Rumba
The Rumba was originally a peppy lively dance similar to mambo in it’s
feel has changed over the years and is now a romantic slow latin dance,
inspired by latin melodies and african rhythms . Originating from the
Cuban rumba is the basic for the mambo & cha cha, the rumba helps
sharpen your sense of rhythm, timing and muscle control.
It’s
origin from africa into cuba by imported slaves it evolved in Havana in
the 19th century by combination with the contradanza.
The
rumba name; many say derives from “ rumboso orquestra” used by
dance bands in 1807, althought in spanish “ Rumba” means “ heap pile”
In
cuba the rural form of the rumba, was an exibition not a participation
dance. The step “cucaracha” was stomping on cockroaches the step “spot
turn” was walking around the rim of a cartwhell.
The
most popular rumba tune in 1866 was “ la Paloma” in Cuba, the rumba was
introduced in northamerica in the 1930’s in the form of the cuban
bolero.
Dance teacher Pierre Lavelle visited Havanna in 1947 and discovered the
rumba danced with the break step on beat 2 of the bar. Rather than the 1
. In northamerica along with the moves of the steps came back to britain
to teach and have become part of the standard International cuban rumba
with the transfer of weight from one foot to the other on beat 1 of each
bar., without touching a step on the beat, the dance is very sensual,
beat 1 is the strong beat of the music, only the hips move on that beat.
Together with the slow tempo of the music about 116 beats per minute
makes the dance sensual. Steps are taken on 2,3 and 4 knees straitening,
weight transfer, and turns are made on the half beats.
Weight is kept forward and forward steps taken toe-flat. |
