Troy Anthony and Jorjet Alcocer ride into the festival on a ‘Brangelina’ whirlwind. Troy sports sunglasses and a pearl-white smile while Jorjet clutches their son with her curls barely mussed up, hardly showing that they rushed to arrive. The couple’s movie-star status in the Bachata community owes thanks to the perfect combination of: Jorjet’s hips that sway like the ocean’s ebb and flow as she dances, their fast footwork, Troy’s signature sense of humor and their teaching style.
Troy is a fast talker, making the whole room repeat the last words of his sentences, to ensure you are listening. You soon realize that you are hanging on his every word because you don’t want to miss a single piece of information this couple has to offer.
Their dancing is synchronized, practically flawless and exceptionally fun. You find yourself shuffling along (sometimes stomping), triple stepping through Dominican style bachata and feeling every nuance of the music. It feels complex yet powerful at the same time.
Jorjet is able to capture the harmony with her hips and punctuate the intricacies of the music with her feet. Their quick, smart musical decisions reveal a strong return to the classic bachata.
Another artist who celebrates Dominican Bachata is Adam Taub, filmmaker of El Duque de la Bachata (www.bachatamovie.com)--a film about Joan Soriano, a bachata musician from the Dominican Republic. Adam studied abroad in the DR and began a fascination with bachata that understandably began with the music only to then grow into full-blown dance-obsession.
He admits, “It took me a while to figure out the dance”, but this director slides and plucks his way through an authentic Dominican-style bachata that only adds street cred to his documentary. His feet pick away at the melody while he playfully taunts his dance partner to keep up with her own interpretation.
Adam shot the film over the course of two months in the countryside of the Dominican Republic and in Santo Domingo, Chicago and Washington Heights. The story follows Joan Soriano on his quest to become a successful bachata musician and his family’s dream to see it come to fruition. El Duque de La Bachata is equal parts intimate portrait and cultural profile as seen through a nation’s music. To get a sneak peak or purchase a copy visit www.bachatamovie.com
Although Bachata continues to grow and morph into many new and exciting forms, Troy, Jorjet and Adam are only a few of a growing number of artists that are paying homage to the origins of Bachata. The 2nd Annual Reno Bachata Festival was filled with pure Dominican Bachata fans and the numbers only seem to be growing.
Comments