Bachata Classes in Montreal
Find the connection.
Learn Bachata in downtown Montreal — from your first 1-2-3-TAP to confident partnerwork, musicality and social dancing.
✓ Beginner Friendly ✓ No Partner Needed ✓ Downtown Montreal ✓ Since 1993
Can you find the 1?
Bachata is not only about memorizing steps. First, learn to hear where the musical phrase begins. Use Pinto Picasso’s Niveles and see whether you can identify the first beat.
The couple in this video is invited to perform at the Montreal Bachata Festival.
And the music you are learning with? Pinto Picasso is coming to Montreal for a live concert at the festival we produce.
What makes Bachata sound like Bachata?
Bachata was born in the Dominican Republic. Its unmistakable sound comes from several instruments working together. Once you recognize them, finding the rhythm — and dancing musically — becomes much easier.
Requinto
LEAD GUITARThe melodic voice of Bachata. Listen for the bright guitar lines and fills that answer the singer.
Segunda
RHYTHM GUITARThe rhythm guitar supports the harmony and helps create Bachata’s continuous forward motion.
Bass
FOUNDATIONThe bass connects harmony and rhythm. You may feel its pattern before you consciously identify it.
Bongó
PERCUSSIONThe bongó adds rhythmic conversation and energy, especially as the arrangement becomes more active.
Güira
RHYTHMIC PULSEThe metallic scraping sound helps drive the song forward and is one of the easiest textures for new dancers to recognize.
You already found the beat.
Now move with it.
The Bachata side basic is built on the same eight counts you just heard in Niveles. The taps on 4 and 8 do not carry weight — they prepare you to change direction.
Bachata isn’t just one thing.
You will hear terms such as Dominican, Moderna and Sensual Bachata. At San Tropez, we build the foundation first: timing, weight transfer, lead-and-follow, musicality and comfortable partner connection. From there, students can add richer footwork, turns and body movement without skipping the fundamentals.
DOMINICAN BACHATA
Playful footwork, rhythm changes and musical interpretation connect directly to Bachata’s Dominican roots.
BACHATA MODERNA
A modern social-dance vocabulary built around clear lead-and-follow, turns and combinations you can use on the dance floor.
BACHATA SENSUAL
Body movement, waves and isolations become more useful once timing, posture and partner connection are already secure.
Build the dancer — not just the combination.
Our goal is not to make beginners memorize choreography. It is to give you enough rhythm, technique and connection that you can actually dance with different partners and different songs.
Never danced Bachata before? Perfect.
You do not need a partner and you do not need previous dance experience. We start by helping you hear the music, understand where your weight goes, and feel comfortable moving with another person.
Find the beat
Hear the musical phrase and understand where your 1 begins.
Learn your basic
Practice the side basic, weight transfer and the tap on 4 and 8.
Add movement
Develop natural hip action from correct weight transfer rather than forcing it.
Connect
Learn comfortable partner positioning and the fundamentals of lead and follow.
Dance it
Put the pieces together and move through an actual Bachata song.
Find your Bachata class this week.
Choose a Bachata class that fits your week. Below are only the Bachata group classes currently listed on our main San Tropez schedule, organized by day and level.
Monday
6:00 PM — Bachata 4
8:00 PM — Bachata 2
Tuesday
7:00 PM — Bachata 1
7:00 PM — Dominican Bachata Footwork NEW • BI-WEEKLY
With Alex • Starts Nov. 10
Nov. 10 • Nov. 24 • Dec. 8 • resumes Jan. 5
Dec. 22 skipped during holiday closure
Levels 3–4 included • Level 2: $25 drop-in
Wednesday
6:00 PM — Bachata 1
8:00 PM — Bachata 3
Thursday
8:00 PM — Bachata 1
9:00 PM — Bachata 2
Friday
6:00 PM — Bachata 4
8:00 PM — Bachata 3
9:00 PM — Bachata 2
Saturday
5:00 PM — Bachata 1
Sunday
2:00 PM — Bachata 1
4:00 PM — Bachata 3
5:00 PM — Bachata 2
Where can Bachata take you?
At San Tropez, Bachata is a journey — not a collection of random combinations. Build the foundation first, then grow into stronger partnerwork, musicality, performance opportunities and the larger Bachata community.
BEGINNER
Timing • Basic step • Turns • ConnectionLearn where your weight goes, hear the rhythm and become comfortable dancing a full song.
BUILD SKILLS
Partnerwork • Footwork • Body movement • MusicalityDevelop cleaner technique, stronger connection and more freedom to interpret the music.
PERFORM
Choreography • Teams • Stage experienceFor dancers who want more, San Tropez creates opportunities to train for choreography and performance.
FESTIVAL
Workshops • Socials • Performances • Live musicExperience Bachata beyond weekly classes at the Montreal Bachata Festival produced by our team.
Learn it here. Experience it live.
San Tropez is also behind the Montreal Bachata Festival, where students can experience international artists, workshops, performances, social dancing, competition and live music.
The couple you just watched dancing to Niveles is invited to perform at the upcoming festival — and Pinto Picasso is coming to Montreal for a live concert.
Explore the Montreal Bachata Festival →Questions beginners ask before their first class.
Is Bachata good for beginners?
Yes. Bachata has a clear repeating rhythm and a compact basic step, making it an excellent entry point for new dancers.
Do I need a partner?
No. Students rotate partners in class, so you can register on your own.
Can I start if I have no rhythm?
Yes. Our beginner classes explicitly teach you how to hear the beat and connect the counts to your movement.
What is the difference between Dominican and Sensual Bachata?
Dominican Bachata emphasizes rhythm, footwork and musical play. Sensual Bachata adds more body movement and connection concepts after the foundations are secure.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that stay securely on your feet. Beginners can start in sneakers if that feels best.
Can Bachata lead to performance opportunities?
Yes. Students who want to go further can progress toward choreography, performance teams and festival experiences.
Beginner tip: wear comfortable shoes that stay securely on your feet and allow you to turn. You can start in sneakers if that is what makes you comfortable.