Bachatango (often classed as a sensual form of modern bachata) is a style of dance that fuses the four-step Dominican bachata with Argentine tango moves, including elaborated kicks, dips, turns, ganchos, leg wraps and long pauses. The dance is characterized by sensual hip and body movements. Partners hold each other in a closed position where the female’s inside right thigh is in contact with the inside of the male's right thigh, while using the hand placements of typical Latin style dances.
Origin
With the popularization of bachata music, dancers worldwide tapped into the romantic side of bachata finding new ways of expressing their passion. In 2002, as bachata began to be played on radio worldwide, dancers learned the basic four-steps to the dance and began to elaborate as they felt would express their passion. Although, the dance style utilizes bachata music it is rarely danced socially amongst bachata dancers or in the Dominican Republic, nor is it danced amongst Argentine tango dancers. With the quick progression of this style, it is now being danced to both bachata and tango and it is seen in bachata competitions worldwide.
Many Latin dance studios and festivals offer bachatango workshops. These classes are often seen in festivals that also teach salsa, bachata an kizomba. In the southeast US, the Atlanta Bachata Festival and the Unity of Dance Festival in Orlando, Florida, offer bachatango workshops.