Rumba

Rumba, or sometimes 'rhumba', is a slow and flirtatious dance. Some say it is the spirit and soul of Latin American dance. It's certainly a dance of romance and always a good choice for weddings.

• Basic steps
• Instructions & Diagrams
• Video
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Quick intro

Rumba is generally regarded as the "dance of romance", but also known as the "Latin waltz" or the "waltz with a wiggle". Due to its slow rhythm and sensual movements, some call it the most intimate and passionate dance there is.

Learning rumba is not difficult. The ease of learning is actually one of the main reasons why it's more popular today than most other Latin dances (except perhaps salsa). Once you learn the simple steps, the music does the rest.

Rumba can be danced to a variety of music, from contemporary to traditional. Here are a few popular songs to give you an idea:

• And I Love Her - The Beetles
• It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley
• I'm Not Giving You Up - Gloria Estefan
• Besame Mucho - Xavier Cugat
• Falling Into You - Celine Dion
• Neon Moon - Brooks and Dunn
• Under the Boardwalk - The Drifters
• Kokomo - Beach Boys
• Girl from Ipanema - Frank Sinatra

Basic steps

Rumba is usually danced to music written in 4/4 time, with four beats to each measure. The basic step is a very simple box step. It consist of three basic steps - two quick side steps and a slow forward or backward step.

The rhythm of the steps is slow, quick, quick. A slow step is danced over two counts of music, while a quick step is danced over one count.

Rumba is a spot dance which means the couple does not travel around the dance floor like in many other dances, but rather stays in one location. It is done to music with slow tempo and emphasizes on hip movements (what we call Cuban motion).

Instructions & Diagrams:

You start dancing in a closed dance position. The man's left hand is holding the lady's right hand with the elbows almost touching. The man's right hand is placed underneath the lady's shoulder blade. The lady's left hand is placed right behind the man's shoulder, flat on his back.

Basic Steps for Men

The gentleman starts with his left foot stepping forward. The man's steps are as follows:

1. Step forward with your left foot
2. Sidestep to the right with your right foot
3. Move your left foot to your right foot
4. Step back with your right foot
5. Sidestep to the left with your left foot
6. Move your right foot to your left foot

Basic Steps for Women

The lady starts with her right foot stepping backward. The woman's steps are as follows:

1. Step back with your right foot
2. Sidestep to the left with your left foot
3. Move your right foot to your left foot
4. Step forward with your left foot
5. Sidestep to the right with your right foot
6. Move your left foot to your right foot

Video