I dance American style but I'd like to know what the basic Intl Rhumba step is. I'm looking at the old DVD, and the man's steps LOOK like:

-Q Left fwd
-Q R in place
-S L back and to the side, turning about 1/8?

-Q R back
-Q L in place
-S R fwd and to the side again?

Is that generally the basic?

Jerry Blumenthal

Basically, yes, although it's counted differently. I've heard it described as a "lightning bolt" pattern instead of the American box pattern.

You start on the 2 with a check forward on left
Right foot back on 3
Left foot back and side on 4
Hold the one

Right foot back on 2
Left foot forward on 3
Right to the side and forward slightly on 4
Hold 1

The technique is different from American, but that's the footwork. There are some video clips in the learning section of this website.

Thanks for the reply.

Actually, I dont see much difference between that step and the Mambo basic. Is that wrong?

Jerry

Kind of. On the 4, instead of just placing the right foot back into position like you would in mambo, you do actually step to the side. You need do something else to use up all the extra time you have in int rumba (it's generally slower than American). If you think about it, cha cha is the same thing. It's just you have a syncopated step between the forward and back basic.

Bolero has the same footwork as well, except there's a long swaying side step instead of the syncopated step. In some ways, you should think of int rumba as being closer to bolero than American rumba.

I should add that it's the technique that makes each of these dances what it is. Without it, you're just doing the steps and if the music wasn't playing, it would be hard to tell what you were dancing.

Thanks again. I appreciate the comments.
Jerry

Jerryblue You will be much better off counting 2341 instead of quick quick slow. I'm with Allen Fletcher and the technique book which says there should be a quarter of a turn between a front and back basic. He said that every step there is either forwards or backwards. Not to the side. Why do teachers in a class do otherwise. Because its easier for them to have the class in a line facing the front without turning. The Hockey Stick is a good example. If you are taught that the lady goes from the man's left straight to his right without any turn they are dead wrong. But as I said for them to keep a class still facing the same way it becomes easier. But wrong. Watch Donnie Burns on tape dancing a basic. He starts with his right foot behind his left. On one he does a forward walk on his right foot. This is the way he would begin a Rumba in competition as well as the Cha Cha.