La Bicicleta (Shakira & Carlos Vives)
Beginner Level
The foundation — what every new dancer needs to know
Carlos Vives and Shakira's 2016 hit with a bachata-friendly rhythm — a party track that teaches you to find bachata timing in pop music.
Beginner focus
Play 'La Bicicleta' and try your basic step. You'll find it works — not perfectly aligned like with a traditional bachata track, but close enough. Focus on stepping consistently to the pulse of the music without overthinking whether it's 'real bachata.' This flexibility is valuable.
Tips
- •Keep a playlist of 'bachata-adjacent' pop songs and practice your basic step to each — build your adaptability library
- •At socials, when a non-standard track plays, watch the best dancers — they simplify their footwork and focus on connection
- •Learning the rhythmic DNA of vallenato and cumbia helps you understand their relationship to bachata
Common mistakes
- •Refusing to dance when the DJ plays non-standard tracks — adaptability is a skill worth developing
- •Forcing complicated bachata patterns on a track that doesn't quite fit — simplify when the rhythm isn't pure bachata
- •Confusing vallenato rhythms with bachata rhythms — they're related but different, and acknowledging the difference improves your ear
Practice drill
Play 'La Bicicleta' (original version) and dance full bachata basic step through the song. Mark every moment where the rhythm doesn't quite align with your step — these are the adaptation points. Practice smoothing through these moments until you can dance the entire song comfortably.