1) I am so sorry to correct you but you have exactly opposite! If you ignore the timing and look at the foot work you will see that "the Basic Step" in the Mambo is IDENTICAL to "the Basic Step" of the International Rhumba (including Timing - 2,3,4)...(M) fwd, rk, bk (F) bk, rk, fwd.

If anything, the American Rhumba is based on the American Waltz box step...

2) "How did American Rhumba ever get invented?" Please reference the late 50's and 60's for the origin of the American Rhumba. Songs like "Venus" by Frankie Avelon and "Lonely Teardrops". Very fast, uptempo love songs done to box step rhythms S, Q, Q.

What is most interesting is that the mainstream popularity of dancing to this type of tempo (now known as "American Style Rhumba") was picked up by Disney and Hanna Barbara and you can see cartoon characters including Fred & Wilma Flintstone dancing what we now call "the Rhumba."


3) I know this sounds cruel, but please don't don't come across as an expertt regarding American Style Rhythm when you really don't know what you're talking about!

4) Good dancers CAN "create good hip and body movement at this speeed." It took me about 10 years... :)

"1) I am so sorry to correct you but you have exactly opposite! If you ignore the timing and look at the foot work you will see that "the Basic Step" in the Mambo is IDENTICAL to "the Basic Step" of the International Rhumba (including Timing - 2,3,4)...(M) fwd, rk, bk (F) bk, rk, fwd.
"

I'm sorry to correct you, but if you ignore gross generalities such as step direction and look at the action, there is just no similarity, particular to latin rumba in the post-donnie era

Step direction is actually a very important part of dancing and not just a "generality." Even though all dancing originates from one's "center," ultimately dancing begins from "the floor up" (actually underneath the floor).

The question is not, "Is American Style similiar to International Style?" The question is, "Is American Rhumba a variation of the Mambo...and is it romantic...?" Answer: No (a box step is in NO Way similiar to a "break" step (rock step)...Yes!

Why are you posting "Anonymous?"

anyone can see that mambo, american rumba, and international rumba have become three distinct dances each with its own distinct action sharply contrasting to that of each of the others

The easiest way is ask someone other than your teacher to give you some input just make sure this person is at a competitive level, or get your headset and listen to the music and try to find the tick is all in the tick start there good luck!

I also use the 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 count instead of the qqs.

I know absolutely nothing about the American style of Rumba. Talking International Style, Even though we can dance to a tune that has a distinct percussive sound on beat one. A true Latin Rumba tune has the percussive accents on beat four. This doesn't mean that the foward or backward steps are on a different step. I'm surprised this has not been mentioned. Just for the record the tempo being played today in competitions and demonstrations as well as straight off the disks is 24 to 25 bars a minute. If the music is played too fast the first thing that goes is the movement of the hips. This is the reason for the slower music. There is today far more hip movement than there ever has been before.

Alwayzroses. After counting the Rumba 2 3 4 1 for a number of years, I find it hard to count q q s. The advantage with this count it shows that the 2 3 are quicks followed by a slow step. Two very snappy steps on 2 3. This is what you see with a top flight couple. My way out is to remember that 2 3 are Q Q throughout the dance.

Another interesting tid bit of information...

We first learned American Rumba at Arthur Murray and the direction of the box was back-side together.(SQQ) Years later we began to dance at FA and was taught side together back....(QQS) I since learned that each chain calls thier method correct!! BYW, this is from the ladies perspective.

In speaking with our independent instructor she told us that when she first teaches rhumba she watches how the student was first taught and then adjusts her teaching, as both are correct!

I am no expert but I think there is absolutley a difference in American and international music. American is faster.

Hi, ChubRub.
Internation Rumba is danced with the QQ on a different part of the music then American.

Start by sitting and listening to a rumba song and being able to hear the "1" beat. Count 1,2,3,4 and practice starting and stopping counting out loud and being able to find the 1.

Listen for boom, tick, boom, tick. The "boom" or down beat is heard on beats 1 and 3. The "tick" or upbeat is 2 and 4.

Your quick quick is now to be danced to beats 2, 3. The side step will take up beats 4 through 1.

I do lots of social dancing and I see many people doing International Rumba, but maybe 5% of them dance it to the correct timing of breaking on the 2 beat.

I danced with a nice fellow recently who realized partway into the song that he was off time in Rumba, so he started counting out loud "Tick-tock- 4-1 Tick-tock-4-1" and that seemed to work for him.
Incidentally, this is also where you should be breaking in Cha cha - on the 2/3 beat, so if you have correct timing in cha cha, perhaps that may help you.

+Jewel B.