Bachata
The Candle / Sentadilla
BachataAdvanceddips-dropsSensual
Sink and rise, spine safe. A controlled knee-bend descent and rise that protects the spine.
Also known as: Candle, sentadilla (squat), vela — flag: contested/regional naming
This move builds: Comfort …on the always-on five — Connection, Frame, Comfort, Posture, Consent.
- Entry
- closed embrace
- Exit
- closed embrace
- Tempo
- slow
- Musical use
- break
- Connector
- No
- Level
- Advanced
- Cluster
- dips-drops
- Style
- Sensual
What This Move Is
A slow vertical sink-and-rise led through a stable frame, both partners staying over their own base. Crucially it is a knee-bend descent, keeping the spine safe — contrast it with a back-loading bend.
Key Points
- Lead: Lead through a stable frame, controlling the descent and rise; both partners stay over their own base — it is a knee bend, not a spine load.
- Follow: Controlled squat/descent with leg strength, maintain posture, rise with control.
- Timing: Sink over 1-4, rise over 5-8, or matched to a phrase.
- Common mistake: Collapsing into the lead or losing your own base; confusing it with a back bend.
Style Notes
Naming flag: 'sentadilla' literally means squat and usage varies by school. A safer dramatic moment than the bends because the load is in the legs, not the spine.
Chains into
After this, you can flow into…