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International Rumba
- Author:
- Dave Watson
- Date Published:
- June 4, 2004
All Latin Rhythms invite the couple to dance with their entire bodies, and to dance very compactly. So, we usually dance each change of weight with a “Ball-Flat” footwork. We don’t really want to move around the floor a great deal as in the Smooth dances. The dance position is also a little more compact than for the Smooth dances, and there is usually a little bit of space between the partners’ bodies (like a hug only with a space between).
The International Rumba differs from the American (Box-Step) Rumba in 4 ways:
First; the leg action is slightly – but only slightly – different (don’t let it be a big deal). Second; we ‘break’ on 2, 3 instead of on 1, 2, or 3, 4. Third; the Basic Pattern is called an “Open Box” (and doesn’t look anything at all like a Box). Fourth; Partners’ are frequently dancing patterns that are not ‘natural opposites’. This means a visual contact is even more necessary than in some other Latin dances (pay attention!).
The Basic Rhythm of the dance is Slow, Quick, Quick, just like all the other Rumbas. However, the Slow will be counted as 4, (hold) 1, and the Quicks will be counted as 2, 3. In this handout, I have included Both forms of counting on the Basic patterns. However, you should learn to count numerically, and get away from “Slows & Quicks”.
This month we will emphasize the Spiral Turn action.
Count:
Closed Basic:
Man begins by slowly stepping to the side with his RIGHT foot, while leading
The Lady to step side LEFT 4, (hold) 1 / S
Man rocks forward with his left foot – Lady rocks back right 2 / Q
Man replaces weight back onto his right foot – Lady replaces forward left 3 / Q
Man now steps side left leading Lady to step side right 4, (hold) 1 / S
Man now rocks back right – Lady forward left 2 / Q
Man replaces weight forward to his left foot – Lady replaces back to her right 3 / Q
The entire pattern will rotate slightly to the left (unless there is a good reason to deliberately not turn). To accomplish this, whichever partner is dancing forward left into their forward rock step [count 2], will turn their left foot out significantly. Also, Man may dance his side left step [4, (hold) 1] slightly back instead of straight to the side.
Fan (from Basic to Fan Position):
Both partners will dance the first four steps of the Closed Basic as described above
4, (hold) 1, 2, 3, 4 (hold) 1 / S, Q, Q, S
Man now rocks back with his right foot (as in the Basic). However, while dancing
his back rock, he will loop his left arm counter-clockwise (out / down / in)
which will lead the Lady to rotate her rock step ¼ turn to her left
Lady will dance her normal forward rock except it will rotate ¼ to left, and will
Begin to release her left hand from his shoulder 2, 3 / Q, Q
Releasing the Lady with his right arm, Man now dances a SMALL side step to his
right – leading Lady to dance backward away from him
Lady dances her left foot straight back to end perpendicular to the Man 4, (hold) 1 / S
Couple is now in Fan Position. Lady is perpendicular to the Man and to his left. Connection is only Lady’s right hand in Man’s left. Lady is standing on a line that passes in front of Man’s body. Lady’s right foot is held pointed in front—Man’s left foot is held pointed to the side.
From Fan Position, we will dance many patterns; however, they will always begin with the same two steps: Lady will CLOSE her right foot to her left, then walk forward left – Man will dance a forward rock step. This, of course, will happen on the counts of 2, 3 / Q, Q.
Two patterns that we will learn this month from Fan Position include the Hockey Stick (so called because the shpe of the Lady’s pattern resembles a hockey stick), and an Alemana. These are the basic reverse (left), and natural (right) turning underarm movements for this dance. We will dance the Hockey stick first:
Hockey Stick: (Begin in Fan Position as described above)
Man rocks forward left – leading Lady to close right to left on count (2) –
then replaces weight back onto his right foot
Lady closes right foot to left on count (2), then walks forward left 2, 3 / Q, Q
Man closes his left foot to his right and raises his left arm leading Lady to continue
Forward
Lady walks forward directly in front of the Man’s left side 4, (hold) 1 / S
Man turns slightly to his right, and presses the ball of his right foot alongside the
Heel of his left foot as he leads Lady to continue forward under his raised
left arm
Lady veers 1/8 to her left – maintains a left shoulder lead – and dances forward
Onto her left foot 2 / Q
Man dances forward left leading Lady to dance forward right. He then leads
Lady to “Spiral” turn to face him at the end of the movement (&)
Still maintaining her left shoulder lead, Lady dances forward right, then “spirals”
½ turn to left to face Man (&) - 3 (&) / Q (&)
NOTE: The (&) count is just there for the Spiral. DO NOT CHANGE WEIGHT ON THE (&) COUNT.
Man now dances forward right -- Lady back left 4 (hold) 1 / S
Couple is now facing with a one hand hold.
Note: the Hockey Stick could be overturned to Open Counter Promenade Position (Right Open Position) to follow with New Yorkers. However, we will not be examining that in this class this month.
From here, we could continue with a Basic, Back Walks, an Alemana, a Spiral, or an Open Hip Twist. We will continue with the Open Hip Twist.
Open Hip Twist: (Begin in Open Facing Position – one-hand hold)
Man rocks forward left / back right – Lady rocks back right / forward left 2, 3
Man takes a small step back left and shortens his left arm allowing Lady to close
the distance between them. He then leads Lady to swivel sharply to her
right at the end of her movement (count 1)
Lady dances forward right – closing to the Man – and then swivels sharply ½ turn
to her right on her right foot. She will close her left foot to her right
WITHOUT WEIGHT (count 1) - 4, 1
Note: Again, we are using the 1 count to indicate a sharp rotation. DO NOT CHANGE WEIGHT ON 1.
Lady is now back to front directly in front of Man. Lady’s left foot is free – Man’s right foot is free.
The finish of this movement is a type of Fan to Fan Position; however, it is slightly different than the one described above.
Leading Lady to take two walks to the left, Man now rocks back right / forward left
He then leads Lady to spiral strongly to her left on her right foot (&)
With a strong left shoulder lead, Lady walks forward left towards her left, then
Forward right. She will then spiral sharply ½ turn to her left to face Man
At the end of that second walk (&) - 2, 3 (&)
Note: Once again we are using the (&) count to denote a sharp rotation. There should be NO WEIGHT CHANGE FOR EITHER PARTNER ON THE (&) COUNT.
Man now takes a small side step to his right leading Lady back into Fan Position
Lady dances straight back left to end in Fan Position as described above 4, (hold) 1
Alemana Turn: (Although the Alemana can begin from numerous positions, we will begin in Fan Position)
Leading Lady to close on (2), Man dances a rock forward left / back right
Lady closes right to left on (2), the walks forward left 2, 3
Man dances a small side step to his right – lifting his left arm – indicating to the
Lady that she will soon be turning to her right and passing under his
raised left arm
Lady walks forward right and swivels ¼ turn to right to face Man’s left side (count 1)
Her left foot will close to her right WITHOUT WEIGHT at this point 4, (hold) 1
Some Ladies prefer to delay the turn and/or turn slightly but not close the feet. If danced correctly, all of these variations could be correct – it’s more a styling issue. If you are used to dancing this action slightly differently than described here, that’s fine; but try it this way anyway – you may like it!
Man now turns slightly to his right as he dances a back rock (right / left), and leads
the Lady to turn under his raised left arm
Lady dances two walks in a circle passing under the Man’s raised left arm 2, 3
Man now closes left foot to right, and leads Lady to walk forward toward his right side
Lady continues to turn to her right, and walks forward left toward Man’s right side 4, (hold) 1
Note: That last forward walk for the Lady will vary according to which of three endings to the Alemana is used. Each of the endings is designed for a different type of following movement. We will discuss all three endings in class.
First ending: Man will lead the Lady to take her last forward walk directly at him. He will normall then regain a Closed Facing Position, and follow with a Closed Basic action.
Second ending: Man will lead the Lady to slightly underturn her Alemana and will guide her down the line to prepare for a Shoulder to Shoulder, or a Hand To Hand.
Third ending: (This is the one we are using this month.) Man will lead the Lady to dance her last forward walk directly at him, but slightly offset to his right side. From here, she would normally dance a Natural Opening Out Movement, or a Rope Spinning. We will follow with the Rope Spinning.
Rope Spinning: (Begin after having danced the Alemana using ending three as described above)
Man leads Lady to dance a full spiral underarm turn to her right on her left foot at
the end of the preceding Alemana
Lady dances a full spiral turn to the right on her left foot at the end of the preceding
Alemana 1
At this point, partners are side by side, Lady to Man’s right, and facing opposite directions. Man will have lowered his left arm across his own body. Man MAY place his right hand on the Lady’s back for a little extra stability.
Leading Lady to walk forward behind him, Man dances a Cucaracha to his left
[side rock left on 2 / replace weight to right on 3 / close left to right on
4, (hold) 1]. Man will pass his left arm over his own head on count 3
Lady dances three forward walks behind Man and around him 2, 3, 4, (hold) 1
Leading Lady to continue her forward walks, Man now dances a back rock
(right / left)
Lady dances two more forward walks – left / right 2, 3
Both partners now walk forward – side by side – in Open Counter Promenade Position
To prepare for a Hand To Hand 4, (hold) 1
Hand To Hand: (Although there are numerous entries into this basic pattern, usually it comes from an Alemana or a Closed Basic. We will dance straight into it from the end of the Rope Spinning. So, beginning in Open Counter Promenade Position with weight on Man’s right foot – Lady’s left)
Both dancers will spiral ½ turn toward one another at the end of the previous walk
(The last step forward from the Rope Spinning in this case [count 1]. They
will release normal right-hand-in-left-hand-hold, and man will take Lady’s
left hand in his right 1
Both partners now dance a back rock and then walk forward. At the end of that
Forward walk, both partners will again spiral inward ½ turn and switch
Hands (on count 1) 2, 3, 4, 1
Both partners will now dance the same combination (back rock / forward walk /
spiral ½ turn & change hands) on the other foot 2, 3, 4, 1
Repeat the back rock one more time 2, 3
Both partners now turn ¼ turn to face one another and step side (Man lt / Lady rt) 4, (hold) 1
We will now finish the pattern with a Spot Turn for both partners.
Spot Turns:
All Spot Turns are essentially the same, although there can be a few minor styling differences. We dance them in all of the Rhythm and Latin dances (some more than others) – they are very common, and a good Rhythm and/or Latin dancer should have a good understanding of them.
It takes three changes of weight to dance a complete Spot Turn, and the rotation will always be in the direction of the first step. (In other words, if the first step is with the right foot, then the dancer will be dancing a Spot Turn that turns to the right.) Also, they generally turn for one full turn.
Basically, the dancer first places his or her weight on one foot – this is the “spot”. Rotating around that “spot”, the dancer then places his/her second step forward (some might call it side). He/she then replaces full weight onto the original first step (which never moved from its “spot”., then steps around that “spot”, an then replaces all of their weight back onto that original first step.
In the case of the Spot Turns we will be dancing this month in this class, when
the dancers took their last step out of the Hand to Hand [side step – count
4, (hold) 1], that was their “spot”.
So, Man is standing on his left foot – Lady on her right – and they are facing one
another.
Releasing all hand holds, Man steps turns ¼ to his left and steps forward with his
right foot
Lady turns ¼ to her right and steps forward with her left foot 2
Continuing to turn to his left (1/2 turn), Man replaces weight to his left foot
Continuing to turn to her right (1/2 turn), Lady replaces weight to her right foot 3
Both partners now complete their turns (1/4) to face one another again and step side 4, (hold) 1
Note: This last step (of any given Spot Turn) is variable depending on the dance and the desired next pattern. A side step is most common, but, for example, in Mambo, we typically close the feet on the last step of the Spot Turn. However, a side step is most common, and that’s what we’ll be using in class this month.