BachaZouk: More Than a Fusion, A Shared Identity

efore the word BachaZouk took shape, dancers were already blending Bachata and Brazilian Zouk in social spaces around the world. This early fusion, often referred to as "Zoukchata", was a casual combination of names that simply described what people were doing: mixing movements from both styles out of curiosity, creativity, and connection.

Building the BachaZouk Community

In July 2022, I began using the name BachaZouk. The intention behind the name was to create a community of people who loved dancing both Bachata and Brazilian Zouk. At the time, I was teaching Bachata Sensual, a fusion style of Bachata, while also actively teaching Brazilian Zouk.

However, I quickly realized that there weren’t enough Bachata Sensual dancers in my local community interested in also dancing Brazilian Zouk. It became clear that BachaZouk wasn’t quite ready to grow.

So, I shifted focus. I spent the next two years introducing Brazilian Zouk to my Bachata fusion students, encouraging crossover and curiosity. But even then, something still felt off.

Then came a pivotal moment that would change everything.

A Raw Moment of Truth

I asked myself,

“Can I dance Bachata without fusion?”

And the answer was no.

That raw honesty hit hard.

I wasn’t content with that answer. I realized that if I continued building a community around BachaZouk without truly understanding and honoring the core of Bachata, the entire identity would be hollow. Something essential would be missing, not just for me but for anyone stepping into this space.

That was my wake-up call. If I wanted BachaZouk to truly flourish, I needed to return to the roots of Bachata and uplift Dominican Bachata not just as a style, but as a cultural heartbeat.

How the Identity Shift Began

This realization sparked a complete transformation in how I approached BachaZouk.

I immersed myself in studying and advocating for Dominican Bachata. Not to become a purist, but to ground the fusion in something meaningful. I invited Dominican artists and educators to share their knowledge and created space for the culture, movement, and music to be experienced fully.

At the same time, I dedicated myself to understanding and sharing Brazilian Zouk’s origins in Lambada. Lambada is a dance with its own rich cultural history that also deserves recognition and care.

This journey became about more than just combining techniques. It became about building a meaningful space where two culturally rich dance forms could coexist and thrive.

Core Values: Unite. Innovate. Celebrate.

The identity of BachaZouk is built on three foundational values:

Unite: Bringing dancers from different backgrounds and styles together through shared curiosity and mutual respect.

Innovate: Encouraging creativity while honoring the roots of both Bachata and Brazilian Zouk.

Celebrate: Uplifting the culture, the journey, the history, and each other.

What Makes BachaZouk Unique

BachaZouk is more than a blend of two styles. It’s a shared identity built on cultural respect, community vision, and a desire to deepen understanding through movement.

While Zoukchata described what happened on the dance floor, BachaZouk was created to represent something more intentional: a name and framework grounded in values and purpose.

BachaZouk stands for:

• A deep appreciation and study of Dominican Bachata and Brazilian Zouk as distinct, culturally rooted dances
• An evolving platform for education, collaboration, and shared growth
• A growing community of dancers, artists, and educators grounded in cultural awareness
• A commitment to the values of unity, innovation, and celebration

In a dance world where some fusion styles can lack roots, BachaZouk offers something different. It is defined not just by what it combines, but by what it stands for.

Defining the Identity and Looking Ahead

Many dancers have contributed to the evolution of this fusion both before me and alongside me today. However, I took the step of naming and defining BachaZouk to offer dancers a home, an identity they could gather around with pride, purpose, and shared values.

That’s the role I’ve played, and I’m proud of it. I’ve helped shape the foundation. But I know the next step is building on it.

Looking ahead, my goal is to collaborate with co-creators: dancers, educators, artists, and organizers who want to build something meaningful together. If you feel aligned with the values and identity of BachaZouk, I invite you to be part of this journey.

Let’s shape BachaZouk into a vibrant, inclusive, and culturally grounded dance identity. Together, we can honor the past, create the future, and move forward as one.