Bachata Will Take the Lead as Dance of the Year in 2020, Say Dance Experts at Arthur Murray International


Couple dancing the bachata in a nightclub setting

Bachata will take the lead as dance of the year in 2020, say dance experts at Arthur Murray International

“Arthur Murray Dance Studios from New York to California have told us that students come in asking to learn Bachata because they saw people dancing in a club or on YouTube and they want to learn,” said Tom Murdock, Vice President, Events and Promotions at Arthur Murray International.

At the start of a new year and a new decade, a survey of Arthur Murray Dance Studios points to Bachata as the most popular dance of 2020, with Salsa a close second. Bachata is not a new dance, but has grown in recent years from dance clubs to mainstream. Bachata is one of a family of Latin dances, including Salsa, Cha Cha and Merengue, that are danced to upbeat music with lots of “Latin rhythm” – that’s dance-speak for swinging hips.

Bachata originated in the countryside of the Dominican Republic, and combines movements and music from the Dominican Republic, Africa, and Europe. It can be danced closely, with partners holding each other in a close embrace, or fast, with dancers holding hands and maximizing their hip swivels. It’s a sexy dance and works well for couples who want to keep it simple, or for skilled dancers, who can add more complex moves.

“Arthur Murray Dance Studios from New York to California have told us that students come in asking to learn Bachata because they saw people dancing in a club or on YouTube and they want to learn,” said Tom Murdock, Vice President, Events and Promotions at Arthur Murray International. “Students love it, because they can master the basics easily and as their skills grow, they can add different things, like twirls, turns or dips.”

Arthur Murray Dance Studios are also getting a lot of requests for Salsa, a Latin dance that blends traditional Latin music and dance steps with a lot of turning actions. Salsa is a favorite because there are so many places to dance to Salsa, including parties and clubs. It’s also perfect on a crowded dance floor, because it can be moderated to take up relatively little space.

In addition to Bachata and Salsa, the Viennese Waltz has made a reappearance for wedding couples. One New Jersey studio said no less than seven couples preparing for their wedding in 2020 have asked for dances to songs that are best suited to the Viennese Waltz. None of the songs are classical, as the rhythm of the Viennese Waltz transcends all musical genres.

They seem an unlikely trio – Bachata, Salsa and Viennese Waltz – but walk into any Arthur Murray Dance Studio, anywhere in the world, and the teachers are ready for whatever their students want to master. That includes the Hustle, the Quickstep, Country Western, Argentine Tango, Nightclub Two Step or a Swing Trot. If someone can pronounce it, they can teach it.

As more people decide to put their phones down and have fun connecting with other people, dance studios are growing in popularity as much as Bachata! Many Arthur Murray Dance Studios around the world have special offers for beginners. And every Arthur Murray Dance Studio relies on a time-tested system to make learning to dance at any level fun. Arthur Murray Dance Studios can be found in 270 cities in 22 countries around the world. For more information, visit http://www.arthurmurray.com.

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