Learn Rumba

Starting to Learn Rumba

Rumba comes from a family of Latin dances originating in Spain with the Bolero. While closely related to that dance, as well as others such as the Mambo , its slow, sensual rhythm and ease of learning makes it more popular than any of the others except perhaps the salsa.

The best way to learn, as with any dance, is simply to do it – preferably under the watchful eye of a skilled dance instructor and with a partner who is as enthusiastic about the dancing as you are. When choosing a dance studio, there are a couple of types to choose from – independents and package plans. An independent studio will let you learn rumba on a lesson-by-lesson basis, paying for one session at a time while you gradually build up your skills.

While this may be convenient, it is not necessarily the best way. Any ballroom dance pedagogy is going to benefit from a structured lesson plan, and usually the package plans from studios such as Arthur Murray or Fred Astaire will have a more disciplined approach to helping you learn rumba.

Using Online Resources

Of course, in the information age, you can also learn rumba on the internet. Explanation of the step-by-step process of the basic step and some of the other variations is easy to find on several sites – including this one.

The Frame

The first thing you are taught when you learn rumba is the dance frame. The lead's left hand is holding the follow's right out to the side with their right at the follow's opposite shoulder blade. The follow's left hand is resting midway up the bicep of the lead, and both of them are facing each other head on.

The Basic

The basic step is relatively easy – it's a "box step", with the follow mirroring the lead's steps exactly (unlike the Bolero, for example, which has different steps for the male or female basic step). The rhythm of the steps is "quick-quick-slow," and it is danced to a 4/4 beat.

The lead's steps are as follows:

1. Step with the left foot to the side (first quick step).
2. Bring the right foot to join the left (second quick step).
3. Step forward with the left, in the slow step (twice as long in duration as the previous step).
4. Step right with the right foot, "collecting" it by bringing it towards the left but not touching the floor, then moving it to the right side and placing it on the ground. This is the first "quick" step of the second half of the basic.
5. Bring the left foot to join the right, again in quick time.
6. Step back slow with the right, completing the basic step.
7. The first "quick" side step is done similar to number 4 above, collecting the foot first then moving out to the side.

Variations

There are many, many different flourishes and special moves that can be added to the Rumba, such as Cuban walk, fifth position breaks, even a simple under-arm turn. Each teacher or studio will have their own variation to teach, and working them into a routine is part of the fun a dancer has when they learn rumba.

The Difficulty of Cuban Motion

One of the aspects of Rumba that is worked on for all a dancer's career is called "Cuban motion." While it's common to several Latin dances, it's particularly used in Rumba. Basically it's the process of moving the hips side to side in a rotating fashion as the dancers move through the basic steps and the variations. It's almost impossible to describe accurately with words, but watching professional ballroom dancers it is obvious and beautiful, adding a saucy sensuality to this dance.

The chance to learn rumba is something that every dancer should take advantage of. It is a skill that brings enjoyment for a lifetime.