- "Master's Moment" before closing, introducing key techniques for better dancing such as better
- Rumba
- posture and frame
- Cuban motion/"merengue" action
- connection and movement
- Waltz
- posture and frame;
- connection
- advanced timing and movement
Special Resources
- Music (we will emphasize American son/rumba and International slow waltz)
- Historical American "Cuban" Rumba https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_cubano
- early "Cuban Rumba" Music
-bolero (slower at 24-26 bpm);
- son/American rumba (25-27 bpm);
- guaracha/mambo/salsa (faster at 47-51 bpm)
- Historical International Waltz
- slow waltz (28-30 bpm)
(medieval waltz music) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJumvQvAr2s
- German-American waltz (30-36 bpm)
early German (music) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yusNd7YzAYU
early German (dance) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkRdacTu3iY
- Viennese (58-60 bpm)
Contemporary Professional American Rhythm Rumba (Emmanuel Pierre Antoine And Liana Churilova)
Contemporary Professional International Standard Waltz (Andrew Sinkinson & Charlotte Jorgensen)
suggested tempos per USA Dancesport Rulebook
- Practice Music
- "Non-Stop Rumba Music" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJD43qUI_n0
- "Rumba Music Mix #5" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr2XK0LtUTQ (also #1-9)
Basic Foot Positions in Ballet as defined in 1725 by dancing master Pierre Rameau
- You-Tube Reviews
- Rumba (select American and International videos with which to review and practice)
- Basic Rumba (Side Steps) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1tDen1HScw
- Box Step https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChTOu8db6-U
- Crossover ("New Yorker"/Fourth Position) Breaks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC635StShaM
- Fifth-Position Breaks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk0c5AUlNSA
- Basic Pre-Broze Routine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRyHGXdVoNY
- American verses International-style https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h2xqX4KOwk
[Alternative Basic (International Style Basic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmNm_OAnmdk]
- Waltz (select International-style videos with which to review and practice)
- Box Step https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCch-zPc_BY
- Box Step with Rotation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8PIcO4_S5Q
- Progressive (using Change Steps) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdStVuh56sY
- Balance Steps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Box5mIkBi8
- Similarities in Step
- American Rumba Box Step and International Waltz Box Step
- American Rumba Side Step and International Waltz Change Step
- American Rumba Progression and International Waltz Progression
International Rumba I
Bronze (Student) Level International Rumba
Who It's For:
- social and keen amateur dancers who might be interested in competitive latin dancing
What We'll Be Reviewing:
- the essential basics of Bronze Level International-Style Rumba figures:*
- BASIC CLOSED AND OPEN MOVEMENTS;
- NEW YORKER (fourth position breaks to left and right)*; and
- HAND-TO-HAND (fifth position breaks to left and right
- ALEMANA
To These We Will Add the following figures:**
- ALEMANA;
- FAN; and
- HOCKEY STICK
* Originally the New Yorker was a Cha Cha figure; however, it is now commonly danced in Rumba also.
** based on 2016-A USA Dance syllabi (USA Dance Recognizes WDSF, ISTD and/or The Revised Technique of Latin-American Dancing syllabi) -- we will teach Bronze figures common to all
Why We Think This Is A Particularly Good Introduction to Bronze-Level Latin Dance:
- Bronze Level International Style Latin-American Rumba is a natural extension of ALTERNATIVE BASIC American Style Pre-Bronze Rumba (which we taught the first seven weeks);
- when completed, students should acquire a foundation for Bronze Level International Style Rumba and, to some extent, Cha Cha;
- using the basics presented in this course, go dancing, and both look and feel great!
General Structure of the Lessons:
- warm-up exercise useful to social, keen amateur, performance and competitive dancers alike;
- introduction of figures, beginning with American Rumba segueing into International Waltz over the seven weeks;
- practice time
- dance as couples under the watchful eyes of both male and female instructor;
- dance individually with a male or female instructor;
- dance with partner; meet new partner
- "Master's Moment" before closing, introducing key techniques for better dancing such as
- Rumba posture and frame
- Cuban motion/"merengue" action
- the Silver-Level Spiral, Hip Twist and Walk as part of the Silver-Level Alemana (International Rumba II)
Special Resources
- Music (we will emphasize "slow" bolero rumba at 24 bpm - see above)
- You Tube Reviews
- USA Dance Bronze International Latin Syllabus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6okokDoEY
- USA Dance Nationals 2018 Bronze Latin Rumba Final https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in2ApA8yOTw
A Few "Routines"
- Basic Routine #1:
Basic; New Yorker; Alemana; Hand-to-Hand; Alemana; Fan; Hockey Stick...
- Basic Routine #2:
Basic; New Yorker; Alemana: Fan; Hockey Stick; Hand-to-Hand...
- Basic Routine #3:
1/2 Basic: Alemana; Fan; Hockey Stick; Alemana; New Yorker; Hand-to-Hand...
- Basic Routine #4:
1/2 Basic; Alemana; Fan; Hockey Stick; Alemana; Hand-to-Hand; New Yorker...
International Rumba II
Bronze/Silver (Associate) Level International Rumba
International Rumba II builds on International Rumba I, emphasizing the spiral, hip twist and rumba walk actions, incorporating them into an advanced version of the Alemana, New Yorker, Hand-to-Hand, Fan and Hockey-Stick figures learned in International Rumba I, as well as introducing the Spiral, Closed Hip Twist and Kiki Walk figures.
Who It's For:
- keen amateur social dancers and social dancers who might sometime be interested in competitive ballroom and Latin dancing
What We'll Be Reviewing:
- the essential basics of Bronze Level International-Style Rumba figures:*
- BASIC CLOSED AND OPEN MOVEMENTS;
- NEW YORKER (fourth position breaks to left and right)*; and
- HAND-TO-HAND (fifth position breaks to left and right
- ALEMANA
- FAN; and
- HOCKEY STICK
To These We Will Add the following actions:**
- Spiral
- Hip twist
- Rumba walk
To These We Will Add the following figures:**
- SPIRAL;
- CLOSED HIP TWIST; and
- KIKI [RUMBA] WALK
* Originally the New Yorker was a Cha Cha figure; however, it is now commonly danced in Rumba also.
**"Actions" are different from "Figures." Actions here refer to core movements intended to convey a particular stylistic aim. Figures are based on USISTD International Latin-American syllabi.
Why We Think This Is A Particularly Good Course:
- International-Style Rumba dance figures, whether danced at the pre-bronze ("social"), Bronze (Student), Silver (Associate) or Gold (Member/Fellow) level incorporate basic rhythm, body positions, foot positions, alignments, turn, footwork and lead and follow. Introducing key stylistic actions can make these figures "come alive" (change from uni- to 3-dimensionality) making for a richer dancer and viewer experience.
- when completed, students should acquire an increasing foundation for dancing International-Style Latin-American Rumba and, to some extent, when incorporating the actions and/or figures, Cha Cha and even Samba and Jive.
- we will work extensively on lead and follow, a technique that can transform memorized routines into outstanding free-dancing that can be used in virtually any situation, and use of the three above stated actions.
- using the spiral, hip twist and Rumba walk actions and figures and both look and feel great when dancing!
General Structure of the Lessons:
- warm-up exercise useful to social, keen amateur, performance and competitive dancers alike;
- introduction of actions and their use in various prior and new figures
- practice time
- dance as couples under the watchful eyes of both a male and female instructor;
- dance individually with a male or female instructor;
- dance with an established partner; meet new one
- "Master's Moment" before closing, introducing key techniques for better dancing such as better
- posture and frame
- Cuban motion/"merengue" action
- lead and follow
- connection
Key Definitions
- Spiral action = a turn in the opposite direction of the standing foot, e.g. turning right from L standing foot
- Hip twist action = a turn in the same direction as the standing foot, e.g. turning right from R standing foot
- Rumba walk action = forward or backward walk danced in groups of 3 or 6 steps, the forward walk normally commencing on the L foot and backward walk normally commencing on the R foot.
Special Resources
- Music (we will emphasize International-style Rumba (based on Cuban "son" at a tempo of 26 bars per minute; 104 beats per minute). NOTE: Of the "three (Competition) Rumbas" International-style Rumba tempo is between the slower American-style Bolero (24 bars/96 beats per minute) and the faster American-style "American Rumba" (32 bars/128 beats per minute). See https://dancesportplace.com/the-three-rumbas-american-rumba-bolero/ for listening examples of the three tempos.
- Practice Music
- Typical tempo International Rumba Music ("Basic Rumba Routine by Franco Formica & Oxana Lebedew" including spiral, hip twist and walk) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgwyiyvz6FI
- International Rumba Music at slightly faster social tempo ["Rumba Beginner Routine (Music)" including various figures] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3M3XU9zfMA
- Textual Reference
- "The Red Book" (The Revised Technique of Latin-American Dancing of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) - Spiral, Closed and Open Hip Twists, Progressive Walks Forward and Backward and Side-by-Side walks (Kiki Walks)*
* also called Kiki variation
- Where the Three Basic Actions Can Be Applied in Common Bronze "Student" Figures...
- Basic Movement figure doesn't require use any of the three actions. However, a more competitive-style Basic Movement Figure incorporates a forward and back checked Rumba Walk Action
- Progressive Forward and Backward Walk figures don't require use of any of the above actions. However, a more competitive-style Progressive Forward or Backward Walk figure incorporates three Rumba walk actions.
- Fan figure doesn't require use of any of the above actions. However, a more competitive-style Fan figure incorporates a (1) checked Rumba walk action, then a (2) hip twist action, then (3) two Rumba walk actions, then (4) a spiral action in that order.
- Hockey Stick figure doesn't require use any of the above actions. However, a more competitive-style Hockey Stick figure incorporates (1) two Rumba walk actions, then a (2) spiral action in that order.
- Alemana figure doesn't require use of any of the above actions. However, a more competitive-style Alemana incorporated a (1) Rumba walk action, then a (2) spiral action, then a (3) hip twist action, then a (4) Rumba walk action in that order.
- Technically, there is no New York figure in the 1983 "Red Book" International Rumba syllabus (it's listed in the Cha Cha). However, a competitive-style New York figure can be danced, incorporating a (1) checked Rumba walk action, then a (2) hip twist action, then a (3) checked Rumba walk action in that order.
- Hand-to-Hand figure doesn't require use of any of the above actions. However, a more competitive-style Hand-to-Hand figure incorporates a (1) spiral action, then a (2) checked Rumba walk action, then a (3) hip twist action in that order.
- Spot Turn figures don't require use of any of the above actions. However, a more competitive-style Spot Turn figure incorporates a (1) hip twist action, then a (2) spiral action, then a (3) hip twist action in that order.
..are incorporated into Sliver "Associate" Figures...
- Spiral figure incorporates a (1) hip twist action, then a (2) Rumba walk action, then a (3) spiral action, then a (4) Rumba walk action in that order.
- Closed Hip Twist figure incorporates (1) three hip twist actions, then a (2) Rumba walk action, then a spiral action in that order.
...and Gold "Member/Fellow" Figures...
- Kiki Walk figure incorporates three Rumba walk actions.
...To Make Your Dancing More Fun to Do and Watch!
- You-Tube Reviews
- Rumba (select International videos with which to review and practice)
- International Rumba Spiral figure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HstJ-p26jxo
- International Rumba Bronze (Closed) Hip Twist figure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54zpKnurUog
- International Rumba Silver (Open) Hip Twist figure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5jfUDNOp_Q
- International Rumba Gold (Continuous) Hip Twist figure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5mCyERw9WU
- International Rumba Walks by Shirley Ballas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e3S8OionFs
- American verses International-style https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h2xqX4KOwk
- [Alternative Basic (International Style Basic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmNm_OAnmdk]