Samy

Today I want to take one minute to share a reflection. Not to respond to a controversy, not to respond to attacks, not to convince anyone. And I’m sorry for my Spanish. It’s just to share a reaction that I consider important for the future of our community. For more than 20 years, bachata has been a part of my life. Thanks to it…

…I have traveled the entire world, met thousands of people, and discovered the Dominican culture, the Dominican life, its history, its traditions, and the incredible people who gave life to this music.

This folklore. I’ve dedicated a large part of my life to this culture, to transmit its roots and its history through classes, events, trips, through the artists we have supported and invited, and through all the products we have built together for more than 20 years. I always try to create bridges between countries, generations, and dancers. And today, seeing some things that are happening on social media, I ask myself a question.

What legacy do we want to leave behind? Because in the end, it’s not about me, it’s not about a single person, it’s not about one school or one style. It is about our entire community of bachateros. We have the right to think differently.

We have the right to disagree. We have the right to have fun, to talk, but we must never forget respect. Because when a community starts to stir up more conflicts…

…than teachings, more criticism than construction, it starts to lose its essence. My people, in these last few days, many people have written to me. Artists, teachers, organizers, dancers, people in different countries—the majority of whom did not want to speak publicly. But many, many…

…told me the same thing. It hurts them to see so much division. It worries them to see how hate makes more noise than work, and they wish to return to the spirit of union and sharing that made this beautiful culture grow, and that is central.

I understand them, because when I started on this path, I never dreamed that a community could be divided. I dreamed of a community that shares, that inspires, that unites, that honors its roots, that respects those who opened the path before us, and that helps those who come after us.

Social media passes, controversies pass, criticism also passes, and people talk a lot without really knowing. But what we build together can last forever. History remembers those who build bridges, so today I’m not asking anyone to take sides on this.

No one. I only ask for one thing. Let’s reflect on what we want to leave for the future. A divided community or a community united by the love of its culture?

If you believe that bachata is also about more respect, more dialogue, more union, more love—and I repeat, union and love…

…write just one word for me. Write this word in the comments: unity. Unity. Not to support a person, not to support a group, but to support an entire vision. A vision where culture is more important than ego, where transmitting is more important than creating controversies, where respect is stronger than hate.

And if you share this vision, share this message. Not for me, but for the community we want to leave to the next generation. With love and respect, once again, and with gratitude towards all the people who continue to make this beautiful Dominican culture, bachata, grow throughout the world. Life is too short to live with hate in your heart. Too short to spend our energy destroying others, and too valuable to forget that tomorrow we will all be remembered not for our words, but for our actions.

Spiritually, I believe that each person gives the world what they carry inside. That is why, although I can’t always control what others say or do…

…I can choose what energy I want to bring to this community. I choose to continue building, continue sharing.

Continue extending a hand, continue believing in people. Because, in the end, true strength is not in defeating someone. True strength is in staying true…

…to your values, even when it would be easier to do the opposite. I don’t want to be remembered for a controversy I’ve been through lately. I want to be remembered for the people I helped, for the culture I defended, and for the bridges we built together.

May God bless this beautiful Dominican culture, which has always received us with love. And let’s continue sharing with respect for everyone, and may bachata continue uniting hearts around the world. My people, thank you very much.