Who Are Ataca y La Alemana?
Ataca y La Alemana are one of the most famous bachata dance couples in the world. Ataca (real name Jorge Burgos) was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico and moved to Orlando, Florida at age 6. La Alemana (real name Tanja Kensinger) was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States at age 8 in 1996.
Their nickname "La Alemana" literally means "The German" in Spanish, a nod to Tanja's German heritage. "Ataca" means "he attacks", a reference to Jorge's aggressive, dynamic dance style.
Together, they became bachata's first YouTube superstars, uploading performance videos that accumulated tens of millions of views and introducing bachata dance to people who'd never seen it before.
💡 Why They Matter
Before Ataca y La Alemana, bachata dance was mostly known within Latin dance communities. Their YouTube videos in the late 2000s and early 2010s brought bachata to a mainstream global audience for the first time. They didn't just perform, they made millions of people want to learn bachata.
Origin Story
Jorge grew up in the dance culture of Puerto Rico and Florida, developing a style that blended traditional Dominican bachata footwork with modern body movement. Tanja brought a different energy, her German precision combined with Latin passion created a unique chemistry that audiences couldn't stop watching.
They began dancing together and quickly realized their partnership was special. Their contrasting backgrounds , Caribbean and European, mirrored bachata itself, which has always been a fusion of African, European, and indigenous influences. Check out the full history of bachata for more on this.
The YouTube Revolution
The timing was perfect. YouTube was still young. Social dance videos were a new phenomenon. And Ataca y La Alemana had something nobody else had: magnetic chemistry on camera.
Their performance to Xtreme's "Te Extraño" became one of the most-watched bachata dance videos in YouTube history, accumulating tens of millions of views. This wasn't just a dance video, it was a cultural event that introduced millions of non-Latin viewers to bachata for the first time.
📹 The "Te Extraño" Effect
When that video went viral, something unprecedented happened: dance studios worldwide started offering bachata classes because students were walking in saying "I saw this video on YouTube and I want to learn that." Ataca y La Alemana didn't just ride the wave, they were the wave.
They went on to perform on stage with artists like Xtreme, Toby Love, and Big Mato, bridging the gap between the bachata music world and the dance world. Their "Baby Baby" performance was also created by request from Xtreme themselves.
Island Touch Dance Academy
Beyond performing, Ataca y La Alemana built something lasting: Island Touch Dance Academy in Tampa, Florida. The academy offers salsa and bachata classes, and has trained countless dancers who've gone on to become instructors themselves.
They also teach workshops at bachata congresses and festivals worldwide, from Europe to Latin America to Asia. Their teaching style emphasizes connection between partners, musicality, and playful creativity, the same qualities that made their performances go viral.
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Styles taught: Bachata, Salsa
- Workshops: International congresses and festivals
- Legacy: Trained dozens of professional dancers and instructors
Watch & Follow Ataca y La Alemana
🎵 Stream the Music They Dance To
From sensual bachata to traditional rhythms, the music behind the moves.
🎧 Listen on Pulso Bachata