There are lots of possible variations for combining steps. Different teachers/studios will have their favorite ways to teach combinations. Once you get more experience, knowing several options will be a benefit, but it can be confusing at first. It's probably a good idea to stick to one system at the beginning, then add in variations once the orginal versions have become automatic.

BTW, it sounds like you might be talking about two different dances--rumba with the half box and cha cha with the right chasse'. There are many steps that you can do in several dances, but the timing differences will influence how they can be combined.

Good luck and enjoy your dancing!

Ah, you're quite right, Ellen. It's not a chasse', it's a q-q-s with a right-left-right with a quarter turn clockwise for the guy. My mistake.

We attend the same studio we started at a little over 2 years ago, and occasionally (probably once a month or so) we'll attend a group class at a larger studio. Some things they teach a little differently, and sometimes they put together an amalgamation we haven't seen before, but we always come out with something we can take back and use at our home studio.

It was difficult when we were absolute beginners to "switch gears" for a day, but the experience definitely pays off. ANY dance class experience is good experience!

What you have come across, is the never ending discusson on the directional start of Sq. Rumba .

The 2 major chains commence in different directions.

There are reasons-- the A/M system was set up to simplify its social level, commencing Fwd . wherever possible .

F/A, decided to stay with the original format borne out of Danzon, and in keeping with rumba clave rhythm (( the mambo, cha cha and bolero ,is based upon the same method , commencing to the side and breaking back )

Just to add to your confusion-- the Intern. style commences fwd !!

most ladies will follow either direction .

Ahhh, very informative! Thank you!

I begin to understand why my studio begins with a man's left to the left while another studio down the street begins with a man's left forward.

That is interesting indeed Terrance. I have taken lessons at both FA and AM and they do teach it different. Now I understand why.

I wonder if being judged at a competition one would have an advantage one over another. I dont compete rhythm, but as a personal preference I prefer the AM way.

In reality--when adjudicating, I should mark the QQ start over the the S-- never have have.
Oddly enough , Intern. Rumba is counted QQS ( wrong direction )but at least , correct time, start .
I refer you to a remark, to an answer, Alex gave to a newsletter Q--

Student-- " Mr Moore, would you mark me if I was on 1, in Cha ? "-- his response-- " Not if you remained on the same beat, thruout the song "

Interesting comment, this was, of course, a Novice asking . ( This was a published response )

One additional note-- the national D>D> for Freds, was John Monte-- the brother of world class musician, -- Hugo Montenegro .

I worked with John in NYC , never thought to ask his opinion .

Not only are there three (at least) different ways to start rumba, all three of these use different timing.

The International style, for the man, breaks forward on 2 (a quick), back on 3 (quick), side left on 4 (slow), hold 1.

In the most popular American style (Authur Murray), for the man, the basic is a box step, starting forward on one (slow), hold 2, side right on 3 (quick), close feet on 4 (quick).

The other less popular American style (Fred Astaire), for the man is also a box step, but starting left on 1 (quick), close feet on 2 (quick), forward left on 3 (slow) hold 1.

Both of these American styles sometimes transition to a International basic pattern for some step patterns by doing a side right after the top of a box. When you do this, you will see that both the timings are different from International style. Doing the International basic pattern, AM would be breaking forward on 3, and FA would be breaking forward on 1. International style, of course, breaks forward on 2.

There is actually another starting pattern for American style I see quite often, but I think this is just a result of confusion by the students. That is, starting left as in Fred Astaire style but starting on 3. This results in the timing same as in Authur Murray style. It just starts at a different place in the music.

I also see another style done, and I don't know where this one came from. I suspect it may also be done in error. It's the same as FA style started left on 2 but using a slow (2 hold 3).

So you have almost all the combinations represented, although I think there may be only two official American styles (AM and FA), and the others are errors.

To be accurate, during the "hold" steps described above, there are some things happening, but it's not the feet that are moving.

Have taught and danced Sq rumba for over sixty yrs( amer and Intern styles) _ have NEVER seen anyone start side on " 2 "-- in fact, from a musical standpoint, one could start back or fwd, on " 2 " which would be Mambo, in the Amer system ( even this is not taught ).

Starting side on 2 ( or 1, 2 to be more precise ) and breaking back on " 3 ", would be the correct timing for Bolero. As I previously stated-, left foot side on 1 closing on 2 ( QQ ) is the correct musical interpretation of clave rhythm .

Simply ignoring the first beat of the bar, ( side on 2 ) would be most unacceptable .
if a candidate for exams came before me with side on " 2 ", fraid he would fail !!

PS-- Most Intern style Rumba, is prepped with a side right on one .

And lastly there are at least 8- 10 styles of Rumba (also included, are Guaganco, Guaracha, Yambu , Guajira etc )

Yes Terence, starting side on 2 for a slow, is certainly weird. I watch some people do it and wonder how they are counting it, and where they learned that. It certainly doesn't fit the music. They are consistent so it was not a problem of not hearing the beat.

Interesting that you say 1 (quick) 2 (quick) is the correct musical interpretation of the clave rhythm. That would put the slow on 3/4. Are you implying that the International way of doing it is not the correct musical interpretation? In an earlier post you said International started at the correct time. Please explain.

By the way, thanks for all the comments you have been posting recently. They have been most informative.