Rumba Dance
Rumba Dance is a slow and sexy ballroom dancing form, and as such, forms a significant part of the many Latin dances which are popular world wide. The Rumba Dance originated in Cuba and then spread through the world like Rumba Fever, influencing and inspiring the rise of other dance forms, like the cha cha cha, for instance. Excited? You should be. So what are you waiting for? Put on your dancing shoes and get into the groove for some Rumba Dance Steps!
Basic Rumba Steps
Rumba Fundamentals: A cardinal rule of couple dance is to have impeccable eye contact with your partner. And like other Latin American dances, it's all in the hips, where all the work is done to a slow-quick-quick beat. Generally, rumba songs are usually at a 4/4 time. Take note, as this is most important, the man is expected to be confident at all times, because if he's not, the follower may get confused. On the other hand, the woman must follow the man's movements carefully and properly, even in case of a wrong move. This will help the leading partner correct the move. Finally, before we actually get to the steps, an important point to be mentioned is that the primary step in Rumba is the 'box step', which resembles waltz a lot. However, Rumba does not use the dance floor in totality, like waltz. It is a rather compact dance with small steps.
Now let's get to the rumba steps!
The below Rumba Dance Moves illustrated are for both the leader, and the follower in the following text, go through it and try to follow the same.
For the Leader
- Stand with your feet together, facing your partner.
- Your right hand should be on the waist of your partner.
- Stretch your left hand upto the height of your chest.
- The elbow should be bent and the palm has to be raised.
- Hold the hand of your partner in a lose grip.
- Listen to the 2/4 or 4/4 beat when the music is played.
- Step 2 feet to the left with your left foot and then do the same with your right foot.
- Again step 2 feet forward with your left foot.
- Now, step forward 2 feet and to the right 2 feet with your right foot.
- follow that by bringing your left foot to the right and then step with your right foot, 2 feet backward.
- Finally, get your left foot together with your right.
- Repeat.
For the Follower
- The basic thing is to follow the leader.
- Start with placing your left hand on the shoulder of your partner.
- Then hold the stretched hand of your partner in your right hand.
- When your partner steps back, you take steps forward.
- When your partner steps forward, you step back.
- Finally, mirror the steps of the partner and your job is done!
These are the basic Box steps involved in Rumba, not so hard is it? Now, let's look at some other Rumba steps.
Distinct Rumba Steps: The hip movements used in the Rumba Dance are created as a result of the ankle, knee, leg and foot action, done in an impeccable manner. Once weight transfer is controlled well with these elements, the hip part is taken care of. A full step is completed in 2 measures of music. Rumba is done in a couple of ways by those who do this professionally. One way is the sweet, subtle and romantic, while the other is the aggressively romantic and is done with a lot of gusto. Read more on how to learn Latin dance.
Moreover the fan, hockey stick, alemana turn, open hip twist, fencing line, hip rolls and El Paseo are some of the other Rumba dance steps. Normally in Rumba Dance and even in other Cuban dances, the steps are compact and there is normally no rise and fall. The figures and postures are evolved from times dating back to pre-revolutionary period in Cuba.
At the end of the day, it is all these factors which make Rumba Dance steps such a delight to learn. This is where I sign off and I am surely going to do a jig or two!
