Learning Rumba Dance Steps

Rumba originates from a group of Latin-based dances beginning with the Bolero in Spain and it is characterized with rumba dance steps. It is also related to the Mambo and its sensual and slow rhythm is easy to learn making it a favorite of many. Probably, the only other dance that could surpass it in popularity is salsa.

The most ideal way to learn the skill of the rumba dance steps is to simply go ahead and do it practically, if possible with the keen instruction of a qualified dance instructor as well as a dedicated partner. When one is selecting a studio to carry out the dance instructions, there are two options to pick from which are package and independent plans. Independent studios allow learners to have the rumba classes lesson by lesson with payments being done after each session as the skill is slowly built up..

This may be considered to be a convenient mode of learning rumba dance steps but it may not exactly be the most appropriate method.  Whichever ballroom lessons are taken, they have to be properly structured and packaged lessons such as those offered from studios like “Learn and Master Ballroom Dance” which are more comprehensive and have a controlled approach that can assist in learning rumba more effectively.

Online Resources of Learning Rumba Dance

Definitely, in this era of information, you may be able to learn rumba via the internet. The guided explanation of the rumba dance steps and other variants can be found on in several websites just like this one. and the “Louis Let’s DanceLearn and Master Ballroom Dance” DVDs programs are the 2 most useful rumba dance steps instruction lessons that you can’t find elsewhere.

The Frame of Rumba Dance Steps
The initial thing that is taught during the lessons is the rumba dance frame. The left hand of the lead is supposed to hold the right hand of the follow’s shoulder blade. The follow should rest their hand on the bicep of the lead while facing each other.

The Basic
The initial rumba dance steps are quite simple; it is a ‘box step’ and the follow will mirror the steps of the lead (in contrast to the bolero which has separate moves for the female and male basic step). The pace of the steps goes ‘quick, quick, slow’ and the beat it is danced to is a 4/4.

The lead’s steps are as follows:
1.    Use the left foot to step to the side (first fast step)

2.    The right foot is then brought to meet the left (second fast step)

3.    Make a step forward using the left foot with a low step. (Double the time of the prior step)

4.    Take a step using the right foot and collect it by inching it to the left foot without making contact with the floor. After this, shift the leg to the right and place it on the floor. This happens to be the basic second half initial quick rumba dance step.

5.    The left foot then joins the right quickly

6.    Take a slow step back using the right foot, finishing a basic step.

7.    The initial quick step to the side is done in a similar fashion as in step number 4 after which the foot is collected first and moved onto the side.

With this rumba dance steps, dancing rumba has never been easier.

Popular dances in the 1960s included dancers’ capabilities of dancing with no dance partners. The 1960s dances similarly shared vibrant names. The popular dances in the 1960s consisted of the Fly, the Mashed Potato, the Funky Chicken, the Penguin, the Swim and the Monkey. However, several sources still maintain that at least five hundred dances were launched initially in the 1960.

However, one of the popular dances in the 1960s in history that led to a large obsession was The Twist first appearing in the beginning of the decade on Dick Clark Show. This dance initiated a song by Hank Ballard that used the same title. A man called Chubby Chucker, who specifically achieved a single minor hit song, managed to release a newer version of the same prior hit song. Chubby’s triumph went on with more than twelve of his hit songs in the same decade.  As a result, most popular dances in the 1960s got their styles from these hits.

The straightforwardness of the Twist dance made it well liked with all sorts of ages. Movements required was easy: place a single foot at the front then twist the foot backwards and forwards while moving the hips sideways. Extra twist songs performed by musicians such as The Beatles, Sam Cookie, Gary U.S., Bonds and Hank Ballard & the Midnighters followed.

The twist is normally done by dancers standing with their feet roughly shoulder width separate. The torso, squared to the hips and knees or similarly inclined at angles, must ensure that one foot is far away from the other. The arms on the other side ought to be away from the body and bent just around the elbow. The torso, legs and hips rotate around the feet balls as one component, with arms relatively immobile. The feet have to grind on the floor in a backwards, forwards movement- that way, the dance rate will vary, and there will be variance in the vertical height and intensity of the dance as well.  From time to time, one leg has to be lifted away from the floor for additional style. Generally, dance postures are low, with floor in contact with the feet, using little vertical motions.

Popular dances in the 1960s did not really put into consideration the aspect of dancing partners being in contact, like in recent years. The Mashed Potato dancing style came along with songs performed by Dee Dee Sharp, Steve Alaimo and James Brown. To spice it all up, there are differences but quite a number of these dance descriptions engage all arms placed at the front part of dancers’ bodies. While alternately grinding every foot, performers flutter their arms, one after the other. The idea brought out from this dance is that the performers were mashing potatoes using their feet hence the name Mashed Potato.

Just as people would see in their minds’ eyes, The Monkey Dance, also part of the popular dances in the 1960s, emulated the tricks of monkeys. In this dance, performers face their counterparts at the same time as they bobbled their heads, waved their arms, hopped and scratched. With the hit song labeled The Monkey Time, Major Lance pioneered the Monkey Dance in 1963.

Some of the other popular 1960 dances consisted of Do the Freddie, the Locomotion, the Camel Walk, the Duck and the Hanky Panky. Since these dances were numerous, they created disagreements. In a certain case, Brigham Young University prohibited Buffalo and all the ‘fad dances’ and in 1962 and 1966 respectively. That aside, most of the popular dances in the 1960s remained ‘untouched’.

You’ve probably seen the very popular BBC television program Strictly Come Dancing, in the USA it was called Dancing with the Stars. If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about look no further because here’s a beginners guide to the top ten reasons to love ballroom dancing.

1 – The Music
Ballroom and Latin dance music is quite simply fabulous and it makes you want to dance. I defy anyone to listen to ‘Shout It Feel It’ by the Count Basie Orchestra and not want to at least tap their feet! Dancing aside there has been a resurgence in interest in jazz and swing music, Michael Buble and Jamie Cullum being two modern exponents of the genre, and this has only helped dance to once again capture the public imagination.

2 – It’s Up Close and Personal
Before the recent interest in ballroom dancing people used to laugh when I told them I danced. They saw it as a strange thing to do. I never quite understood this as in the words of George Bernard Shaw dancing is the “vertical expression of a horizontal desire legalized by music”? Surely a reason to love ballroom dancing.

3 – Health Benefits
According to researchers social dancing provides the body with many health benefits. It may help reduce stress, increase energy, and improve strength, muscle tone, and co-ordination. Dancing can also burn as many calories as walking or riding a bike. One of the best aspects of ballroom dancing is the fun you can have while you’re doing something great for your body.

4 – The People You Meet
Like most walks of life dancing attracts all kinds of people but by far the majority of dancers are really nice people to know and great fun to be with.

5 – You Get to Dress Up
It’s fair to say that ballroom dancing went through a phase where the ladies wore some quite strange outfits. But today layers of petticoats and lace have given way to flowing gowns and glamorous figure hugging designer chic. Of course the men still wear their tail suits but even here heavy fabric has given way to much lighter and cooler alternatives. Socially of course tail suits are not worn but everybody loves the chance to dress up and wear nice clothes and what better occasion than a ballroom dance!

6 – You Can be Competitive
We humans are a competitive lot and dancing is no different. There is a vibrant and active competitive circuit at all levels of ballroom dancing from professional through to beginner. Even if stepping out with a number pinned to your back isn’t appealing you can still join in and shout your support from the wings. Contrary to popular belief competitive ballroom dancing isn’t a genteel pastime, quite the opposite and anyone attending a competition for the first time might be surprised by the experience. Competitions are definitely a reason to love ballroom dancing!

7 – You Can Do It All Over The World
Ballroom dancing is popular the world over and if you travel you will find kindred spirits in all four corners of the globe. Some countries are more actively involved in dancing than others but you will seldom be far from a dance hall or studio wherever you may roam.

8 – You Can Make People Envious
Nobody likes a show off but there’s a fine line between showing off and simply doing something you enjoy. There are many social situations where being able to dance is a positive boon and many people have taken up dancing after being at a wedding and watching people who can dance take to the floor wishing it was them. So another way of looking at this is if you dance at a social event you may well be encouraging others to take up dancing too!

9 – It’s Hard
I play golf. Golf’s hard and week after week I go back to the course and week after week the course beats me. Dancing is hard too. Week after week I go to lessons and come away safe in the knowledge that there is still much to learn. But this isn’t a bad thing. Learning and perhaps mastering things that are hard is part of the human condition and dancing will present you with a lifetime of learning opportunities and the associated feeling you get when you master just one small part of it. Like golf, dancing is rewarding and fun because it’s hard.

10 – It’s just fun!
What ever the level of dancing you achieve you will have fun. From the beginners taking to the floor for the first time, often with a terrified look on their face, through to seasoned professionals strutting their stuff at a dance demonstration dancing makes you feel alive and it makes you smile.

Expression is one of those things that’s hard to define or even critique upon but adds life to any dance performance. How is expression achieved?

Expression means different things to different people. It can be subtle or it can be very obvious. In essence most dancing is done with music and the dance should be an expression of that music. If you’re playing a character in a production or show then it will be about expressing the way the character is feeling or what they may be thinking at that moment in time.

When learning a dance routine from a choreographer, bear in mind that the sequence of moves that they have come up with is an expression in and of itself. It’s an expression of what they feel when they hear the music. Or if you want to be abstract it’s how they may want to feel or how they remember feeling if it takes them to another time.

It is important to understand this when learning a routine so that you can dance it to its full expressive power. Sometimes the expression may be achieved through technique which will come from your training. But most of the time it’s something simple.

It may be in the way the moves progress. The moves may be very smooth to express certain feelings or very sharp for others. Sometimes expression will be achieved by a graceful glance upwards or by a change posture or facial expression.

In order to really understand the expression sought by the choreographer it sometimes takes something besides dancing skills. In fact it may just be about paying enough attention when they are speaking and teaching so you can understand the effect they are trying to depict.

At other times you’ll just need to take a step back and watch the choreographer so that you can see sections of routines performed in their entirety. Watching the choreographer dance and listening to what they have to say about it offers the biggest clues into what they are looking to express.

In essence expression arises from feelings so it’s as much about understanding feelings as it is about dancing. Next time you’re dancing at your best, feeling like you’re on top of the world take a second and look at how it is being made possible and what need to express is driving you. This’ll give you some insight into expression.