When it comes to dancing, counting from 1 to 8 is often used as a basic rhythmic structure for many dance styles. However, some people may have trouble counting 1 to 8 for various reasons:

1. Lack of musicality: Dancing involves understanding and interpreting music. If someone has limited musicality skills, they may struggle to count and feel the rhythm accurately.
   
2. Lack of practice: Counting and keeping time with the music is a skill that requires practice. People who are new to dancing or have limited experience may find it challenging to synchronize their movements with the beat.
   
3. Difficulty in multitasking: Dancing requires coordinating different body movements while keeping track of the music. Some individuals may find it difficult to simultaneously count, move, and maintain their technique, especially if they're just starting out.
   
4. Performance anxiety: Nervousness or performance anxiety can affect a dancer's ability to concentrate and stay focused. This can make it harder for them to count and follow the rhythm consistently.
   
5. Complex choreography: Advanced dance routines often involve intricate choreography that goes beyond the basic 1-8 count. When dancers encounter complex patterns or irregular rhythms, they might struggle to count accurately.
   
6. Lack of body awareness: Dancing requires body awareness and control. Some individuals may have difficulty connecting their movements to the counts because they are not yet fully aware of their own body and how it relates to the rhythm.
   
7. Different learning styles: People have different learning styles, and some individuals may find it easier to learn through visual demonstrations or verbal instructions rather than counting. They might rely more on visual cues or the guidance of an instructor.

To overcome difficulties in counting 1-8 while dancing, here are some remedies you can try:

1. Take dance classes: Enroll in dance classes led by experienced instructors. They can guide you through the fundamentals of rhythm, timing, and counting. Regular classes will provide structured learning and practice opportunities to improve your counting skills.
   
2. Practice with a metronome: A metronome is a device that produces a steady beat. Practicing with a metronome can help you develop a stronger sense of timing and precision in your movements. Start with a slower tempo and gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable.
   
3. Break it down: If counting from 1-8 feels overwhelming, break it down into smaller sections. Focus on counting and mastering shorter phrases or segments of the dance routine before gradually piecing them together. This approach can help build confidence and accuracy.
   
4. Visualize and internalize the rhythm: Close your eyes and imagine the rhythm of the music. Try to internalize the beat by feeling it in your body. This can help you develop a deeper connection with the music and enhance your ability to count and move in sync with it.
   
5. Practice with different music genres: Expose yourself to various music genres and dance styles. Different genres have distinct rhythms and timing patterns. By exploring a range of music, you can broaden your understanding of different rhythmic structures and improve your overall counting abilities.
   
6. Utilize resources and technology: Take advantage of online tutorials, instructional videos, and dance apps that focus on rhythm and counting. These resources can provide additional guidance and practice opportunities outside of your regular dance classes.
   
7. Seek feedback and guidance: Don't hesitate to ask for feedback from your dance instructor or more experienced dancers. They can provide valuable insights, correct your mistakes, and offer specific tips to improve your counting skills.
   
8. Practice regularly: Consistency is key. Set aside dedicated practice time each day or week to work on your counting skills. The more you practice, the more comfortable and proficient you will become.

It's important to note that counting in dance is a skill that can be developed and improved over time with practice, patience, and a supportive learning environment. Dance classes, private lessons, and regular practice can help individuals enhance their ability to count and stay on beat. Remember, progress takes time, so be patient with yourself. Celebrate small victories along the way, and enjoy the process of improving your dancing and counting abilities.

When it comes to dancing with a partner, why is it so important to count?

Counting is important in partner dancing for several reasons:

1. Establishing rhythm: Counting helps dancers establish the rhythm of the music. It allows them to synchronize their movements with the beat, ensuring that both partners are dancing in time with each other and the music. This synchronization is crucial for maintaining the connection and flow between partners.
   
2. Communication and coordination: Counting provides a common language and reference point for communication between dance partners. By counting together, dancers can coordinate their movements and anticipate each other's actions. This is especially important in complex dance routines or when executing specific moves, lifts, or turns that require precise timing and coordination.
   
3. Musicality and interpretation: Counting enables dancers to interpret and express the musicality of the dance. By counting, dancers can identify musical accents, pauses, and breaks, allowing them to emphasize certain movements or synchronize their steps with specific musical elements. This enhances the overall performance and helps convey the intended emotions and dynamics of the dance.
   
4. Students learning and understanding faster: Counting is an essential tool for learning partner dancing. It helps break down complex dance sequences or choreography into manageable parts, making it easier for students to understand and memorize the steps. It also facilitates effective instruction and feedback from teachers or dance partners, as they can refer to specific counts to correct timing or execution.
   
5. Adaptability and improvisation: Counting provides a foundation for dancers to adapt and improvise during partner dancing. It allows them to make adjustments or variations in their movements while maintaining synchronization with each other. By counting, dancers can communicate changes or cues to their partners, enabling them to respond and adapt to different situations on the dance floor.

Overall, counting in partner dancing promotes coordination, musicality, communication, and synchronization between dance partners. It enhances the overall dance experience and helps create a seamless and enjoyable dance with one another.

The word ‘bachata’ has gone through many transitions, meaning different things at different periods of Dominican history. It started out as just a word designating traditional guitar music, although in the 1960s it was used to label romantic guitar music. A ‘bachata’ was also a generic label for gatherings that took place at informal Sunday afternoon parties where guitar-based groups would play for casual recreation. It was also music that played a large role in entertainment in cabarets (which were actually brothels) and it is only recently that the stigma attached to word has been lessened.

Music of Bitterness: With the death of Rafael Trujillo in 1961, the music – then often called ‘bolero compensino,’ made its way to the capital of Santo Domingo along with a multitude of countryside compensinos that had been living in squalor during the dictator’s reign.

There the music changed from romantic boleros to stories about jealousy, rivalry, fights, poverty and life led in the barrios. It’s not surprising that bachata is equated to the Dominican version of the blues; with lyrics that reflected such dire and troubled lives, bachata became known as the music of bitterness or sorrow.

Jose Manuel Calderon: The first recognized bachata singles (“Barracho de Amor” and “Que Sera De Mi”) were recorded by Jose Calderon in 1961 although it was a decade before the word became commonly attached to a musical genre. In the 1960s, merengue continued to reign supreme in the Dominican Republic and ‘bachateros’ had no reliable outlet in higher social circles nor in the media. It was still embarrassing to be caught listening to bachata and musicians attracted to the genre would often sneak out at night to perform in clubs and bars where bachata was popular.

Modern Bachata: Modern bachata can be dated to sometime in the 1980s. At the time, bachateros were singing lyrics full of sexual innuendo and double entendre. In fact, bachata’s first superstar, Blas Duran, was king of this type of lyric. Duran simplified the music, making it easier for dancers and added electric guitar to his song “Consejo A Las Mujeres” in 1987. The tune became a huge hit, paving the road to bachata’s acceptance by a much wider segment of the population.

Bachata Turns To Romance: By the 1990s, bachata evolved the way music is prone to evolve, mutating and fusing with other genres. In the case of bachata, fusion occurred most often with the country’s dominant genre, merengue.

It was artists like Anthony Santos and Luis Vargas that, during this decade, focused bachata’s themes to the romantic, so much so that by the 1990s the genre dealt almost exclusively with love, most often unrequited or disappointed love.

Monchy & Alexandra: Even with the gradual gentrification of bachata, no one outside of a Dominican population was listening to the music. It took the duo of Monchy & Alexandra to raise international awareness of the music. Monchy (Ramon Rijo) and Alexandra (Alexandra Cabrera de la Cruz) started singing together in 1998 and their complimentary voices together with some clever pop-style arrangements made their albums and international tours huge hits. In the process, it opened the door to an appreciation of bachata by non-Donimican Latinos. (The duo broke up - 9/08).

Bachata in New York: Bachata originally reached the level of popularity that it enjoys today in New York rather than in the Dominican Republic, embraced by a Dominica migrant population that was less class conscious and eager to embrace the music of home. Influenced by rock, R&B and modern popular genres, bachata remains a dominantly romantic music.

Aventura: The group that is currently holding sway over the hearts and minds of bachata lovers is Aventura from the Bronx. Even with the addition of some urban elements, their music remains firmly in the realm of traditional bachata and is helping to win more and more Latin music fans to this distinctive Dominican musical tradition. 

If you're interested in a first-hand examination of the history of bachata, told by the artists that were instrumental to the genre's rise to international prominence, Luis Vargas' Santo Domingo Blues is a film not to be missed.

Wrote this in 2012: click here! Part 2 coming soon!