I am a beginner, although a few years ago I took a few lessons at Arthur Murray to pepare for my daughter's wedding. When I was taught the rumba at AM's, I learned to do the leader's part of the box step by stepping forward with the left foot and counting "slow-quick-quick". Now I am taking rumba at another studio and the teacher wants us to do the rumba box step by stepping to the side with the left foot and counting "quick-quick-slow" instead of "slow-quick-quick".

I asked her why and she says
Aurthur Murray teaches "slow-quick-quick", but the rest of the world does it her way.

Won't this be a potential problem when someday I dance with someone from a different studio?

Please help. I'm confused!

Hmmmmmmm!

Interesting.

My understanding is AM originally developed American style rumba as a simplified multipurpose dance that could be danced to several styles of music and not just rumba. (I'm not that aware of all the intricacies of American Style though).

The competitions you see on television are more likely "International Style" rumba danced strictly to rumba music(although you can always find other forms to fit. My wife and I sometimes practice Slow Foxtrot to Rumba, etc.).

I suspect your new teacher is teaching you International Style. However, from what you write I'm not quite sure.

AM developed American Rumba because International Style is a syncopated dance with a hip settling on the strong "one" beat but the foot action delayed to "two". Most beginners have difficulty finding and stepping on the second beat. American Rumba steps on the strong "one" beat and is easier for most beginners.

International Style has a "quick, quick, slow" type action but not until the 2nd beat. When we teach our beginners we prefer to count it as "hip, 2, 3, 4, hip, 2, 3, 4, etc."

2, 3 would be quicks while I suppose you might call the "4, hip" as a slow.

So if your teacher is teaching you to settle the hip before the "quick, quick, slow" then I guess your learning International. However, if you're starting the first quick one "one" then I'm not sure what your learning.

OB

Trebor. Thank heavens. A question on Latin. Take a copy of Operabob's writting and you wont be wrong.I would like to add a little bit of history here. Untill ( I think it was 1965 ) there was no Latin competitions as we know them today, although Wally Laird had already written a book in 1960 which we now call the International Style due to the efforts of Wally Laird. Doris Laval. and Piere. Prior to them the Rumba was the box Rumba which was counted Q Q S. This is more in keeping with the now International Style. AM just wanted to be different, maybe. Best of luck. You shouldn't have any trouble switching from QQS to SQQ or leading. Its no big deal. I would stick to the QQS. That's if you are starting with a step to the side on the LF and close with the RF. Step forward LF.
For those who are interested I was just this minute looking at Paul Killick's Web Site. And what do I see.
On his hugh Valentines day party.
Paul Killick and Hanna Karttunen demonstrating.
Their first show since reuniting.
February 14th tickets &15. If you happen to be in London on that date. That at this moment doesn't say if they are once again in the competition field. But together again they are. Google. Paul Killick. Very picturesque site ,

I thought I had heard that AM copyrighted the S-Q-Q pattern, and no other studio is supposed to have the man start on the Slow going forward, which is why other studios are supposed to teach their students to step on the Quick first.

I could be wrong, I'm just repeating what I've heard.

There are two different patterns for american rumba (Arthur Murray style vs Fred Astaire style) and then yet another for international rumba.

Sounds like you are now learning the other american style

Hmmmm....If I were you, I would get a new dance teacher....I have been teaching InterAmerican style *Internation & American* for over 10 years, and I can tell you this with confidence that you are indeed being instructed incorrectly....International and American Rumba begin on 2 different counts, but both begin on a slow......

"Hmmmm....If I were you, I would get a new dance teacher....I have been teaching InterAmerican style *Internation & American* for over 10 years, and I can tell you this with confidence that you are indeed being instructed incorrectly....International and American Rumba begin on 2 different counts, but both begin on a slow......"

For an alleged dance teacher, you sound pretty ignorant.

Rather obviously, all of these spot dances are cyclic, and have no real beginning or end to their repeating patterns.

Of course you have to start the dance somewhere in the pattern, but where you choose to start is of no lasting importance, and varies widely by preference.

In rumba you also have at least three different patterns. But each pattern has many possible, fully legitimate variations on where in it to initially start.

Learn a bit before your criticize...

That's correct

That may just be the instructor's preference or custom of when to start the dance. It may have nothing to do with America style or International style. Some instructors prefer to start on the strong first beat of the measure. Others prefer to take a "starter steps" on the "pick-up" notes before the measure. Take Cha Cha for example. AM teaches their clients (leads) to take a step with their left on beat one. At independent studios, the leads are taught to start with a chasse to the right on beat 4 & 1. Same thing with the waltz. AM starts the waltz beat one with their left foot. Other may prefer to start on the pick up beat of count three with the right foot. Either way, the patterns should be the same and should be done to the same corresponding beat of the music. From what you wrote, it sounds like you are starting with the 2nd half of the box (side, together, forward -- Q, Q, S). Listen to the music to see which beat each step occurs. For american style the "slow" should be on beat one and then the "q" "q" are on beat 3 and beat 4. For international style, the "slow" is on beat 4 and "q", "q" are on beat 2 and beat 3. Ask you're instructor which beat of the music the steps are taken. It'll have to be one of the two styles I just describe.

"For american style the "slow" should be on beat one and then the "q" "q" are on beat 3 and beat 4"

That is only one of TWO different commercially promoted timings for amercian rumba. The other is the exact opposite.

Anyone who tries to tell you one is right and the other wrong is just trying to promote their business over the other guy.

Both are silly, but work fine.