Lateral step

bachata
Level 1
99–145 BPM
Both
8 beats

The side-to-side basic that anchors traditional Dominican bachata. Both partners travel laterally over counts 1-2-3 with a hip-pop tap on 4, then mirror back over 5-6-7-tap.

Full referenceRead the move-glossary entryA deeper, citation-backed breakdown of Lateral step: lead and follow cues, timing, regional names, and common mistakes.Open the encyclopedia entry

Cues

Lead and follow cues

Lead

English

{{move_name}}, step right on 1-2-3, tap on 4; step left on 5-6-7, tap on 8.

Español

{{move_name}}, paso a la derecha en 1, 2, 3, tap en 4; paso a la izquierda en 5, 6, 7, tap en 8.

English

{{move_name}}, mirror the lead's lateral step: left on 1-2-3-tap, right on 5-6-7-tap.

Español

{{move_name}}, espeja el paso lateral del lead: izquierda en 1-2-3-tap, derecha en 5-6-7-tap.