Rumba Dance

We are telling a story. The Rumba is the dance of love. Look at me like you're in love.

The above quote, from the 1992 movie, 'Strictly Ballroom', couldn't have described this form of Latin ballroom dancing any better. Every dance tells you a story. Similarly, the rumba dance is the story of love between a man and a woman, about how they first flirt and then run. The history of this dance goes back to Cuba. Interested to know more about the dance? Then let us start off with the history first.

Origin of the Dance

The rumba, is actually not one, but a mixture of some of the popular Cuban dances which includes the guaracha, the bolero, the Cuban son and the rural rumba. All these dance have nearly the same rhythms. The origins of these rhythms goes back to the religious dances of the Africans. The Second world war saw a much slower and polished version of this dance. It was in 1913 that the dance came to America for the first time. 1923, Emil Coleman, a band leader, wanted to make rumba famous in America. Thus, he got musicians who played the rumba music from outside. But his efforts failed. It was only after Northern Americans started visiting their Southern neighbor, that this dance became famous in America as the American rumba.

Dance Steps

The moves and steps are slow and romantic. The perfect movement of the ankles, legs and knees of the dancer, is what makes the hips swing from side to side. Some people might call this hip movement as exaggerated, but the perfect action of the above is the main reason behind it.

The first thing that you need to keep in mind while doing the rumba, is the beat; slow, then quick, and then again quick. While you are dancing, keep repeating this again and again, mentally, so that you can keep pace with your partner. The steps that are quick, usually last for 1 beat and then the slow beat lasts for 2 beats. The beats in the dance are usually taken on 2, 3, and 4.

No matter where you learn it from, or from whom you learn it, you simply cannot go without some of the most important rumba dance steps such as the fan, or the hockey stick or the aida or the hip rolls. These are the main steps of the rumba. Master them.

As the dance starts, the woman starts with her right foot, while the man starts with his left. Then both side step to their right and left respectively. The next step is to move the left foot over the right foot (for men), and the other way round for women. Then, the woman steps forward with her left foot while the man moves back with his right foot. Then, again sidestep as you had done. Then again, move the left foot to the right foot (women) and the opposite for men.

Costumes

Ruffled shirt, mainly red in color, pants, and a matching sash. That's the rumba costume for men. They make dancing easier and there are no hassles or worries about wardrobe malfunctioning. Women, for you there is the midriff top which has ruffled sleeves and a ruffled skirt. Hold on, there's more. Along with this, you also have a matching turban which has a red colored jewel at the center. The colors of their costumes, i.e. the men and the women, are matching. Wear this and lose yourself in this grandfather of all Latin dances, as the rumba is popularly known.

Well! Interested to learn more about the dance? Then just enroll yourself in a dance class and master this romantic ballroom dance.