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Second Stop—Rumba
One of the most popular Latin rhythms is Rumba. In our lists of dance figures, we have tried to group related figures together. If a rhythm uses a Box step, then we have tried to put all of the different ways you can do a Box in the same part of the list.
The benefit is that you can easily compare the Underarm Turn to the Reverse Underarm Turn or the Door to the Sliding Door (see below). The cost is that it is harder to find a specific figure than in an alphabetical list. But browser "search" and "find" functions are easy to use.
Rumba originated among the African slaves in Cuba more than four hundred years ago as a fast and erotic dance that left little to the imagination. It came to the U.S. around 1913. In the 1920s, it was slowed down and greatly "civilized" by the big dance studios of the time, Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire. Today, rumba is a slow, Latin rhythm that is danced with smooth, flowing movements. Keep your feet close to the floor as though you are sliding or gliding. Don't march. Rumba is a level dance, with little rise and fall.
Figure Name, Phase Level, & Timing
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Steps and Actions That Make Up the Figure
These descriptions are primarily based on Roundalab's Standards For Round Dancing and on cue sheets written by many choreographers (see Links page). |
Here are some sequences to help you visualize the figure in context.
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| Basic
qqs; qqs;
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In closed position or in butterfly, lead feet free, step forward, recover on trail foot, and step side. Second measure: bk, rec, sd, -; |
In the McCues' More Than Ever Rumba 3, part A begins with a basic;; new yorker; crabwalks;; new yorker; |
| Underarm Turn
qqs;
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In facing position, the man steps back, and the woman crosses her left in front under joined lead hands, turning 1/2 RF. On beat two, the man recovers left, and the woman recovers right, completing the turn to face her partner. On the slow, both step side. |
Half Basic to an Underarm Turn;; Reverse Underarm Turn; Spot Turn; |
| Reverse Underarm Turn
qqs;
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In bfly wall both cross in front with lead feet, and she turns under LF. The man recovers as she continues to turn to face, and both step side, -; |
In Lefeavers' Corinna Corinna, the interlude begins in left open position, both facing line, man on outside of circle, with a kiki walk 3 and ronde of trail foot to butterfly center; fence line to reverse; reverse underarm turn toward line; to a hand to hand; |
| Cucarachas
qqs; qqs;
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Step sd, rec, cl, -; sd, rec, cl, -; These side steps are pressing steps; full weight is not taken. So in the first measure, you step to the side with your lead foot, press with the ball of the foot, but don't lower the heel and don't raise the heel of the trail foot. A little rotation of the ball of the lead foot would be appropriate. Then recover full weight to the trail foot, and close the lead foot to the trail foot.
Cucaracha is Spanish for "cockroach." It's not an entirely attractive image, but in an earthy sort of way, I kind of like the idea of squishing a roach to the left and then to the right??
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In the Rothers' Years May Come, there is a hand to hand; crab walks to line;; aida; roll three to RLOD; cucaracha; half basic; fan; |
| Door
qqs;
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Also cued Traveling Door, in a facing position, rock to the side, recover, and cross in front,-; |
Often done in pairs, one to reverse and then one to line;;
Rumbles' Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, part A (actually a cha, but it would be a nice rumba sequence, too): basic;; reverse underarm turn; crab walk; traveling door to reverse; side walk; to a hand to hand twice;;
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| Sliding Door
qqs;
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In open position, line of dance, rock apart, recover releasing hands, and cross lead in front of trail, changing sides to left open, line. |
Often done twice: slide the door over and back;; |
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