Rumba is a very popular and versatile dance and is a great dance for beginners to learn. Rumba is often considered to be one of the most romantic of dances, often called the dance of love. It is a slow Latin dance that emphasizes the chemistry and intense energy between the partners. Rumba highlights body movements, rib cage isolations and Cuban hip action which is created from the alternate bending and straightening of the knees.
The basic Rumba step is a box, which is a common step in many dances. Many of American rumba’s dance steps are similar to cha-cha steps. As with most Latin dances, it is danced in one spot on the dance floor.
The tempo for Rumba music is usually about 108 to 140 beats per minute and the music has a steady 4/4 beat. The rhythm for rumba is slow- quick-quick or quick-quick-slow. Because the rumba rhythm is common in many contemporary songs, the types of music that rumba can be danced to are quite varied, from Latin and pop, to blues, jazz and country. Even many songs that do not have the strong percussion sounds of Cuban music, work very well for dancing Rumba.
Examples of rumba music:
- Elton John- Blessed
- Maroon 5- She Will Be Loved
- Alabama- Dancing on the Boulevard
- The Bee Gees-How Deep is Your Love
- Ricky Martin-Nobody Wants to Be Lonely
Rumba History
Rumba evolved from “Son” and “Danzon” which comes from Cuba with African influences. It incorporated small steps and Cuban hip motion accomplished through alternate bending of the knees. “Son” was introduced in the United States in 1913, 1923 and 1925 without success. It was renamed “Rumba” and popularized in the late 1920s when a famous band leader began writing rumba music. This was followed by the film industry’s inclusion of the new rumba dance in a 1930 film, which sealed rumba’s success as a hit in the U.S.. Rumba was introduced in Europe as well and by the mid 1950s, it had become a ballroom dance.
There are two main styles of Rumba, American and International. The main difference between the two is that American Rumba involves Cuban motion created by stepping on a bent knee then straightening the leg whereas International rumba requires stepping on to a straight leg. International Rumba is also danced to slower music.
Contact The Dancing Duo today about Rumba Lessons! Also check our calendar to see if this is currently being taught!