's contra tiempo, contra body movement or any other contrarian moves
15. He has no videos demonstrating what he's suppose to do best.
It is one thing when Fake Teachers talk or write about their credentials beautifully in a paper, or website or pages, but it's another thing when they actually demonstrate techniques, teach techniques, and most importantly, social dance. STUDENTS AS THEY GRADUATE FOR BEING NAIVE, EVENTUALLY FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DUPED AND SCAMMED.
Do these teachers even know what a "line" is? Do they even know the concept of "tension" "connection" "frame" "partnering", and even "dance theory" etc?
Next time you see you so-called teacher, ask him or her how they became teachers. It is always good to ask, after, all, you are the customer, you cannot be scammed.
Note: I posted a video below about a fake "black belt" in the Martial Arts. Anyone dancers and teacher can also relate this to dancing.
Rodney Rodchata Aquino teaches bachata every Wednesday at Allegro Ballroom, 5855 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA (SF East Bay). Aside from organizing several dance festival, he is the founder of the first bachata festivals in the USA; Reno Bachata Festival San Francisco Bachata Festival and the first Dominican Republic Bachata Festival. He travels frequently all over the world teaching bachata workshops. He is a certified dance teacher and personal trainer. He has been dancing for 19 yrs. www.RodchataClasses.com. Buy his Dance DVDs @ www.rodchatatickets.com