Wednesday, February 29, 2012

About Ballroom Dancing - The Rumba

By Karri Owens


Unlike all of those other ballroom dances, the Rumba emphasizes ones body movements greater than their footwork. The rhythm in the dance, which is emphasized by any type of percussion, drums, pots, maracas, etc., is more essential to the dance compared to the tune itself. The fascinating rhythms and mesmerizing body movements of this dance make it one of the more popular ballroom dances.

The Rumba was relying on the Spanish and Africans with many of the development of the dance going on in Cuba. The Rumba evolved in 1800s Havana, originating with the African Negro slaves who has been imported. The rural Rumba was originally for exhibition instead of participation. In some reference works the Rumba is said to be a pantomime of the movements of barnyard animals using the steady level shoulders depicting the movements of slaves because they carried heavy burdens. However, executives will peek at the Rumba as a dance of affection and sensuality with the woman tempting the guy with her charms, teasing then withdrawing. Some go a step farther saying the dance can be a pantomime of sex with the man dancing quickly in a very sensual yet aggressive manner with greatly exaggerated hip movements, along with the woman responding with a defensive attitude. Whichever is correct, the Rumba is the most sensual of all the Latin ballroom dances.

Son, Danzon, Guagira, Guaracha and Naningo are all names for the Rumba. The Son, the slower more refined Rumba would have been a favorite among the middle class Cubans. The wealthy area of Cuban society preferred the Danzon, that is an even slower Rumba using small steps and more subtle hip movements.

The modified version with the Rumba known as the Son was introduced to Americans in 1913. In the late 1920's Xavier Cugat formed an orchestra devoted to Latin American Music which really didn't produce a following until around 1929. By the end of the decade Xavier had the top Latin American orchestra of his day.

Monsieur Pierre Lavelle, a London dance teacher, and his partner Doris Lavelle were responsible for bringing and popularizing the Rumba and other Latin American dances to Europe. In 1955 with the help of Pierre and Lavelle the Cuban Rumba was finally named since the officially recognized version of the Rumba.

During ballroom dance competitions the judges will probably be watching for the following: * Interplay involving the partners - this is a dance of affection, a portrayal of romance. It's not the time for solemn, passive expressions * A robust direct walk * Plenty of slow body shapes - your body NEVER stops changing its shape * Figure eight hip rolls - hips alternating in the forward motion * NEVER leading using the heel, stay on the balls in the feet * The Cucaracha step - you should rock to the right or left then replace and close * The fan position - the girl positioned to the man's left side, at arms length and at a 90 angle to the man




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