Rumba has Afro-Cuban origins in the late 19th century. Danced in 4/4 time to big band music, Rumba is a non-progressive dance and has a slow and sensual romantic feel. It is sometimes referred to as the “dance of love.”
Rumba has Afro-Cuban origins in the late 19th century. Rumba refers to the music and dance; originally Rumba was also a synonym for “party” in northern Cuba. Included in the term Rumba are multiple dance styles, Danzon, Guaracha, and Son. Son, a slower and less eroticized version, became the primary influence for Ballroom Rumba.
Danced in 4/4 time to big band music, Rumba is a non-progressive dance and has a slow and sensual romantic feel. It is sometimes referred to as the “dance of love.”
Rumba took off in America in the late 1920s, popularized by orchestra leaders such as Xavier Cugat. The first Rumba competition occurred at the Savoy Ballroom in 1930. Rumba remained popular until it became a standardized ballroom dance in the 1950s. It is now danced in American and International Style.
