I'm trying to learn Int. Rumba. I don't understand what the teacher is trying to tell me and I've wasted my last 2 lessons because "I don't get it".

Both are slow quick quick slow, right? American starts on the down beat, right?

How does Int. Rumba differ, where does it start and how do I "hear" it?

I'm frustrated because I don't know what he is trying to tell me, apparently I need it explained in a different manner because he keep saying the same thing over and over and it's not making any sense to me.

Chubrub. The person who wrote they can't understand the Rumba counting. Take all preconcieived ideas out. As suggested listen to some none vocal tunes and count the beats.You must be able to hear all of the beats especialy beat one.Forget counting in slows and quicks that will get you nowhere fast. I am suprised that Rumba Walks around the ballroom, one person behind the other, isn't spoken about except from one source. This is a must and how often do we do this. In the words of one of the leading teachers, forever.
Rumba Walks very basic. Stand with your LF in front you RF behind. Your weight is on the front foot. Pick up the count. Let 4 1 go past and step forward on the second beat with the music with the RF and count 2.move onto 3. move onto 4 and hold it for 1.
As you become more proficient you will put an (and) in between every beat, this is where the hips never stop moving. All you need do from there is repeat. Keep the shoulders square to your front with the hips completely isolated from your top. If you have difficulty keeping the shoulders still. Try extending your hands at shoulder height, palms apart and facing. If you find that one hand is getting in front of the other and are not keeping level, this must be rectified. If you can do this you will be on your way to getting the correct movement of your hips. This will in turn be past on into any routine you may have. One last thing. Except untill you become experienced. beat 1 is a passing of the weight and not a step. You could count 4 as stop, pass the weight onto 1. There are four beats in the music and as a beginner there are three steps. I know of one coach who doesn't count one at all, just 234 he lets 1 look after itself. The reason being if 1 is counted a person is more likely to move the foot on that count. That is of course a beginner. As a person who has danced for many years I still now and again count a whole tune in eight bars sequences from the beginning to the end. Remember there are no heel leads in Latin eccept in the Paso. I would hate to have to write a book. Best of luck

LuvLatin,
"I would hate to have to write a book."

Thank God!!!

You need to be able to hear the four beats of the 4/4 signature music, and you need to be able to hear the first beat of the measure. This is true of any dance. If you're not sure ask your dance teacher and listen to a lot of music. In time you will distinguish it.

The American starts on the 1 beat, the International on the 2 beat. In the basic steps, the American starts on the left foot for the man - two beats (slow), and feet together counts 3 and 4(quick quick). In the International the left foor (man) steps forward on count 2, replace weight on right foot count 3, replace weight on the left foot bringing feet together counts 4-1. It's easy once you can hear the count in the music.

So....is the slow on the side step and the quick quick is together and forward and/or back?

And is the slow still on the downbeat? Or does it change somehow?

American: SQQ, SQQ: Fwd, Side Together, back, side together. Starting on the left. (by the way, some would start QQS= side together Fwd, but we should disregard that for now). This is the BOX STEP.

International is more like Bolero, I believe. Same Sqq, Sqq, but now it is Side, back, in place (or Side, rock steps), and Side, fwd, and in place.

In both, the music is 4/4 time, and both SHOULD start on the 2nd beat, with the first beat reserved for the 2nd half of the slow step and a hip motion. You might think of it as Q-Q-S-Hip.

Jerry

Guys. Count the International Rumba as 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and. If you are serious about this, this is the way you will eventually count it.I would give away the Q Q S's

One of biggest problems when dancing socially is counting Int Rumba during the variety of social music that is played for Rumba. To count and dance Int. Rumba better (especially when begining to learn the dance) choose 25 bpm or 26 bpm music that has definite beats that you can hear. Some Rumba music has loud vocals, distinct sounding 1 beat or distinct 2 beats. Not all Int. Rumba music is alike and it takes listening and experience to hear the 2, 3, 4, and 1.

American Rumba music is much faster--32 bpm or 34 bpm. It is easier to dance it on the down beat or slow or 1, 2-- then QQ or alternatively break on the QQ-- 3,4--hold on slow. Plus, there is much less time to move your hips and express yourself.

Don't do what I do socially-which will develop into a bad habit and mess up the musical wiring of your brain. I dance Int. Rumba patterns mixed with American Rumba patterns and use the QQS. I will break on QQ and hold on slow. I'll dance Am. Rumba patterns with a SQQ. I dance it the same way with Bolero and use Int. Rumba patterns mixed in and count it QQS when doing the Int. Rumba patterns and SQQ when doing Bolero patterns. This adds lots of patterns to your social dancing but will mix you up when reverting back to pure Int. Rumba dancing and counting.

Socially we never get pure Int. Rumba tunes played by our music men. Very few dancers can do Int. Rumba, so this is why I do the above--which is basically borrowing patterns from Int. Rumba and using them in American style dances. The only place I get to do Int. Rumba is in a showcase, competition, or practicing with a teacher.

I am doing a showcase to help me with the Int. Rumba counting and timing. I am going to spend about 6 months just sticking with specific Int. Rumba music and variations of syllabus patterns to help reinforce this dance in my mixed up brain.

Chubrub, I think you maybe making this more complicated than what it really is. American/Internation are two different styles of the same dance. Intl style dances with a straighter leg when it's planted on the floor whereas with Ameri style, the leg is slightly bent when the foot is planted and then it straightens. Another difference is Intl's forward rock step/backward rock step is on the 2nd/6th (respectively) beat of a measure of music (hence it's often called 'On 2'), whereas American Rumba's forward rockstep/backward rock step is on count 1/5, respectively. But rythymn (Q,Q,S is the same). American rumba's basic step is a box, whereas, Intl.'s is more like the Mambo basics. The syllabus of school figures is also different; but you could borrow from each one.

How do you 'hear it'? Well, rumba music is rumba music regardless of which style you decide to dance to it. This is more of a music issue than dance but I'll try to relate it to dance for you. Rumba music is in 4/4, meaning each measure of music has 4 beats and each quarter note is worth one beat. The first beat of each measure usually have a heavier emphasis than the other beats, although quite frequently syncopated offbeats receipt heavy accent as well. And then beat 4, is usually 'pick up' notes and usually played by the conga. It's subdivided into 8th notes. So, generally, you'll feel: 1, 2, 3, 4&, 5, 6, 7, 8&, etc... In American Style, you step forward on cout 1 and hold through count 2 (this is the so called slow step), then step on counts 3 and 4 (these are your quick, quick steps). Where as in Intl Style, you step forward on count 2 (this is your quick step #1), then replace your weight on the other foot on count 3 (this is your other quick step #2).
I know this can get really complicated esp. if you don't have a music background. Then I'd suggested taking a music appreciation class.

sorry but the music is NOT interchangeable. there is some music that will work for either, but a lot just screams for one style or the other in its rhythm. of course its also good if the tempo is suitable - but a slowed down characteristic american rumba will not have the right feel for international rumba