The Rumba (sometimes spelled the Rhumba) is a very popular dance that has been taught in ballroom dance classes all over the world. What you might not know is that the rumba that is taught in a ballroom dance class is not the Rumba. The rumba is a much wilder dance. It is so wild and so fast that the Cuban government actually banned it, saying that it was not a type of dance that was suitable for the civilized Cuban society. Rumba dance music also has a very distinct sound and style. This article will discuss the history of the rumba, rumba dance music and how the two relate to each other.

History of the Rumba

Rumba (and rumba dance music) is a dance of two distinct influences: Africa and Spain. Though it gained notoriety (and, therefore, popularity) in Cuba, the dance is thought to have started as far back as the sixteenth century with slaves who had been brought in from Africa. The original rumba was basically a very fast pantomime of sex with an aggressive (but sensual) attitude and overly done hip movements. Even when it began, rumba dance music was played with a quick, staccato beat structure. This beat structure is still popular in rumba dance music today because it illustrates the movements of the dance.

The version of rumba that is taught in ballroom dance classes is actually called Son is a sort of watered down version of the original rumba. It is considered to be a much more refined dance than the rumba. There is a very slow version of the rumba that is also taught, though its proper name is Danzon is the most popular dance among the wealthy upper class in Cuba.

The American version of the rumba is actually the Son dance, with a little bit of modification. Lew Quinn and Joan Sawyer tried to introduce the real rumba to American society in 1913 and it was this attempt that piqued the American interest in Latin music.

Rumba Dance Music

Rumba dance music is hard to find from the more mainstream musicians. The music is written in the standard 4/4 timing structure. While it can be played at almost any tempo, real rumba music is incredibly fast paced. In rumba music there is often a pulsation that underlies the natural rhythm of the song. It can be illustrated by adding an and between the beats. For example, you might say one and two and three and four instead of just one two three four as the count.

Rumba dance music is considered by most to be Latin music but remember there is often a hint of afro centricity to it as well due to the African heritage of the dance.

Relating Rumba Dance Music to Rumba Dancing

The fast pace of the rumba dance music is meant to keep the pace of the dance. The Rumba, at its core, is a very fast dance and while any music with a basic 4/4 beat structure can serve as rumba dance music, to get the feel of the real dance that music must be sped up.

It is also interesting to note that, while the Rumba has been a very popular dance (everything gets more popular after it is officially banned somewhere), the rumba dance music has not fared as well. There are a few standards, but because the Son has replaced the actual Rumba in ballroom dancing, the music that is most readily associated with the rumba is slower tempo, like And I Love Her, by the Beatles and Under the Boardwalk by the Drifters. In order for those songs to truly be rumba dance music, they would have to be played twice as fast as the artists intended.

Rumba Dance music is fast paced with a strong and steady beat that, when danced right, will be in perfect time with the rumba dancers extra fast, sensual but distinct movements. Rumba dance music is often staccato for this same reason. Each move in rumba dancing is distinct, and the music must illustrate this.

Dancing the rumba can be a fun and exhausting experience (unless you are dancing the watered down versions that are danced in ballrooms and among civilized society). It has a rich history and has made its way from Africa to Spain to the Caribbean to Cuba to the Western World. Chances are youve danced to rumba dance music and simply might not have realized it.