Rumba

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Rumba is an entire family of rhythms, as well as the dance style. Son, Danzon, Guagira, Guaracha and Naningo are all rumba dances. Rumba is a combination of African rhythms and Spanish melodies - it originated in Africa and came to Cuba and the New World in the 16th Century with the import of slaves.

The Rumba is a pre-requisite for good Latin dancing, and helps sharpen your sense of rhythm, timing and muscle control.

The dance mainly developed in Cuba, although similar movements started in a few other Caribbean islands. The exact meaning or style is slightly different on each island. Cuban Rumba is the basis for the Mambo and Cha Cha.

The native rumba folk dance is a sex pantomime between a man and woman. It uses a staccato beat with maracas, claves, marimbola and drums which represent the vigorous movements of the dancers. True rumba is a sexually charged dance, performed very fast with exaggerated hip movements. The man pursues his woman aggressively and the woman's role is sexually defensive.

Rumba first became popular in Havana in the 1890s. With such strong sexual overtones rumba was often suppressed and restricted because it was seen as lewd and potentially dangerous. During the Prohibition years cabaret rumba became popular and was more socially accepted. American tourists watched short plays (sainetes) which often featured rumba dancing.

Son and Danzon are much slower versions of the rumba - some dancers say these are the most erotic Latin dances because of the slow hip movements.

Son Montuno, a progression from Son with more trumpets and piano, became the ultimate expression of Cubamisimo. So the rumba mixed itself in and by the 1940s had earned respectability.

Rumba first came to the the United States in 1913, brought by Lew Quinn and Joan Sawyer. During the twenties interest was low until 1929. Xavier Cugat formed an Latin American style orchestra. He and his orchestra played around the country and appeared in some of the first films to include sound. By the end f the 30s he had the bet Latin orchestra of the day.

In 1935 George Raft played the part of a suave dancer in the movie "Rumba", a musical in which the hero finally won the love of the heiress (Carol Lombard) through their mutual passion of dancing.

As recently as 1940, the "Son" was the popular dance of middle class Cuba - a slower and more refined version of the native Rumba. Slower still is the "Danzon", the dance of wealthy Cuban society, where very small steps are taken. The woman produces a very subtle tilting of her hips by alternately bending and straightening her knees - very sexy!

A Big Band variant of the rumba is almost twice as fast and was first popular in the US in the 1930s. This type of dance is sometimes called Rhumba, with an h.

In the 1990s the Gypsy Kings (from France, surprisingly) merged rumba with flamenco.