MusicaLatina.net

Bachata is a genre of music that originated in the rural neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. Its subjects are often romantical; especially prevalent are tales of heartbreak and sadness. In fact, the original term used to name the genre was amargue ("bitterness," or "bitter music"), until the rather ambiguous (and mood-neutral) term bachata became popular. The form of dance, Bachata, also developed with the music.

Bachata originates from the Dominican Republic and is a guitar based music which recently evolved from bolero. During much of its history Bachata music was denigrated by Dominican society and associated with rural backwardness and delinquency. In the 1990s, bachata 's instrumentation changed from acoustic Spanish guitar to electric steel string. The new electric bachata soon became an international phenomenon, and today bachata is as popular as salsa and merengue in Latin American dancehalls.

How to dance Bachata:

Modern Bachata artists

Aventura

Antony Santos

Luis Vargas, pioneer of electric bachata.

Monchy y Alexandra

Toby Love

Xtreme

Marcy Place

Grupo Rush Bachata Urbana

Rakim Y KenY

Classic Bachata artists

Edilio Paredes One of bachata's founding fathers.

Ramón Cordero, a classic voice of bachata.

Eladio Romero Santos, a pioneer of bachata's merengue de guitarra.

Leonardo Paniagua, father of romantic bachata.

El Chivo Sin Ley, One of bachata's early stars.

Marino Perez, the original Cabaretero.

José Manuel Calderón, the first artist to record a bachata.