Put Your Dancing Shoes On

ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” has reintroduced the ballroom dancing phenomenon.   Celebrities vie for coveted roles on the show, and audience members watch in awe.  Because of the show’s popularity, dance lessons/classes are all the rage.

My father is quite gifted on the dance floor, and he advised me to take ballroom dancing classes.  (He was never a fan of the ever-popular “let’s sway side to side,” and since we are Filipino, it is almost imperative that we dance.)  With his encouragement and his rhythmic genes, I recently started basic ballroom group lessons.  I have six classes under my belt, and I already feel like somewhat of an expert after learning the basic Rumba, Waltz, and Jitterbug.

I have been having such a good time, and I would like to share a dance lesson with you.  The Rumba is such a basic dance, and it is a good foundation for other dances:

Rumba Dance Steps

Rumba, also known as the “dance of love”, the “Latin Waltz” or the “Waltz with a wiggle”, is a spot dance which means the couple does not travel around the dance floor like in Waltz or Foxtrot, but rather stays in one location. The basic Rumba step is a very simple box step.

Rumba is a very sensuous dance that can be either danced as romantic or as very showy and coquettish. The great rhythms and sexy movements make it one of the most popular dances for weddings.

You start dancing Rumba in a closed dance position. The man’s left hand is holding the lady’s right hand with the elbows almost touching. The man’s right hand is placed underneath the lady’s shoulder blade. The lady’s left hand is placed right behind the man’s shoulder, flat on his back.

The basic box step for Rumba consist of three basic steps (a pattern of two quick side steps and a slow forward step) in one measure of music. The rhythm of the steps is slow-quick-quick, and is danced to a music written in 4/4 time. A Slow step is danced over two counts of music, while a Quick step is danced over one count.

Rumba Basic Steps

The basic Rumba step is very easy – it’s a simple box step, with the lady mirroring the man’s steps.

Basic Rumba Steps for Men

The gentleman starts with his left foot stepping forward. The man’s steps are as follows:

1. Step forward with your left foot
2. Sidestep to the right with your right foot
3. Move your left foot to your right foot
4. Step back with your right foot
5. Sidestep to the left with your left foot
6. Move your right foot to your left foot

Basic Rumba Steps for Women

The lady starts with her right foot stepping backward. The woman’s steps are as follows:

1. Step back with your right foot
2. Sidestep to the left with your left foot
3. Move your right foot to your left foot
4. Step forward with your left foot
5. Sidestep to the right with your right foot
6. Move your left foot to your right foot

Source: http://www.dancing4beginners.com/rumba-dance-steps.htm

If you think it would be easier to learn ballroom dancing by watching others perform, please feel free to find videos of it on YouTube.  According to my father, you can find some quality teachers on there.

So next time you are at a party, you are sure to impress the other guests with your new moves.  In the meantime, I begin to learn Latin dancing tonight.  Who knows?  Maybe we will meet on the dance floor some time, and I will ask, “May I have this dance?”  And you’ll be ready…

Get lit,

Abigail Michelle

Spotlight Model and Blogger

http://www.abigail-michelle.com

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