The Rumba Basic

By John Quan, Kalealoa
The basic step in any dance is simply a dance move that defines the character of a particular dance. It sets the rhythm of the dance - it is the default move to which a dancer returns, when not performing the real moves of feeling the music. And the Rumba is a good example for there are two different basics in "American Rumba." The Rumba basic is pretty simple as used for maybe 50 different dances in the Caribbean such at Son, Beguine, Guaracha, Calypso, Mambo, etc. It always starts with a rock step (2 counts) and a slow step (2 counts.) The Rumba music and dance were imported after 1910, about 100 years ago.

"Social dancers are very much into Rumba. It is very festive, very passionate

music, rhythmic guitar, passionate singing about love,"

Arthur Murray did not agree with the basic, so he developed the box step basic which is used to this day. He thought the American people would learn the Rumba easier with his basic. The Arthur Murray schools use slow: (2 counts) forward with the left foot, - quick : right foot to the right, and quick: left foot up to the right foot, (counts 3, 4, for the first half of the basic movement in a box step. This is called the "square rumba" in England. When Fred Astaire began his studio chain, he used the same basic. Arthur Murray took the Fred Astaire schools to the courts for using "his" square basic and he won.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

But of course Fred Astaire was a dancer and he could dance the Rumba just as good his way. He used the box but he change the foot work more to the original QQS. Forward, quick, right foot to the right, quick and then left foot up to the right for the slow. And it passed. On Oahu we do not have any Fred Astaire Studios so the basic taught and danced is Arthur Murray. However there is an alternative basic which is danced mostly in night clubs by street dancers on Oahu and all over the Mainland too It is derived from the basic movement of the Mambo, as well as that of the International Rumba, and blends well with many of the figures in the Rumba syllabus.

"If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities.

If you believe it won’t you will see obstacles.”