Dance Fusion

Fusion Dancing became specially true in the Latin Dances over a century ago. In the US, Latin dancing was taken over and reprocessed by the professionals in the US, and many dances went into oblivion. Fortunately many of the basics remain. Rumba evolved in the Caribbean into a fusion with the Spanish bolero. The local Rumba in Cuba had been danced fast, and the newly arrived Spanish bolero was slow. The new fused "Son" at midways in speed emerged and the old Rumba was relegated back to the sticks.

"Social Dancers believe that a simple definition might be that

social dances are not usually complicated.

What was exported was not the "Rumba" but the Son. Fusion, change and interpretation were different all over in the US. A good example was the Rumba basic step. The original Caribbean was the rock step and a slow step in the Indian style and used throughout the Caribbean in many dances, the Calypso, Beguine, Montuno etc. Also the slow step was done with a two count Toe, Heel, very predominant move in North American Indian dancing. Instead of just stomping down, they toed on one count and the full foot on the next count.

"My Molokai" by Willie K

The English picked up on the rock step but most everything else was designed for the European dancers. In the US. Arthur Murray. having the advantage of knowing more about dancing than anyone, did not like the rock step, specially because it began on the two count. And for sure those heathens did not know anything about dancing. So for the American audience he designed the basic square step, Slow, Quick, Quick that began on the one count. And it is still taught in all the Arthur Murray studios including Oahu.
 

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