The style and rhythmic characteristics of rumba can be summarized as steady swing, soft and flexible, fast and slow.
Stable Swing:
The rhythm of rumba is born from the labor, when the blacks carry bananas and other fruits in big baskets, they need to keep their upper body stable, and walk up and down, which creates the swaying of the hips. Therefore, when dancing rumba, it is required to keep the spine straight and the shoulders flat, and the swaying of the hips is formed naturally due to the shift of the center of gravity, rather than swinging the hips intentionally. When the foot steps out, the palm of the foot is hard on the ground, the knee is slightly bent, when the knee of the other leg is straight, when the center of gravity is shifted to the foot that steps out, the heel is lowered, and the hips are then swung to the side and back; the other one is relaxed and slightly bent. The overall feeling is of lifting the breath and smoothly controlling the upper body, while the arms keep swinging freely.
Toughness in softness:
After the step, the knee makes the top straight, and the swing of the hips seems to be light and soft, but in fact, the internal force is hard, and there is a toughness in the memory, so there will be a feeling of soreness and rise of the hips after a long time of dancing Rumba.
Fast and slow:
Rumba dance with four beats to walk three steps, the rhythm of fast fast slow, fast step a beat a step, slow step two beats a step. The hips are walking three steps and swinging three times. Its foot movement is swift, no matter fast or slow step is half a beat in place, and the hip swing is fast step accounted for one beat, slow step accounted for two beats. In fact, in the four beats and three steps, each step is half a beat in place, while the hips are continuously swinging left and right. This contradictory and unified movement of up, down, slow and fast forms the characteristic rhythm of rumba.
Basic dance steps
The music beat of rumba is 4/4, and the rhythm is 2~3~4&1. The accent is on the first and third beat. The basic steps of the rumba are synthesized by fast, fast and slow movements to the beat of the music. Two fast steps are horizontal steps, followed by a slow step, which completes a step. Each step of the rumba has two movements, one is a stride and the other is the movement of the center of gravity; one foot is on the ground, the center of gravity is kept on the other foot, and the center of gravity is gradually changed during the stride.
1. Rectangular Step
Men's Step
Step left foot to the left, knee bent, center of gravity on the right foot - fast
Shift the center of gravity to the left foot, right foot leaning on the left foot, right knee bent - fast
Shift weight to right foot, left foot forward, knee bend - slow
Shift weight to left foot, right foot crosses to the right, knee bends - fast
Shift weight to right foot, left foot against right foot, left knee bends -Fast
Shift weight to left foot, put right foot back, bend knee - -Slow
Women's Steps
Span right foot to right, bend knee, weight on left foot - -Fast
Shift weight to right foot, left foot against right foot, left knee bent -Fast
Shift weight to left foot, right foot placed back, knee bent -Slow
Shift weight Shift weight to right foot, cross left foot to left side, knee bend - fast
Shift weight to left foot, right foot against left foot, right knee bend - fast
Shift weight to right foot, left foot forward --Slow
2. Left turn
Men's step
With the weight on the right foot, put the left foot to the left side and bend the knee --Fast
Shift the weight to the left foot, put the right foot against the left foot and bend the right knee --Fast
Shift weight to the right foot while turning to the left, left foot forward, knee bent --Slow
Continue to turn, shift weight to the left foot, right foot placed to the right, knee bent --Fast
Shift weight to left foot while turning to the left, put right foot back, bend knee --Slow
Women's Step
Step right foot across to the right, bend knee, weight on left foot -Fast
Shift weight to right foot, left foot against right foot, left knee bends -Fast
Shift weight to left foot while turning to left, right foot reaches back, knee bends - -Slow
Continue to turn, shift weight to right foot, cross left foot to left side, bend knee - Fast
Shift weight to left foot, right foot against left foot, bend right knee - Fast
Shift weight to right foot and turn left, left foot forward, knee bent - slow
3. Right downward turn
Men's step
Following the rhythm of fast, fast, slow, go through the rectangular steps of the rumba, raise your partner's right arm and step back slowly so that your partner can turn downward
Continuing with the other rectangular step of the rumba, push the left side of the partner's body with the right hand so that she turns under her right arm and the man resumes the partnering position as he steps back slowly.
Women's Steps
Following the rhythm of fast, fast, slow, after the rectangular step of the rumba, raise your right arm and prepare to turn downward as you stride forward at a slow step
When you turn under your right arm, you make a circle to the right. Starting with the right foot, move forward three steps in a fast, fast, slow rhythm, turn in front of your partner, continue in a semi-rectangular step, and get into a counter position
4. Cuban Step
Men's Step
Standing in a counter position, with your feet close together and your center of gravity on your right foot
Circle around to the left, starting with your left foot, and moving towards a fast, fast, slow rhythm (Cuban Step), and moving towards the left side. (Cuban Steps), toward the line of the dance, in the basic steps, six steps back
Women's Steps
Standing in pairs, feet close together, center of gravity on the left foot
Walk around to the right, starting with the right foot, and in the fast, fast, slow rhythm (Cuban Steps), toward the line of the dance, in the basic steps, six steps forward
Men's Steps
Standing in pairs, feet close together, center of gravity on the left foot
Standing on the right foot, starting with the right foot, in the fast, fast, slow rhythm (Cuban Steps), and in the basic steps, six steps forward In pairs, feet together, weight on right foot
Walk around to the left, starting with the left foot, following the fast, fast, slow rhythm (Cuban Walk), towards the line of the course, using the basic steps, advance six steps
Women's Steps
Standing in pairs, feet together, weight on left foot
Walk around to the left, starting with the right foot, following the fast, fast, slow rhythm (Cuban Walk), advance six steps
Women's Steps
Walk around to the left, following the fast, fast, slow rhythm (Cuban Walk), starting with the right foot, advancing six steps towards the line of the course, Starting with the right foot, follow the rhythm of fast, fast, slow (Cuban walk), towards the line of the dance, using the basic steps, six steps back
5. Open and open steps
Men's steps
Left foot to the left hip - fast
Right foot to the left foot - fast
Push your partner out of the way, step forward with your left foot, stand to the right, now in the same direction, use the rumba handshake, extend your left arm, bend your right elbow - slow
Now, as you gradually pull your partner towards you, step back to the right in a circle (don't tilt your shoulders). Follow the fast, fast, slow rhythm (Cuban walk) for a few steps back until you have your partner in the right position
Women's Steps
Right foot to the right hip - fast
Left foot against the right foot - fast
Right foot steps back, away from male partner, away to the left, now standing in same direction position, right hand in male partner's left hand, bending left arm - slow
Man walks in a circle to the right as he pulls his female partner toward him (shoulders not crooked). Starting with the left foot, follow the rhythm of fast, fast, slow (Cuban walk) and take a few steps forward until you are standing in a paired position.
6. Cuban Step Off
The Cuban Step Off is a transitional step that is used to change direction,*** with two fast steps and one slow step. In changing from a forward direction to a backward direction, the male step is two steps forward, one step back, and one step forward, starting with the right foot.
7. Forward and backward off-steps
Men's Steps
Step forward on the left foot, bend at the knee - fast
Shift the weight to the left foot, bend on the right foot - fast
Shift the weight to the right foot, left foot against right foot, left knee bends - fast
Shift weight to left foot, right foot steps back, knee bends - fast
Shift weight to right foot, left knee bends - -fast
Shift weight to left foot, right foot against left foot, right knee bent - slow
Women's Steps
Right foot backward, knee bent - fast
Shift weight to the right foot, left knee bends - fast
Shift weight to the left foot, right foot against the left foot, right knee bends - slow
Shift weight to the right foot, left foot steps forward, knee bends - -fast
Shift weight to left foot, right knee bends -fast
Shift weight to right foot, left foot against right foot, left knee bends -slow
8. Left and right horizontal disengagement steps
Men's dance step
Lean feet together, body weight on right foot.
Step left foot to left, bend knee - fast
Shift weight to left foot, bend right knee - fast
Shift weight to right foot, left foot against right foot, bend left knee - -Slow
Shift weight to left foot, right foot crosses to right, knee bends -Fast
Shift weight to right foot, left knee bends -Fast
Shift weight to left foot, right foot against left foot, right knee bent - slow
Women's Steps
Stepping right foot to the right, knee bent - fast
Shift weight to right foot, left knee bent - -fast
Shift weight to left foot, right foot against left foot, right knee bends -slow
Shift weight to right foot, left foot crosses to left, knee bends -fast
Shift weight to left foot, right knee bent -- fast
Shift weight to right foot, left foot against right foot, left knee bent -- slow
9. Butterfly off-step
Men's step
Standing in a jointed position, feet close together. The center of gravity of the body is on the right foot.
Stand to the left, left foot on the ground, right foot crosses over and behind, at the same time make the partner turn outward toward the right - fast
Body close together, right foot steps down - fast
Resume the position, left foot steps on the ground - slow
Resume the position, left foot steps on the ground - slow
Men's steps Slowly
Step away from the body to the right, right foot on the ground, left foot over and behind, while making the partner turn outward toward the left, releasing the right hand - Quickly
Body close together, left foot down --Fast
Resume partnering position, right foot on ground, right hand under partner's left shoulder blade --Slow
Women's Steps
Stand in partnering position, feet close together, body weight on right foot.
Stand away from the body to the right, right foot on the ground, left foot across and behind - fast
Body close together, left foot on the ground - fast
Resume the joint position, right foot on the ground --Slowly
Step away from the body to the left, left foot on the ground, right foot over and behind - fast
Body close together, right foot down - fast
Resume partnering position, left foot on ground -- slow
10. Crossing
Men's Step
Standing in partnering position, feet close together, body weight on right foot, left hand holding partner's right hand.
Make an axial turn to the right with the right foot, cross the left foot in front of the right foot, bend the knee - fast
Shift the weight to the left foot, bend the right knee in the original position - fast
Shift the weight to the right foot, make a slight left turn, left foot against right foot, left knee bent -- slow
Shift weight to left foot, make an axial turn to the left, right foot straddles in front of left foot, knee bent -- fast
Shift weight to right foot, bend left knee in original position --Fast
Shift the weight to the left foot, turn slightly to the right as an axis, lean the right foot against the left foot and bend the right knee --Slow
Repeat the above steps, shifting the weight to the right foot.
Women's Steps
Standing in a joint position, feet close together, body weight on the left foot, right hand held by the left hand of the male partner.
Turn on an axis with the left foot to the left, right foot straddling the front of the left foot, knees bent - fast
Shift weight to the right foot, bend the left knee in the original position - fast
Shift weight to the left foot, slightly to the right in a turn, right foot against left, right knee bent -- slow
Shift weight to right foot, make an axial turn to the right, left foot straddles in front of right, knee bent -- fast
Shift weight to left foot, bend right knee in original position --Fast
Shift the weight to the right foot, make a slight axial turn to the left, left foot over the right foot, bend the left knee --Slow
Repeat the above steps, shifting the weight to the left foot.
11. Turn right in place
Men's dance step
Standing in pairs, feet close together, center of gravity on right foot.
Turn slightly to the right and step left foot across -- fast
Continue to turn to the right and step right foot behind left heel at a right angle -- fast
Continue to turn to the right and step left foot across --Slow
Continue to turn right, right foot behind left heel at right angle --Fast
Continue to turn right, left foot across --Fast
Continue to turn to the right, right foot to straddle behind left heel, at right angles -- slow
Women's Steps
Standing in pairs position, feet close together, center of gravity on left foot.
Step forward with right foot while turning slightly to the right -- fast
Continue to turn to the right and step across with left foot -- fast
Continue to turn to the right, right foot on the ground, right heel in front of left toe at right angle -Slow
Continue to turn right, left foot to straddle -Fast
Continue to turn right, right foot to ground, right heel in front of left toe at right angle -Fast
Continue to turn right, right foot to ground, right heel in front of left toe at right angle -Fast
Continue to turn to the right, left foot to straddle - Slow
Men's Steps
Standing in pairs position, feet close together, center of gravity of body on right foot.
Turn to the left, left foot on the ground - fast
Continue to turn to the left, right foot to straddle - fast
Continue to turn to the left, left foot in front of the right toe in a right-angle formation - -fast
Continue to turn to the left, right foot to straddle - fast
Continue to turn to the left, left foot in front of right toe at a right angle - fast
Continue to turn to the left. Right foot to straddle - slow
Women's Steps
Standing in joint position, feet close together, body weight on left foot.
Turn slightly to the left with the right foot toward the cross - fast
Continue to turn to the left with the left foot behind the right heel at a right angle - fast
Continue to turn to the left with the right foot toward the cross --Slow
Continue to turn left, left foot behind right heel at right angle --Fast
Continue to turn left, right foot to straddle --Fast
Continuing to turn left, left foot steps behind right heel at right angles - slow
In addition, the back door step, New York step is also a more basic dance step.