Critical Thoughts

dancing can be so much more than just moving

A personal Reflection on my Journey and the evolving Bachata Community in Germany

Over the years, my relationship with Bachata and with the community around it has changed profoundly. In 2021/2022, I went against many expectations by choosing Role Rotation, focusing on Traditional Bachata, and teaching partner classes on my own as a female instructor.

These decisions were not spontaneous. They were the result of long observation, discomfort, and critical self-reflection.

What led me to these choices?

Why did I decide not to look for a new (male) dance partner to teach with?
Why did I implement Role Rotation as the fundamental methodology in my classes?
Why did I shift my focus toward Traditional / Dominican Bachata?

1. Choosing Independence: Teaching Partner Dance as a Solo Female Instructor

The truth is: I found it very unfair that I was expected to teach only “lady style” classes or to become someone’s assistant simply because my former dance partner and I had ended our joint projects. I felt pressured to find a new male dance partner in order to continue my career as a Bachata instructor. I didn’t want to limit myself to teaching only styling. After enduring many moments of discrimination by male organizers, dance school owners, teachers, and dancers, I felt ready to face a new challenge.

My problem was, however, that although I had always taught Bachata, I had never really practiced leading myself. It had never crossed my mind, because I had always focused on becoming a very good follower first. I had to be honest with myself: I was also part of a society and a community in which I had simply accepted the traditional role I was given. That realization felt uncomfortable and made me angry. I blamed myself for a situation that was now closing doors in a career I had invested in for many years.

After Jorge & Lou ended, I realized that this was a decision - a choice I could make right then and there. I was terrified, and honestly, without Felipe & Tiago and my partner at the time, I don’t think I would have found the courage or strength to do it. I wanted to address the systemic discrimination of female teachers, organizers, and dancers by refusing to return to being “dependent” on a male dance partner. I knew that meant being willing to feel uncomfortable.

This decision became an important act of rebellion for me - and a professional as well as personal milestone in my journey. To this day, I am deeply grateful for the people who offered emotional support and real opportunities, allowing me to continue my career as a Bachata instructor.

2. From Control to Connection: Why I Teach Role Rotation

My biggest motivation for teaching Bachata using Role Rotation was to offer a different way of accessing the experience of partner dance. I grew tired of repeatedly witnessing violated boundaries in social dancing - boundaries I had assumed to be common sense. I kept asking myself what I could contribute to creating a safer environment at Bachata socials, especially for female followers.

At the same time, I noticed how Bachata Sensual increasingly turned into a show dance, performed primarily to entertain an audience. This began to bother me, as I felt the style became more shallow and more sexist over a certain period of time. Traditional gender roles - in which women were expected to look pretty and sexy while merely executing impulses given by a male leader - started to feel deeply unfair and uncomfortable. Often, these leaders were not even able to dance the complicated movements themselves that they demanded from the follower.

It was not uncommon for me to try to express myself through the music, only to be denied that space and instead forced into movements chosen by the leader. After several assaults that were presented to me as “dance moves,” I had accumulated enough anger to speak up publicly. I wanted to help recreate a safe space for everyone. I believed that by focusing more on the empathy required to form real connection in partner dance, we could return to more meaningful dances - grounded in respect and mutuality rather than gender stereotypes and rigidity.

As a result, Role Rotation became the methodology that best served this purpose. I always tell my students that they are free to choose whichever role they prefer at socials. In my classes, however, I make no exceptions: everyone learns how to lead and how to follow.

My personal belief is that gently questioning traditional gender role identities can foster greater empathy and respect, both on and off the dance floor. This approach has now become the norm in my classes, and I am deeply proud of the small community in Stuttgart that has grown with me throughout this process.

3. Returning to the Roots: Why Tradition Matters

Aside from the critique already mentioned, I began to miss the cultural aspects and characteristics of Bachata from the Dominican Republic - the very reason I had originally started dancing Bachata back in 2015. I found myself wondering what had happened to both me and the community in the meantime. Since I had started with Bachata hardly anyone wanted to dance the Traditional Bachata style. There were almost no classes teaching this style in Germany, even though more and more people were learning and teaching Bachata in general. On the one hand, this growing popularity was a positive development. At the same time, I felt increasingly responsible for passing on cultural context to my students - knowledge about history, roots, and traditions. I had always done this to a certain extent, but I had mainly practiced Modern and Sensual styles myself. I was not an expert in Traditional Bachata. So I asked myself: what now?

I began taking many classes and workshops to broaden my own perspective and to reconnect with my “first Bachata love.” I hoped that deeper cultural knowledge would ultimately lead to a better understanding of both the dance and the music. This is why I started to focus more on Traditional Bachata - or, as Dominicans simply call it, Bachata. (I use the terms “Traditional” or “Dominican” simply to avoid confusion, since in Germany the word "Bachata" is often associated primarily with Modern or Sensual styles.)

The unique hip movements and footwork of Traditional Bachata make a significant difference on the social dance floor, giving the dance a more natural, grounded quality. I missed smoother expression, deeper groundedness, and stronger musicality in the way I increasingly saw Sensual Bachata being danced socially. I knew that returning to Traditional Bachata was the only way to truly strengthen these skills.

In addition, I became increasingly aware that as a German teaching a dance rooted in another culture - something that can rightfully raise questions of cultural appropriation - I felt a responsibility to pass on as much knowledge as possible about Bachata’s origins. This felt like a simple but essential form of respect toward the Dominican culture.

From Reflection to Responsibility

I reached a point where I no longer wanted to continue complaining about a dance community I had been part of for many years. Yes, it has been harder as a woman to work independently and to be booked. Yes, sexism is real and continues to be a problem. But I also see a significant improvement over the past years - and that makes me genuinely happy.

Yes, I love being a follower, and I would never want to miss that experience. At the same time, I am proud to be a female leader who encourages other women to be brave enough to try leading as well, and who encourages men to practice letting go of control and to question homophobic stereotypes. This feels deeply important, not only for dance, but for our society as a whole.

In other words, I simply wanted to take matters into my own hands and actually do something about it.

We shape the world we live in. And it is never too late to pause, pivot, and choose a different direction. I may not have followed trends when making these decisions, but I feel proud and content with what I have built. The path was not easy, yet it taught me so much that I now look back with gratitude.

Perhaps this comes from being a psychologist, a poet, and someone drawn to philosophy - but I want to end with this thought:

It’s about authenticity. No one but yourself can tell you what is right for you. Finding that out requires courage. It means sitting with fear, anger, guilt, and shame - and allowing growth to happen anyway.

Special thanks go to...

• J.R., who believed in me when I didn’t and helped me rebuild my dance school from scratch in winter 2021/2022.
• F. & T., who inspired and mentored me through the transition to Role Rotation.
• J.O., who began this journey with me in 2015 and helped build a community in Aachen and Tübingen.
• Y.M., who eventually gave me the chance to teach Bachata in his dance school in Tübingen.
• B. & S., who inspired me to return to the roots of Bachata.
• C.S., who gave me a place to start my own dance school in 2022 in her venue in Stuttgart.
• F.H., who trusted me to host my party series in their space.
• K.D., who introduced me to Dominican culture in 2015.
• A.T., who welcomed me with open arms in Barbados and supported me in sharing my passion there.
• All the organizers and teachers who didn’t hesitate to hire and support me as a solo instructor across borders.
• My friends, who held space for my tears and fears.
• My students, without whom none of this would be possible - their trust is what makes Bachata Stuttgart by Lou what it is.

And most of all, I thank myself for not giving up.

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