I have been dancing Am. Rumba and Bolero on the slow or 1,2 beat for 7 years. I could dance Mambo on the 2 beat for a couple of years, but reverted to salsa and breaking on the one. I don't have a problem with breaking on 2 in Cha Cha with a starter step. Socially all I get is Am Rumba and Bolero Music and very little if none real Int. Latin Rumba music.

I can break on 2 with Int. Rumba practicing in the studio, or by myself, but this weekend in a competition with my amateur partner and I reverted to breaking on the QQ or 3 4 and got off beat. I danced on the 2 with my Pro partner, but relied on her movements to keep me on beat.

Most Int. Latin Rumba dancers don't even think about breaking on the one since they just do I Int. Rumba.

I am practicing counting 2,3,4, 1 or hold with the music in my car, and dancing basic patterns by myself--and pay my daughter $6 a hour to practice with me staying on beat, it is just when I get in a competition that I loose it. Any tips on breaking on the 2 other than just more dancing, counting and more experience in competitive situations? I am going to have maybe 30 of the top rated Int. Rumbas at 26bpm on a cd and listen and count to the muisic more. Sometimes the 2 beat is pronounced, or the 1 beat is pronounced, or the beats stop during vocals or other instruments. Each Rumba has a different sound overall and the beats sound different in each tune. Tips please. Has anyone else had this same problem? I have only been dancing Int. Rumba for 7 months and do most of the syllabus patterns with my teacher--and it is frustrating to get off beat in this dance that I truly love. There is lots that I want to do with this dance but I know that I need to get better connected with the music.