Rumba

The Basic Requirements of the Rumba

• The Cha Cha and the Rumba have the same basic steps, they are just danced to a different rhythm. The Rumba is romantic whereas the Cha Cha is bright and lively
• The Rumba should portray romance and therefore have good interplay between the dancers
• The Rumba is danced on the unaccented beat (dance on the 2nd not the 1st)
• Hip Action: This is not just a wiggle of the bum. The hip action comes from the flexing and straightening of the legs
• No Heel leads: This means that the dancers must not walk on the heels of their feet. It must go ball flat onto ball of foot

• The basic steps are the forward basic and the back basic
• Forward basic - 3 steps (one step forward, replace, side)
• Back basic - 3 steps (one step backward, replace, side)
• Hip twists
• Spot turns - (in both the Rumba and Cha Cha) - a turn on the spot which takes 3 steps to either the left or to the right
• Forward or backward walks - as the Rumba is a fairly static dance so these walks are used to help the couples move around the floor. When walking they should employ a good hip action
• Fan position - The girl goes on the man's left side at arms length and at 90 degrees to the man
• New York - The couple both step forward in promenade position (side by side) and holding hands at the same time
• Cucaracha - rock to the right or the left, then replace and close

Rumba - Basic step

MAN

 

Step	Count	Q/S	Feet
1	1	Quick	Right foot side
2	2	Quick	Left foot forward
3	3	Quick	Replace weight to right foot
4	4-1	Slow	Left foot side
5	2	Quick	Right foot back
6	3	Quick	Replace weight to left foot
7	4-1	Slow	Right foot side

LADY

 

Step	Count	Q/S	Feet
1	1	Quick	Left foot side
2	2	Quick	Right foot back
3	3	Quick	Replace weight to left foot
4	4-1	Slow	Right foot side
5	2	Quick	Left foot forward
6	3	Quick	Replace weight to right foot
7	4-1	Slow	Left foot side