What's That Dance

Rumba

Looking for a dance that sizzles? Then get ready to Rumba!

“Rumba is a Latin American dance with two main styles: International and American,” says Brian Sloat, an instructor at Art in Motion Dance Studio in Ontario. While the International style is used mainly for competition, many studios teach the American style because it is more of a social dance.

Deemed the “dance of romance” for its hip action, flirtatious movements and slow Latin beat, the Rumba has a slow, quick, quick rhythm. Since the dance is stationary and doesn’t require a lot of travelling around the floor, Sloat says a student can have an excellent command of the Rumba basic in the first class.

For a basic Rumba box step, the footwork is done in 6 moves starting in a loose closed facing position (the leader’s right hand is on the follower’s left shoulder blade while the follower’s left arm is on top of the leader’s right arm. The follower’s right hand and leader’s left hand are together at eye level).

For the leader:
“Slow” –the left foot goes forward
“Quick” –right foot steps to the right side
“Quick” –left foot closes to the right foot.

“Slow” –the right foot goes back
“Quick” –left foot steps to the left side
“Quick” –right foot closes to the left foot.

For the follower:
“Slow” –the right foot goes back
“Quick” –left foot steps to the left side
“Quick” –right foot closes to the left foot.
“Slow” –the left foot goes forward
“Quick” –right foot steps to the right side
“Quick” –left foot closes to the right foot.

To get those Rumba moves going, remember that:
1) the body initiates the moves going forward while the foot initiates the movement going back
2) alternate bending and straightening your knees to get that exaggerated hip action.

WATCH
A short video of Rumba dancers from Arthur Murray Dance School
Chelsie Hightower and Louis Vito on Dancing with the Stars
Learn some patterns from American-style Rumba

VISIT (Currently finding schools)
Ready to Rumba Dance in Halifax
Dance Dynamics in Saskatoon
Rocca Blanca Dance in Surrey, B.C.

By Jackielou Perez
(published September 29, 2010)