9. THE RHUMBA

There are two things that distinguish the Rhumba. The first is the style. The second is the rhythm. The style can be mastered if you keep one thing always in mind when practicing. Step with your foot first, without letting it take the body weight. Then, a fraction of a second later, let your body weight follow. This can be mastered if you practice slowly and deliberately. Picture yourself with a huge vase balanced on your head. You are walking along a slippery pathway in which there are many loose rocks. You cannot look down at where you are placing your feet because if you did your vase would fall off your head, SO—you must touch the ground with your foot first without weight on it, and then when you are sure of solid ground, you let your weight follow.

By stepping in this manner you will develop a soft, subtle motion in your Rhumba. The upper part of your body will not move. In short, you will develop the style that characterizes the Rhumba and makes it so completely different from all the other dances.

Your steps should be short—between four to ten or twelve inches, depending upon the speed of the music. The faster the music, of course, the |shorter the step.

The basic Rhumba rhythm does not change. Your basic count is always:

One

Two

Three

Pause

Note that the pause comes on Count 4. All beats are of the same duration of time, therefore, all the steps should be of approximately the same length in any given piece of music. Count this rhythm over and over again until it becomes a part of you.

There is always a change of weight on Counts 1, 2, and 3. On Count 4, which is the pause, the free foot begins to follow through and get ready for the next count of one.

There are seven basic Rhumba time steps which are employed to do the basic Rhumba rhythm of:

One

Two

Three

Pause

These are:

1. Rhumba Box Step (Also rhumba box step turning).
2. Rhumba Rock Back.
3. Rhumba Traveling Time Step (both forward and backward).
4. Rhumba Running Step (both forward and backward).
5. Rhumba Cross Over.
6. Rhumba—In Place—Time Step.
7. Rhumba Pivot Turn.

By mastering these steps you can use them to give infinite variety to your dance as you go from one to the other in various floor patterns. Start the Rhumba on the left foot (men) and right foot (women).

RHUMBA BOX STEP DANCE
IN OPEN POSITION

BOY'S PART:

Side—L	Together—R	Forward—L	Pause  (start follow thru)
1	2	3	4
Side—R	Together—L	Back—R	Pause  (start follow thru)
1	2	3	4

GIRL'S PART:

Side—R	Together—L	Back—R	Pause  (start follow thru)
1	2	3	4
Side—L	Together—R	Forward—L	Pause  (start follow thru)
1	2	3	4

RHUMBA BOX STEP (turning left)

BOY'S PART:

Side—L	Together—R	Diag. Forward—L	Pause  (follow thru)
		Toe Out
1	2	3	4
Side—R	Together—L	Diag. Back—R	Pause  (follow thru)
		Toe In
1	2	3	4

You have now made one half turn. Repeat the step from the beginning and you will be back to your original starting position.

GIRL'S PART: Girl dances the second line above while boy dances the first line. Then girl dances the first line while boy dances the second line.

THE RHUMBA ROCK BACK

This step explained in pictures on the opposite page can be executed just as effec­tively by starting the Cross Back on Count 2 of the basic Rhumba Rhythm.

On the second half of the box step, as boy steps to the side with his right foot, he is in a position to Cross Back with his left foot. Thus:

1. Boy steps to right side with right foot. (Count 1.)
2. Boy does Cross Back with left foot, crossing it in back of right foot. When the left foot takes the body weight, the right foot lifts about one inch from the floor.  (Count 2.)
3. Boy steps right foot in place. (Count 3.)
4. Pause—no shift of body weight.

1. Boy steps to left with left foot.  (Count 1.)
2. Boy does Cross Back with right foot, crossing it in back of left foot. When the right foot takes the body weight, the left foot lifts about one inch from the floor.  (Count 2.)
3. Boy steps left foot in place.  (Count 3.)
4. Pause—No shift of body weight.

The girl may practice this, using the boy's part. When she dances with her partner, she steps Cross Back on her right foot as the boy steps Cross Back on his left foot.

(The important thing to note is that the Cross Back may start whenever the boy's left foot is free of bodyweight and the girl's corresponding right foot is free of body weight.)

RHUMBA  ROCK BACK TIME  STEP (This step employs the Cross Back)

1. Boy crosses left foot behind right foot (Cross Back), and lifts right foot one inch
   from the floor. Girl does the opposite crossing back on her right foot.
2. Boy shifts weight to right foot letting it occupy its previous track.  Girl  does
   opposite as she shifts her weight to her left foot.
3. Boy brings left foot back into natural position  (side), as he takes it away from
   the Cross Back position.  Girl  does the  same with  opposite  foot.  Pause,  and  while pausing, boy leads girl into rock back position on other side.

5. Boy crosses right foot behind left foot and lifts left foot one inch from the floor.
   Girl does opposite, rocking back on her left foot.
6. Boy shifts weight back to left foot allowing it to occupy its previous track. Girl
   does opposite as she shifts her weight back to her right foot.
7. Boy brings right foot back into natural position, as he takes it away from rock
   back position.
8. Pause, and while pausing, start leading girl into box step.

RHUMB A ROCK BACK (In Open Position)

1. Separate your body positions until you are approximately at distance here. Partners hold each others hands.       2. Boy releases girl's right hand. Boy—Cross-back-L. Girl—Cross Back-R. In place step fol­lows.       3. Partners join hands as they swing back to starting position. Boy's weight is on left foot. Girl's weight is on right foot.       4. Boy releases girl's left hand. Boy—Cross Back-R. Girl—Cross Back-L. Thus the entire movement is reversed.

RHUMBA TRAVELING TIME STEP

BOY'S PART:

Side—L	Together—R	Forward—L	Pause  (follow thru)
1	2	3	4
Side—R	Together—L	Forward—R	Pause  (follow thru)
1	2	3	4

GIRL'S PART:

Side—R	Together—L	Back—R	Pause  (follow thru)
1	2	3	4
Side—L	Together—R	Back—L	Pause  (follow thru)
1	2	3	4

In order to master the Rhumba Traveling Time Step say to yourself, over again:

Side	Together	Forward	Pause
Side	Together	Forward	Pause

Note that in the Rhumba Traveling Time Step the left foot moves forward as in the Box Step—but the right foot also moves forward—thus you are able to travel. In the Box Step, however, you cannot travel because the forward movement of the left foot is always counteracted by the backward movement of the right foot.

Now, the Traveling Time Step can also take a backward direction. Thus we say:

Side	Together	Back	Pause
Side	Together	Back	Pause

This Traveling Time Step is most effectively used when the music is slow. However, when the music is fast, it is better to use the Running Time Step.

RHUMBA RUNNING STEP

Merely say to yourself, over again:

Forward	Together	Forward	Pause
Forward	Together	Forward	Pause

Note here that the first side movement is replaced by a forward step. When the music is fast there is a great tendency to buck and fight your own momentum by going first to the side and then forward. Thus it is much better to use the Running Time Step. You take three short running steps, and then pause. You may say to yourself, if you wish:

Run	Run	Run	Pause
Run	Run	Run	Pause

The Running Time Step, of course, can be taken in a backward direction also. Merely say to yourself:

Back	Together	Back	Pause
Back	Together	Back	Pause

A very interesting combination of Time Steps is to do the Box Step, then run forward, then do the Box Step, and then run backward. It is not wise to do the Running Step forward, and then immediately do it backward for the simple reason that you are unnecessarily fighting your own momentum by the sudden change of direction. The Box Step, or the In Place Time Step, should come between the for­ward and backward Running Steps. Be sure, always, to start the Running Step on the left foot (man) and right foot (woman). Thus, the Box Step and Running Step combination would be:

Side	Together	Forward	Pause
Side	Together	Back	Pause
Run	Run	Run	Pause (running forward)
Run	Run	Run	Pause (running forward)
Side	Together	Forward	Pause
Side	Together	Back	Pause
Run	Run	Run	Pause (running backward)
Run	Run	Run	Pause (running backward)

RHUMBA CROSS OVER TIME STEP

It should be noted by studying the figures on the opposite page that in the Rhumba Cross Over Time Step the Cross Front should always take place on Count 1. Thus on the preceding pause which takes place on Count 4 of the preceding measure, the dancer has a chance to lift his foot and prepare to move the body weight in the opposite direction. Though this step is the exact opposite of the Rock Back step previously described, it is much more difficult to execute.

As the step is described here on the opposite page the position is open. It can be executed very effectively in a position apart. When doing the step in a Position Apart, the boy should hold the girl's left hand in his right hand as his right foot crosses in front of his left. Then as his left foot crosses in front of his right foot, he should switch hands, taking her right hand in his left.

RHUMBA CROSS OVER TIME STEP Read Pictures from Right to Left

This Time Step gives variety to your Rhumba. It should be practiced very slowly at first. Notice that it is exactly opposite the Rock Back Time Step. In the photographs below read from right to left, starting with four, then going to one, two, three. In the lower line of pictures, read from left to right.

4. On the Pause—or four count of your Basic Box Time Step, boy lifts right foot into air, turning toe in and heel out.

1. Boy crosses right foot in front of left. Girl crosses left foot in front of right.
2. Boy brings left foot from the back and places it in natural position beside right
   foot. Girl does the same using right foot.
3. Boy shifts his weight to' right foot, as girl shifts her weight to left foot.

4. Pause. While pausing, both partners prepare to Cross Front on other side. Boy lifts
   his left foot, heel up and toe down, while girl lifts her right foot the same way.
5. Boy crosses left foot over in front of right, while girl crosses right foot over in
   front of left.
6. Boy brings right foot from behind into natural position beside left foot. Girl does
   the same using left foot.
7. Boy shifts his weight to left foot while girl shifts her weight to right foot. On the
   next count—the count of eight—pause—and make preparations to repeat from num­
   ber four in the top line, or return to Box Step with boy going to right, and girl
   going to left.

RHUMBA TIME STEP IN PLACE

There are times when you will want to do the Rhumba rhythm absolutely in place, without traveling at all. For example, when the man dances in place and the girl does floor pattern steps around him, and vice versa. Or, to give a variety to your dancing, this step, by contrast, tends to sharpen the effect of the more spectacular steps. To do it, you merely shift your weight from one foot to the other three times, and then pause. The feet should be absolutely together (nearly touching each other) and the shift of weight should be complete. Thus we say:

Shift	Shift	Shift	Pause
Shift	Shift	Shift	Pause

During the pause, since the feet are already together, it is, of course, not necessary for the free foot to move into a follow-through position. Thus, on the pause count you may either freeze your action entirely, or you may cross the knee of the free leg slightly in front of the knee of the leg which supports the body weight. Observe that professional dancers and native Cuban Rhumba dancers use this knee movement constantly when doing the Rhumba Time Step In Place, or when doing the Box with short steps.

The Time Step In Place is more difficult to master than the Box Step. This is due to the fact that people are in the habit of shifting the weight with each step when walking. To shift the weight entirely from one foot to the other without letting the feet move from their tracks requires an entirely new skill for most people. The best way to practice it is to start off by doing the Box Step, and then take shorter and shorter steps until, finally, you are not taking any steps at all, but are merely shifting the weight from one foot to the other.

RHUMBA PIVOT TURN

The Rhumba Pivot Turn adopts the same principle as that used in all pivot turns, the only difference being that you adopt the turn to Rhumba tempo. You must travel slightly, to execute the turn properly. The Rhumba Pivot Turn can move in either direction, but it usually starts with the foot corresponding to the line of direction, thus when you pivot-turn to the right, you start with the right foot. When you pivot-turn to the left, start with the left foot. To form a rhythmic picture in your mind of this turn, you may say:

Turn

Turn

Turn

Pause

It is possible for the skilled dancer to pivot-turn in one direction, and then, imme­diately, turn back in the other direction. This, however, is not wise for the average dancer as too much momentum is generated in one direction to make for smooth, graceful dancing when the direction is suddenly reversed.

Usually the girl does the pivot-turn alone while the boy holds her right hand overhead, as an aid to balance, allowing it to turn in his, as she pivots. The boy does a Rhumba Box Step traveling to his left, while the girl turns to the right. Or, he may do a Rhumba Running Time Step to his left, starting with the left foot, while the girl turns to the right.

The three pivot steps which make up the Rhumba Pivot Turn should be practiced along one straight line of direction. Practice in the following manner:

Stand in the center of the room and face one wall. Consider the wall you are facing to be North, the wall to the back of you, as South; the wall to your right as East; the wall to your left as West. Now, facing North, you are going to travel in a straight line due East, that is directly to your right. Each step should be approximately the same length, and each step moves you along a straight line in an eastward direction.

1.   Step your right foot directly to the right, turn your right toe out toward your line of direction.
2.   Pivot-turn forward to the right as your left foot moves with the body due East, in your line of direction. Your left foot comes to the line of direction about twelve inches from your right foot. At the end of this step you should be facing due South, with your weight on your left foot and the toes of both feet pointing directly South. (You are now facing the opposite direction from which you started.)
3.   Pivot-turn backward on your left foot as your right foot turns with the body backward and travels due East. Your right foot comes down on the line of direction about twelve inches from your left foot. You are now back to your original position facing North. Your weight is on your right foot.
4.   Pause and  "follow through" with the left foot,  in preparation for some other Rhumba Time Step.

Practice this over again in the natural direction before attempting it in the un­natural direction. For example: If you are right-handed you can probably do it more easily to the right, so learn how to do it to the right before attempting it to the left.

RHUMBA

The Figure 0 and Figure 8 turn.

This is a floor pattern step in which the boy uses the Rhumba Box Step in place, while the girl uses the traveling Rhumba Step to describe first the letter 0, and then a figure 8.

The Figure 0 Turn

1. Girl turns under boy's arm starting Rhumba traveling step on her right foot.
2. Girl continues to travel with traveling time step, moving away from her partner.
3. Girl continues to travel as she moves around and back toward her partner.
4. Girl comes back to partner as she steps forward on her left foot as he steps back on right foot of Rhumba Box Step. This completes the 0 turn.

The Figure 8 Turn

Girl leaves partner the same as in 0 turn described at the top of the page.

5. Now, when girl is in the same position as in picture No. 3 of the O turn, boy takes girl's left hand and places it in his right hand.
6. Boy leads girl around him to his right side. Girl is doing traveling time step while boy is doing box step in place.
7. As girl circles behind boy, boy switches hands, placing her right hand into his left hand.
8. Boy continues to lead girl around him.
9. Girl is now facing boy and moving forward toward him.
10. Girl joins boy as he steps back on his right foot of Rhumba Box Step. They are now in position to do box step together or go into another floor pattern step.
    
    To do the 0 turn properly requires four measures of music. To do the Figure 8 turn properly requires eight measures of music.

RHUMBA ROCK BACK AND SPIN

This step employs the Cross Back and pivot turn while maintaining a constant Rhumba rhythm. With practice, the entire step may be reversed.

After the boy has stepped to the right in the box step, he crosses back with his left foot, as the girl crosses back with her right. While he is doing this, he leads the girl into side position.     The next step is In place. Boy In place-right, girl In place-left. This shift of weight causes bodies to turn slightly toward each other.     Boy steps to left as girl steps to right. This is a relatively slow step, as the pause count comes between it and the preceding movement. Note that partners are now facing each other . . . open position, but not holding hands. Each partner now prepares for backward pivot turn.   Boy pivots backward, makes a half-turn and shifts his weight to his right foot. Girl does opposite, she pivot turns backward on her right foot, and shifts her weight to left foot. The partners are now back to back.   Boy completes pivot turn as weight comes to left foot. Girl does the same, finishing on her right foot. They are now facing each other. (The next step is for the boy—side-right, and girl—side-left.)

RHUMBA CHANGING POSITION SPINS

To master this you must be able to do the Rhumba Time Step in place, traveling forward, traveling backward, and turning. This is a fascinating floor pattern and requires considerable practice to perfect it.

From a face-to-face position girl turns to her left using one Rhumba Time Step, ending in position shown above in Figure 1. Figure 2: Boy leads girl across in front of him, while he does Time Step in place. Figure 3: Girl continues to travel around boy-^-he acts as the hub of a wheel. Figure 4: Girl continues around boy and ends on his left side.

Figure 5: Boy now does time step traveling backward, while girl does time step traveling forward. Figure 6: Boy now releases girl's, right hand and leads her into a Rhumba spin, around in front of him. Figure 7: Girl continues her spin as she pivots to her left foot. Figure 8: Girl completes her turn and is now in position to right of boy. Figure 9: Boy now does traveling time step forward while girl does traveling time step backward.

Figure 10: Girl does backward spin to her right as boy steps out of her way.

Figure 11: Girl continues to spin as she pivots to her left foot and faces her partner. Figure 12: Girl takes the third step of her Rhumba spin time step by shifting her weight to her right foot. Boy changes hand position and moves in to face-to-face position.

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