We have been in the Latin dance scene for more than 10 years and have been organizing the longest-running bachata event series, ADICTO, in Berlin for the last 6 years. We have seen firsthand how bachata dance has progressed from being taught only in salsa classes for fun to dominating the Latin dance, music, and festival scene today, with at least 2–3 festivals per week worldwide.
Today's bachata festivals follow a simple concept that has proven successful for quite some time: bachata workshops with popular artists during the day, followed by socials (dance parties) at night, with some additions like day socials or competitions to spice up the experience. This allows participants to learn from the artists and immediately put what they have learned into practice during the socials, while also meeting fellow dancers.
However, this concept has reached its saturation point and has some downsides that cannot satisfy the needs of the community and the current world. A new concept is needed to break the norms, bring the community closer together, and carry the torch of Bachata dance and culture to the next generations. That’s why we came up with this manifesto and the project of the SUEÑO.
SUEÑO is not only about an event. It is a project, a shift in mindset that aims to transform the dance scene and the Bachata community from the inside out.
We'd like to present our concept under three main categories that build the values and the foundations of the SUEÑO project: Community, Diversity, and Sustainability.
COMMUNITY
Genuine Connection: We believe a dance festival should create spaces and opportunities for community members to connect based on mutual values as well as differences, share knowledge and experience, and support each other.
The current festival ecosystem fails to accomplish this. Socials are mostly focused on dancing, with minimal opportunity to connect deeply with other participants, except for the limited connection that might be initiated during a dance, which might lead to following each other on social media or an occasional wait until the participants meet by chance at the next festival.
Intense workshop schedules during the day leave limited opportunity to connect, as the focus is on learning, and the short breaks between workshops are reserved for rest and recovery. Exhausted by non-stop dancing all day, participants retreat to their hotel rooms to rest and recover for the party that starts in a few hours.
Most participants are distracted by the artists’ presence on the dance floor, creating isolated islands and ignoring their current partners, trying to catch the artists that are present for a limited time. The focus becomes capturing a recording for social media or showing off, instead of building authentic connections and shared space with the artists and other participants.
Conduct & Personal Safety: This is a high-priority topic that still needs to be addressed at the majority of the festivals. Members of the community (the majority of whom identify as female) have their boundaries violated, are harassed, or are offended.
Although some festivals introduce measures like safety teams and security, the team capacity is not enough to attend to every single complaint and case, considering the size of most festivals, the lack of professional training of the organizing team, and the lack of a safe space for victims to speak up. Sometimes, the violation is committed by someone with authority in the community, such as a teacher, DJ, or organizer. The victim is either encouraged to brush it off or not raise their concern to a larger audience for fear of humiliation and exclusion, which inadvertently encourages the harmful behavior.
We support proper conduct for the organizers, artists, and community members and clear actionable items and support mechanisms to avoid, detect, and act on such violations.
Engagement and Sense of Belonging: The community is strengthened by the engagement and contributions of every member, not just a select few who make decisions. The innovators and strong voices of the community leading the way are valued, but we also observe that many others who want to contribute are not supported to speak up.
A select number of events run surveys or feedback forms to collect community input but have limited channels to include a majority of active dancers. This limits sustainable community development and prevents unique ideas and voices from being heard.
Holistic Growth: Dancing is a holistic activity that cannot be narrowed down to memorizing combinations. We observe that the current event ecosystem is built on workshops of a similar nature, where the focus is learning combinations that can be “copied” on the dance floor to lead and follow a certain set of moves.
Even though such workshops are important for developing dance vocabulary specific to bachata, becoming a complete dancer involves much more. Holistic growth is possible only through full-scale training that covers the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of dancing.
DIVERSITY
Inclusion and Accessibility: Bachata should be accessible to everyone regardless of background, identity, or abilities.
Leading and following are not limited to two genders and are not assigned to a specific gender.
Language should be inclusive. Workshops like “men's styling” or “women's styling” create the impression that certain moves or choreographies are accessible only to a certain group, making others feel excluded or unable.
Honoring the Origins: Bachata has undergone a huge transformation in the past 5-6 years, becoming more commercialized, accessible, and widely accepted due to the efforts of community leaders. Many styles have been derived from authentic Dominican bachata, such as Bachata Sensual, Bachata Fusion, or Bachazouk.
While we appreciate the richness of bachata's evolution, we also recognize its origins: the Dominican Republic and its people. We honor and respect the pioneers of bachata culture and believe they should be represented, acknowledged, and respected at every bachata event.
Underrepresentation: A bachata festival should empower the underrepresented. Lineups should be built to give more space and exposure to those who are skilled and experienced, but not necessarily represented by popular culture.
This also applies to the community and participants in general. Our goal is to encourage underrepresented dancers, backgrounds, and talents to shine, even if they are not part of the lineup. Those unable to participate due to various reasons, such as established prototypes, organizer or artist behavior, or tradition, should be encouraged and allowed to participate as much as everyone else.
Stereotypes and Limited Perspectives: We would like to break gender stereotypes, such as the idea that men always lead and women always follow, or that two men/women cannot dance together, and show that roles are not limited by gender.
While supporting Dominican bachata, we also welcome other forms and variations and embrace the richness that origins have blossomed into. The roots need the branches as much as the branches need the roots to survive. We want to change the norm that Dominican bachata should not be danced on the same dance floor as sensual or fusion—they can coexist.
SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental Impact: We would like to make every individual in the community aware of the environmental impact of their choices. Our goal is to train dancers to be more aware of their footprint and the world they leave to future generations, traced back to their decisions and actions, whether it is about traveling to an event, what they do at the event, or what events they choose to participate in.
We also encourage organizers, teachers, and artists to be role models.
Continuity of Dance and Culture: "Continuity of dance and culture" is to ensure that bachata remains a vibrant and evolving art form, deeply connected to its roots while embracing the future. It's about creating a sustainable ecosystem where the dance, music, and community can thrive for generations. It's about more than just dancing — it is about nurturing the traditions, the community, and the cultural richness that make bachata so special.
Innovation: In a world where AI is the intrusive technology that serves people and shifts the way we work and think, and digitalization is becoming the norm, Bachata, as an intrusive and always evolving art form, is no different.
Innovation is not only about following and integrating technology. It’s about creating the tools, space, and room for innovation in arts, culture, and dance so that bachata can become a sustainable and long-term dance form and culture that continues to thrive over centuries. This is only possible through the community voicing their opinions, experimenting, and enabling their creativity and vision for the future.
CONCLUSION
The bachata world is ripe for a revolution. It starts with reimagining and recreating the festival experience and the community values. While successful in its own right, the current model has hit a plateau. It's time to break the mold and create something that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of today's bachata community.
A new concept is not just a desire; it's a necessity. It's about addressing the shortcomings we've identified and creating a more sustainable, inclusive, and enriching experience for everyone. It's about fostering genuine connections, promoting diversity, and empowering individuals to contribute to the community's growth.
Our vision transcends the dance floor. It's about creating a space where dancers feel safe, respected, and valued. It's about fostering a culture of awareness and responsibility, both towards each other and towards the environment. It's about nurturing the roots of bachata while embracing innovation and pushing the boundaries of creativity.
This new concept will be a catalyst for positive change. It will empower individuals, strengthen the community, and promote a more sustainable and inclusive dance culture. It will be a celebration of bachata in its truest form—a dance of passion, connection, and shared joy.
We invite you to join us on this journey. Let's create a bachata community that not only elevates the dance experience but also inspires a more conscious, connected, and vibrant community. It's time to redefine what a bachata festival can be and unlock the full potential of this beautiful dance form. Together.