Although I've been dancing bachata for two years I have never learned dominican style bachata, a style that is based on a lot of footwork and being able to count the music. I have long admired this style of dance but have been too scared to try it - until Peter Arazia taught a class.
Peter Arazia, co-founder of the LA Influence (LAI) Dance Company based in Long Beach, is one damn good instructor. Peter never messes up counts, he challenges you in the lesson, he is encouraging and he teaches the class proposer manners.
Arazia's class was one of two taught at the Latin Motion Social, a social that is coordinated between the Cal State Long Beach salsa club and LAI. Latin Motin Socials are on the third Saturday of every month at the Long Beach Dance Center and I highly recommend them. The floor is great and you get a variety of dancers.
Peter's class started off by learning footwork all together. Then he broke up the class into two groups (ladies and gentlemen) and Peter would teach the men footwork without a partner and the female instructor would do the same with the ladies.
Now here comes to the best past. After the men and women learn their footwork, Peter would instruct men how to properly go up to a crowd of ladies, ask them to dance and would tell ladies to smile and be nice. I really like Peter for his manners. If you ask him to dance (something I don't really have the confidence to do with most men) he will accept, walk you on the floor, take care of you on the floor and then walk you off. He is a true gentlemen.
Overall I consider Peter a great instructor. His class is challenging and he is able to not only say the counts but also which foot you are stepping on. He can switch off saying the ladies footwork or the mens footwork without any hesitation.
I can't really judge the combination because I have never dance Dominican up to this point. So I'll let you judge for yourself. Comments are welcome!
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