Hip Bounce (Dominican Up-Down)

Not a step — a feeling layered over any step. As you transfer weight, let the knee soften and the hip drop, so there's a gentle up-down pulse on every count. This is the engine under the whole dance; it's why grounded bachata looks alive and stiff bachata looks like marching.

• Lead: Drive it from the knees, not the shoulders. The bounce lives below the waist; the frame stays steady so it doesn't jostle your partner.
• Follow: Find your own bounce — you don't borrow this one from the lead. It's your groove, on your side of the frame.
• Timing: A soft drop on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4…), deepest as the weight lands.
• Common mistake: Bouncing the whole torso up and down. Keep the chest level; only the knees and hips pulse.

This is a layer — it sits on top of any move and never breaks the chain. Teach it early; it's the single biggest upgrade to how a beginner's bachata feels. Pure Dominican in origin, but it lives under every style.