American Rumba

The history of Rumba dance was initiated in the U.S.A in the early 1930’s as a fusion of the rural rumba with Cuban Bolero, Guaracha and the Son. George Raft, the actor, popularized the rumba dance in the year 1935. This he did by playing a part in the ‘Rumba’ movie where he is featured as a suave dancer that won an heiress’s heart through dancing. Though George Raft was a good dancer, Frank Veloz did the main male dance part in the movie.

“Social dancers can dance from their hearts and just let their passion shine through”

  

Arthur Murray thought he knew better when he introduced the box step as basic for Rumba, from the American fox trot with a slow, quick, quick which is still done in American Style to this day. Later the Fred Astaire schools followed suit, and Mr. Murray went to the courts. The decision in favor of Arthur Murray had a big influence on letting other styles acquire the original rumba movement which was a rock stop and a slow step similar to the Mambo and Salsa of today. And used by the International Style,

"The First Night" by Monica  (1998)

Fred Astaire then changed his box step to a quick, quick, slow, which was closer to the rock step and a slow in the original. And that is what is taught in the Fred Astaire studios. They run the National Dance Contests of American Style dance all over the US and the Fred Astaire basic. There are no Fred Astaire studios in Hawaii, the American rumba basic in Hawaii is slow, quick, quick in a box step. The alternative basic for everyone is the rock step and the slow step. This is slowly being picked up in Hawaii and used mostly in Night Clubs, it's a natural.

“Social dancers believe that there may be no facts, only interpretations.”