Why Learn Rumba?

[rbazsz]

Is there a good reason to take Rumba lessons, besides the fact it's considered a foundation for Latin dances? From a practical standpoint why not just take Salsa or ChaCha?

I don't see many people in ballrooms doing the Rumba. That could be because I don't recognize it.

Rhumba doesn't seem very useful as a social dance.

[Ray Sison]

Is there a good reason to take Rumba lessons, besides the fact it's considered a foundation for Latin dances? From a practical standpoint why not just take Salsa or ChaCha?

I don't see many people in ballrooms doing the Rumba. That could be because I don't recognize it.

Rhumba doesn't seem very useful as a social dance.

I see a lot of American Rumba at social dances in our area. When the music is right, however, I prefer Bolero...

Also, when I was just learning Salsa and Mambo and Cha Cha, American Rumba helped me because it was at a more moderate speed compared to those...

[fascination]

right...rumba, due to it's speed, allows for better technical practice...but, if it isn't your cup of tea and you aren't competing, cha cha away

[danceronice]

American rhumba is good if you social-dance a lot because a lot of songs fit the count. It's pretty easy and musically flexible so if you're doing social dance where they play a lot of Rhythm-type music it can be useful to have it in your toolbox. (Note that you can't really do American rhumba to songs that are TRUE Bolero/International Rhumba. American is much faster.)

[TangoRocks]

Is there a good reason to take Rumba lessons, besides the fact it's considered a foundation for Latin dances? From a practical standpoint why not just take Salsa or ChaCha?

I don't see many people in ballrooms doing the Rumba. That could be because I don't recognize it.

Rhumba doesn't seem very useful as a social dance.

Well, I am not a big fan of Salsa, so... Cha-cha is fine, but as a "slow" latin dance, I am quite fond of both Bolero and Rumba--American Style. Tried international Rumba a little, still not getting it (from my perspective, it's a hybrid between AS Rumba and Bolero and it starts on FOUR, which is totally counterintuitive) Rumba is also a very good trial bed for your Cuban motion. I do have favourite Rumba songs to dance to, a lot more than salsa songs (sure, cha-cha would blow both of those out of the water but still) so I do practice my Rumba myself...

[sambanada]

Rumba is beautiful to watch. Tehnically, since it is slow, you can see error easily. Rumba is a great foundation dance.

[Lioness]

from my perspective, it's a hybrid between AS Rumba and Bolero and it starts on FOUR, which is totally counterintuitive

...International Rumba starts on four? I've always danced it starting on two, and so does everyone else I've seen.

[TangoRocks]

...International Rumba starts on four? I've always danced it starting on two, and so does everyone else I've seen.

Shows you how much I know about it--only took a series of group classes on it once, and for some bizarre reason in that class they started on 4... *sigh* 2 would have been easier to handle since it would be closer to mambo which also starts on the two.

[tangotime]

American is much faster.)




The speeds ( SQ Rumba )can and do vary, IF one uses authentic Latin ( B/Room speeds are more rigid ) .

Cuban Rumba/ Bolero, to give it its correct name, has 3 basic partnership styles,from the slowest, Bolero, to the Danzon/ Square form, mid range speeds, and Guaracha, the very fast form .The speed ranges for each, which are danceable, may vary as much as 6/8bars PM in their written form on either side of the suggested tempos.


The word " Rumba" is a generic "Umbrella" term, that cover all the dances under the Son rhythms.

[opendoor]

...International Rumba starts on four? I've always danced it starting on two...

Does it make a difference, at all? An experience dancer should be able to sort his feet and start anywhere! But to stay in the rhythms it is important to do the rockstep on two.

[pygmalion]

I think it's a nice dance to have in your arsenal. If you can do some rumba, some bolero and some nightclub two-step, you can dance socially to virtually any slow tempo, romantic song.

Not to mention that it's friggin sensual. :wink:

[tangotime]

I think it's a nice dance to have in your arsenal. If you can do some rumba, some bolero and some nightclub two-step, you can dance socially to virtually any slow tempo, romantic song.

Not to mention that it's friggin sensual. :wink:


Good advice..

[foxtrot]

Why learn rumba?

Because I really really love it as a dance. It is the most beautiful of the latin dances. (I dance international rumba).

Not bothered about its "usefulness", since that's not the reason why I learn to dance, although having said that, I have seen it danced very beautifully on social occasions, but maybe not often enough.

[rbazsz]

Why learn rumba?

Because I really really love it as a dance. It is the most beautiful of the latin dances. (I dance international rumba).

Not bothered about its "usefulness", since that's not the reason why I learn to dance, although having said that, I have seen it danced very beautifully on social occasions, but maybe not often enough.

I don't see the Rumba danced much at the ballrooms I hang out at. It seems to be another one of those niche dances.

[bia]

I don't see the Rumba danced much at the ballrooms I hang out at. It seems to be another one of those niche dances.
That's an interesting observation. Based on the other answers in this thread, as well as my own experience dancing ballroom socially in three different regions of the country, it would seem that your ballroom venues are not typical of what happens elsewhere. In my experience, rumba and cha cha are danced roughly the same amount (in ballroom venues; not salsa venues, of course, where they might play cha or merengue or bachata but probably not rumba). So if your current venues are the only places you want to dance, and you don't find rumba attractive in itself, there's no need to force yourself to learn it. If you think you might dance somewhere else sometime, and/or you'd like to be able to dance to slower songs, it could be a useful dance.

[nucat78]

Last night, at a local open social, there was more rumba played than cha cha. I'd guestimate the ratio at about 3:2.

IME, it's easier for newbies to dance a rumba than almost any other dance, at least a basic Am. rumba box. Your experience may vary...

[toothlesstiger]

Every social I go to that is a ballroom social, as opposed to primarily salsa, or primarily WC Swing, features plenty of rumba. If it's a salsa or swing social, then they will throw in cha chas to mix it up, but no much rumba.

[TangoRocks]

I don't see the Rumba danced much at the ballrooms I hang out at. It seems to be another one of those niche dances.

Interesting, in my area the "niche" dances seem to be Paso, Jive, Bachata, Bolero and Hustle--ie if I go to a general ballroom social, those seem to be rare to non-existent, but plenty of rumbas, cha-chas, foxtrots, waltzes etc.

[Spitfire]

I don't see the Rumba danced much at the ballrooms I hang out at. It seems to be another one of those niche dances.

rbazsz, every time I'm at the Paragon or the USADance at the Phoenix AM there's a lot of people doing Rumba. Though maybe not as much as for other dances.

[tangotime]

Hmmmmmm. I go to the Paragon for WCS and I'm sure I haven't seen Rumba. Of course as explained by a few others WCS venues aren't the most likely places to watch the Rhumba.

By the way -- is it best to spell it Rumba or Rhumba?

RUmba

[Spitfire]

Hmmmmmm. I go to the Paragon for WCS and I'm sure I haven't seen Rumba. Of course as explained by a few others WCS venues aren't the most likely places to watch the Rhumba.
I was talking about their ballroom nights; Paragon is a ballroom venue, on Fridays and once monthly on Saturday.

[rbazsz]

rbazsz, every time I'm at the Paragon or the USADance at the Phoenix AM there's a lot of people doing Rumba. Though maybe not as much as for other dances.

Hmmmmmm. I go to the Paragon for WCS and I'm sure I haven't seen Rumba. Of course as explained by a few others WCS venues aren't the most likely places to watch the Rhumba.

By the way -- is it best to spell it Rumba or Rhumba?

[Ray Sison]

Oh well, if Rumba is not useful for the OP's situation, then I might not be worthwhile for him. For me, it is an essential dance...

[Joe]

Depends how breathily you speak. :)

[toothlesstiger]

Hmmmmmm. I go to the Paragon for WCS and I'm sure I haven't seen Rumba. Of course as explained by a few others WCS venues aren't the most likely places to watch the Rhumba.
By the way -- is it best to spell it Rumba or Rhumba?

They sure wouldn't spell it with an 'h' in Cuba. Also, you might want to bear in mind that at a WCS place, they can dance WCS to just about any sort of music, so you might be hearing music suitable for American Rumba, but nobody is dancing it.

[Ray Sison]

Very true...

[Angel HI]

Shows you how much I know about it--only took a series of group classes on it once, and for some bizarre reason in that class they started on 4... *sigh* 2 would have been easier to handle since it would be closer to mambo which also starts on the two.Probably old news that doesn't need revisiting, but just for clarity (since the OP seems to be trying to learn)....

the dance does not 'start' on 4. Moving on the beat before, 'or at a time before' the intended first step is simply putting the body in motion so that the first step is not a jarring, abrupt, or disconnected movement. In a recent class, we told the dancers to always precede foot movement with body movement. To not do so typically results in a zombie-like picking up and placing of the feet.

[Steve Pastor]

In a recent class, we told the dancers to always precede foot movement with body movement.

"body flight"

"&a1"

[Spitfire]

Slow cha cha is a great alternate. In fact, I feel it's more sensual when done at moderate rumba tempos.

[tsb]

Shows you how much I know about it--only took a series of group classes on it once, and for some bizarre reason in that class they started on 4... *sigh* 2 would have been easier to handle since it would be closer to mambo which also starts on the two.

the few lessons i had in IR emphasized the prep on four. similarly, some people start cha-cha on 4, others with a sidestep on 1... the point is that the break is on two.

speaking as a ballroom DJ: waltz foxtrot chacha rumba ECS/jive are what i consider the bread and butter dances and they generally get played twice as often as all the other dances such as WCS, salsa, samba, tango & AT (sometimes i'll choose one you can *kinda* do both) NC2S, merengue, quickstep, etc. - though if i notice that *everyone* dances a certain song, i may play an extra one or two over the course of an evening.

[Ron AKA]

When we signed up for beginner dance classes, we ended up spending time on international rumba. I was not impressed as that was not on the course outline, nor on my interest list. The instructor insisted that it was the proper way to learn dance -- start with the rumba. So, now after a number of classes, I would have to agree. It is the best way to learn the Cuban motion. Cha Cha Cha for example is too fast for a beginner to learn the technique well.

[danceronice]

If you can do rumba well, you can do the rest of the Latin. Or at least cha cha and it will give you tools for samba. (Paso, not so much, but unless you're very odd if you're only interested in social dancing that is not a high priority to have in your tool kit.)

[Ray Sison]

When we signed up for beginner dance classes, we ended up spending time on international rumba. I was not impressed as that was not on the course outline, nor on my interest list. The instructor insisted that it was the proper way to learn dance -- start with the rumba. So, now after a number of classes, I would have to agree. It is the best way to learn the Cuban motion. Cha Cha Cha for example is too fast for a beginner to learn the technique well.

Yeah, that was my experience, too, where we started off with slower music when we were first learning some things...

[rbazsz]

Several of you have made good cases for learning the rumba, but all of you sound like my instructor. Many of you argue that the rumba benefits dancers in the long run. But, most of us newbies don't care about the long run -- we want to learn social dances NOW, not later. Rumba is a good dance, but as a social dance it's kind of low on the ladder in terms of how often it can be used socially. I can learn Latin motions by taking Salsa lessons, a dance that is high on the ladder because the ladies love it, so why waste my time learning Rhumba?

The arguments for Rumba sound very similar to the malarkey I was given when as an adult I decided to take piano lessons. I bought into the argument that you must learn classical styles to play blues, rock and roll, or whatever. Don't get me wrong -- I think it's great for musicians to learn classic techniques, but only if they are starting at a young age. Adults just don't have the time, talent, and desire to slog through things that take years to learn.

Adult newbies learning to dance are making a big mistake by devoting time, money, and energy on dances like the rumba. Sadly, studios will continue to push dances like the rumba because they want confuse students, which in theory entices the students to come back and spend more money on lessons.

[Larinda McRaven]

I would urge you to learn it because it is my favorite rhythm dance, and if you ever want to dance with me....

[tangotime]

I can learn Latin motions by taking Salsa lessons, a dance that is high on the ladder because the ladies love it, so why waste my time learning Rhumba?

Adult newbies learning to dance are making a big mistake by devoting time, money, and energy on dances like the rumba.



You are obviously showing your complete lack of knowledge in the latin genre.

"Rumba " ( Square form ) is THE dance upon which ALL the latin dances are based , and gives the foundation necessary for good tecnique .

The rhythm, which emanates from the Danzon and Guaracha, are Son based and are an integral part of all indigenous latin rhythms..

It has all the characteristics ,that are deply embedded in all you will ever dance in latin no matter the style .


As to Cuban motion, this where it all orignates from and needs a slower tempo to fully develop the action.

[danceronice]

You are obviously showing your complete lack of knowledge in the latin genre.



Not to mention perpetuating that all adult learners/straight social dancers are jokes who don't care about quality or technique. And then they have the nerve to wonder why no one who's any good ever wants to dance with them.

[Ron AKA]

Adult newbies learning to dance are making a big mistake by devoting time, money, and energy on dances like the rumba. Sadly, studios will continue to push dances like the rumba because they want confuse students, which in theory entices the students to come back and spend more money on lessons.

A short while ago, I would have agreed with you. However, now that I have a little more experience, I will admit I was wrong, and there is benefit in learning the rumba even if you never dance it socially.

On the other hand I think you only need to learn the very basic steps and the step movement. That is not enough to actually dance the rumba socially, but it is enough to move on to other dances that you are more interested in. And, if the dance instructors are insisting on you completing a full level of rumba first, then perhaps they are more interested in your money than in just meeting your needs.

[Ray Sison]

When the music is moderate tempo and romantic, American Rumba is useful for social dancing. Another is Nightclub 2-Step.

[rbazsz]

Not to mention perpetuating that all adult learners/straight social dancers are jokes who don't care about quality or technique. And then they have the nerve to wonder why no one who's any good ever wants to dance with them.

Nothing I said should be interpreted to mean that quality and/or technique doesn't matter. But, in social dancing having fun should be the #1 priority!

I would argue that if dances are fun I'm more likely to learn them well -- and the fun level of dances is directly related to how many women I can get to dance with me.

Ultimately it's women who decide which dances are popular. So far it seems they have chosen Salsa over Rhumba. If women ever collectively decide that Rhumba is the thing to do then it would make sense for me to change gears and concentrate on that.

[Lioness]

Rumba really is better than sex! :mrgreen:

Quoted...

[tangotime]

Ultimately it's women who decide which dances are popular.

So far it seems they have chosen Salsa over Rhumba.




Where are you doing your dancing ?.. clubs or studios ?.. and actually, its DJs who promote music NOT dancers.. if you play ( as a DJ ) lots a salsa, then thats the crowd you will draw, and the opposite is true .

Also, this shouldnt be an either or not comparison , they both are as valid in their respective forms ,each contributing to the latin genre, and hugely dependant on each other .

[rbazsz]

Where are you doing your dancing ?.. clubs or studios ?.. and actually, its DJs who promote music NOT dancers.. if you play ( as a DJ ) lots a salsa, then thats the crowd you will draw, and the opposite is true .

Also, this shouldnt be an either or not comparison , they both are as valid in their respective forms ,each contributing to the latin genre, and hugely dependant on each other .

I dance at both clubs and studios.

I'm not making a value judgement on rumba vs salsa -- but I am saying that in my area Salsa rules supreme over Rumba. For me choosing which of these two dances to do is a "one or the other" choice, so I choose the one that the vast majority of women choose.

[TinyDancer109]

Nothing I said should be interpreted to mean that quality and/or technique doesn't matter. But, in social dancing having fun should be the #1 priority!

I would argue that if dances are fun I'm more likely to learn them well -- and the fun level of dances is directly related to how many women I can get to dance with me.

actually, safety through good technique should be the #1 priority. if you dont have this, women wont want to dance with you anyway.

and try to be open-minded... many of our members here have many years of experience from which they are giving advice to you.

[bia]

Several of you have made good cases for learning the rumba, but all of you sound like my instructor.
(...)
Adult newbies learning to dance are making a big mistake by devoting time, money, and energy on dances like the rumba. Sadly, studios will continue to push dances like the rumba because they want confuse students, which in theory entices the students to come back and spend more money on lessons.
If you don't want to learn rumba, don't learn rumba. You're an adult and free to be in charge of your own dance journey. However, I don't understand why you need rumba to be acknowledged as fundamentally useless for all adult newbies before you can own your decision. You asked why learning rumba could be considered useful, and people told you. The fact that the DFers' arguments echoed your teacher's would suggest to me that maybe your teacher's motivations are not just mercenary, since the DFers have no financial stake in your dance choices. But whether or not the arguments have validity beyond trying to separate you from your money, if you personally do not find rumba useful socially, and you don't care about the technical benefits of learning the dance, and you don't think it would be fun for you, that's sufficient support for your choice.* Other adult newbies who go to social dances where rumbas are frequently played, or who want to develop their fundamental latin/rhythm technique, or who just think the dance is fun/beautiful/sexy will make a different choice. Why is that a problem?

*My husband is someone who made a similar choice. He doesn't like rumba. And that's fine, because it's not necessarily vital for his goal of dancing slow foxtrot like Luca (or in the short term, dancing syllabus standard with me in a few comps). When we're out dancing socially and a rumba comes on, he's fine sitting it out, and I'm fine looking for someone else to dance with for that song. But he doesn't then sit there and talk about what idiots everyone on the floor is for having learned this dance and how their teachers have taken advantage of them. They like it and/or find it useful for their dance goals, so they dance it. He doesn't, so he doesn't. Done.

[Larinda McRaven]

If you don't want to learn rumba, don't learn rumba.

****

But he doesn't then sit there and talk about what idiots everyone on the floor is for having learned this dance and how their teachers have taken advantage of them.

*****

They like it and/or find it useful for their dance goals, so they dance it. He doesn't, so he doesn't. Done.

this

[freeageless]

I dance at both clubs and studios.

I'm not making a value judgement on rumba vs salsa -- but I am saying that in my area Salsa rules supreme over Rumba. For me choosing which of these two dances to do is a "one or the other" choice, so I choose the one that the vast majority of women choose.

Rbazsz, If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? That might make a difference.

[Ray Sison]

There are times at social events when the music is better suited for Rumba or [fill in the blank]. It can be a lot of fun to know a variety of dances for different songs / occasions and even be on the dance floor the whole night, no matter what the DJ plays... :) Rumba goes so well with so many of my favorite songs--so I cannot imagine having it in my repertoire along with Salsa / Mambo and so on...

[Ray Sison]

At the Salsa venues in our area, when a Bachata song comes on, some people dance American Rumba (for instance, if they don't know or don't care for Bachata as a dance). That is just one more example where Rumba is useful for social dancing. And sometimes a slower (slower than Salsa or Cha Cha) romantic song comes on, befitting a Rumba...

[rbazsz]

Rbazsz, If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? That might make a difference.

I'm 50+. I do think age makes a difference. Rumba dancers tend to be older. My perceived popularity of salsa could definitely be dependent on the venues I dance.

[pygmalion]

At the Salsa venues in our area, when a Bachata song comes on, some people dance American Rumba (for instance, if they don't know or don't care for Bachata as a dance). That is just one more example where Rumba is useful for social dancing. And sometimes a slower (slower than Salsa or Cha Cha) romantic song comes on, befitting a Rumba...


Done that myself. Not a big fan of bachata with strangers.

[rbazsz]

Done that myself. Not a big fan of bachata with strangers.

I'm with you all the way. I'm a married man and don't need to get into that kind of trouble. If you ask me the regular dances are sexy enough.

[fascination]

I have a permission slip to dance bachata with specific latin men...other than that, not so interested

[nucat78]

Done that myself. Not a big fan of bachata with strangers.

You don't have to dance "dirty" bachata - you can use a more open hold. Unless you secretly *like* dirty bachata with strangers. :wink:

[toothlesstiger]

Done that myself. Not a big fan of bachata with strangers.

Not a big fan of bachata at all. ;-) I'm sorry, but every time I see it, I keep thinking someone needs to be taken out for a walk. :roll: If I were single, and it was a popular dance with the ladies, I would probably learn it, endeavoring to find a way to make it look less canine. Otherwise I would do a rumba to it.

[Larinda McRaven]

For awhile Charlie Zaa was a big artist that was being played for competitive American Rumba music, although technically he would be considered Bachata. It was nice for awhile, but I am glad we have music now that is more Rumba-ish. Although for all intents and purposes on the social floor they can be quite interchangeable.

[ant]

Is there a good reason to take Rumba lessons..... From a practical standpoint why not just take Salsa ?

Why do you consider that Rumba and Salsa should be considered together? If the situation in the US is the same as the UK, then Rumba will be danced in places that feature Ballroom and Latin (generally the 10) and Salsa will be featured in totally separate events as a dance on its own.


Rhumba doesn't seem very useful as a social dance..... besides the fact it's considered a foundation for Latin dances?


I found rumba difficult to master. From I musical point of view I was taught to move on the 2 and hold/control the hips on the 1. I found both of these to be a challenge which I am slowly dealing with but I think this has had the general effect of improving my dancing over all the dances I do.

Would I think about doing Rumba if I was more interested in salsa? Probabally not.

However if you are having problems controlling your hips (or difficulty with latin music), whether in Salsa or any other latin dance, in my opinion it is the best dance to learn to overcome these problems.

[rbazsz]

However if you are having problems controlling your hips (or difficulty with latin music), whether in Salsa or any other latin dance, in my opinion it is the best dance to learn to overcome these problems.

My hip action is almost beyond hope. I have heard that's a good reason to learn Rumba but I don't know why Salsa wouldn't be just as much help.

[Larinda McRaven]

Because salsa is too fast.

Slower is better for the brain to learn new actions and grow new neural pathways.

[freeageless]

Because salsa is too fast.

Slower is better for the brain to learn new actions and grow new neural pathways.

Larinda,

Thanks I did not know that. Therefore, do you recommend that when one is practicing a new step that one begin by practicing it slowly and continue practicing it slowly; or, do you recommend that one begin practicing it slowly ;then, if one feels like they have mastered the step doing it slowly, then practice it quicker?

[nucat78]

"if you cannot dance a figure well slowly, you surely cannot dance a figure well at tempo"

~ A former instructor

[freeageless]

"if you cannot dance a figure well slowly, you surely cannot dance a figure well at tempo"

~ A former instructor

Nucat, I assume (perhaps incorrectly) that that former instructor meant once you can dance the figure "well slowly," then you should practice dancing the step "at tempo." Is that correct?

[nucat78]

Actually, he wanted people to begin slowly and slowly work up to the "proper" tempo, taking care to remember technique and styling as well as the figure.

YMMV.

[Larinda McRaven]

Larinda,

Thanks I did not know that. Therefore, do you recommend that when one is practicing a new step that one begin by practicing it slowly and continue practicing it slowly; or, do you recommend that one begin practicing it slowly ;then, if one feels like they have mastered the step doing it slowly, then practice it quicker?

Breaking knee and hip action into smaller, more digestible chunks of information, allows the brains to recognize the proper order of action and execute each one before the next one action. Sometimes we are only talking an 8th of a beat for an action. Considering that in simple terms you break rumba or salsa down into quicks (1 beat) and slows (2 beats) ... once you realize that there are very specific things to do on an 8th of a beat you will see how much you have to slow down only get them all but also get them in order.

I think most great dancers still spend hours practicing "rumba walks" slowly forever in front of the mirror, and most standard dancers practice "feather and three" forever. Those types of things are the way that dancers "warm up". So if you are not really into Rumba, as a dance, fine. But I would still encourage you to learn proper "rumba walks" and slowly practice those. Forever. It will only enhance every other latin/rhythm dance that you enjoy.

[freeageless]

Breaking knee and hip action into smaller, more digestible chunks of information, allows the brains to recognize the proper order of action and execute each one before the next one action. Sometimes we are only talking an 8th of a beat for an action. Considering that in simple terms you break rumba or salsa down into quicks (1 beat) and slows (2 beats) ... once you realize that there are very specific things to do on an 8th of a beat you will see how much you have to slow down only get them all but also get them in order.

I think most great dancers still spend hours practicing "rumba walks" slowly forever in front of the mirror, and most standard dancers practice "feather and three" forever. Those types of things are the way that dancers "warm up". So if you are not really into Rumba, as a dance, fine. But I would still encourage you to learn proper "rumba walks" and slowly practice those. Forever. It will only enhance every other latin/rhythm dance that you enjoy.

Larinda,

Thank you. I am just a beginning dancer, so it sounds complicated to me, but it sounds right. I assume that you are saying that it is better to practice the step(s) slowly, because you will see things that you won't see, if you practice the step(s) dancing quicker. Is that what you mean? If so, that sounds right to me.

[GGinrhinestones]

... once you realize that there are very specific things to do on an 8th of a beat you will see how much you have to slow down only get them all but also get them in order.

SO true. I'm now going through the very unhappy task of reworking my brain (probably a much needed task on multiple fronts.) ;) As my instructors have been telling me repeatedly lately, it's all there but it's all out of order. All I can do now is slow everything down and start over again. BELIEVE what Larinda says. Start SLOW.

[freeageless]

SO true. I'm now going through the very unhappy task of reworking my brain (probably a much needed task on multiple fronts.) ;) As my instructors have been telling me repeatedly lately, it's all there but it's all out of order. All I can do now is slow everything down and start over again. BELIEVE what Larinda says. Start SLOW.

I believe what Larinda says-start slow.

[Ray Sison]

"if you cannot dance a figure well slowly, you surely cannot dance a figure well at tempo"

~ A former instructor

This seems generally true for a lot of things in life...

[Angel HI]

@ free, LM's post is a good one. Glad you are taking it to heart.

[fascination]

Breaking knee and hip action into smaller, more digestible chunks of information, allows the brains to recognize the proper order of action and execute each one before the next one action. Sometimes we are only talking an 8th of a beat for an action. Considering that in simple terms you break rumba or salsa down into quicks (1 beat) and slows (2 beats) ... once you realize that there are very specific things to do on an 8th of a beat you will see how much you have to slow down only get them all but also get them in order.

I think most great dancers still spend hours practicing "rumba walks" slowly forever in front of the mirror, and most standard dancers practice "feather and three" forever. Those types of things are the way that dancers "warm up". So if you are not really into Rumba, as a dance, fine. But I would still encourage you to learn proper "rumba walks" and slowly practice those. Forever. It will only enhance every other latin/rhythm dance that you enjoy.
this...absolutely...my pro does this alongside me in both FT and RU at every lesson...it is the foundation for so many other dances....and the truth is, if you can't do it well slowly, you will not be likely to do it well in the quicker dances that employ the same technique

[Terpsichorean Clod]

"if you cannot dance a figure well slowly, you surely cannot dance a figure well at tempo"

~ A former instructor
Like!

Though I think foxtrot can be the reverse. I feel it helps to start at a faster tempo and then dance it progressively slower.

[Ray Sison]

When I first started learning Salsa, everything (including the music) just seemed to be at a breakneck speed. I had trouble keeping up. American Rumba helped me learn a lot of things (including shared figures between Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha, and Rumba) at a moderate speed. And then Salsa did not seem as daunting to me when I was a beginner...

[rbazsz]

When I first started learning Salsa, everything (including the music) just seemed to be at a breakneck speed. I had trouble keeping up. American Rumba helped me learn a lot of things (including shared figures between Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha, and Rumba) at a moderate speed. And then Salsa did not seem as daunting to me when I was a beginner...

That's the best argument I have heard so far for learning Rumba. I have a very difficult time following Salsa music because it seems very fast and I'm not sure what to focus on to pick up the rhythm.