3.3. Rumba

Year of appearance: 1913

Homeland dance: Cuba

Ballroom rumba is a sensual dance to romantic music. It evolved from “Son” and “Danzon” which comes from Cuba. “Son” is a modified version of Cuban rumba along with other African influences. Cuban rumba is a folkloric dance performed to a fiery orchestra of drums and came to Cuba in the 16th century with the black slaves from Africa. This folk dance is a sex pantomime danced fast with exaggerated hip movements and with a sensually aggressive attitude on the part of the man who plays the part of the rooster and a defensive attitude on the part of the woman as the coquettish hen.

“Son” music began to take shape in the latter half of the 19th century in Cuba’s Oriente province. The “Son” dance is danced by middle class Cubans. It is slower and more conservative and refined than Cuban Rumba. The hip movements are less exaggerated than Cuban rumba. The wealthy Cuban society did not dance Cuban rumba but danced a slower Danzon where very small steps are taken, women producing a subtle tilting of the hips by the bending and straightening of the knees.

“Danzon” is the freer more spontaneous version of “Danza” which came to Cuba in the 18th century as “Contradanza” from Spain which came from “Contredanse” at the French Court in the 17th century. It has the typical instruments of Chamber music – violins etc with the addition of African drums.

Lew Quinn and Joan Sawyer introduced “Son” to Americans in 1913 then by Emil Coleman in 1923 and Benito Collada in 1925 but it did not take off. At some point “Son” was renamed to “Rumba”. In the late 1920’s Xavier Cugat, a famous orchestra leader popularized Rumba music and then “The Peanut Vendor” by Don Azpiazu’s Havana Casino Orchestra was released in 1930 which became a hit as the new dance craze. Pierre Lavelle introduced “Rumba” to Europe which has evolved to today’s “Ballroom Rumba” in the mid 1950’s.

Rumba is often called the “dance of love”, distinguished by its romantic feel. It is a non=progressive dance with continuous, flowing Cuban motion which gives Rumba its sensual look. The rumba frame is a typical Rhythm frame.

3.4. Paso Doble

Year of appearance: 1920

Homeland dance: Spain

The Paso Doble, originally a Spanish folkdance, has the distinction of being one of the only ballroom dances that is only danced in the ballroom world. You will find people in clubs doing the Waltz, or the Tango or the Quick Step but you won't see them performing a Paso Doble.

Although bullfights can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece they weren't a part of the culture of Spain until the 1700's. The excitement and tension of the bullfight, the pride and dignity of the matador as well as the flair of his cape are all portrayed in the Paso Doble. Paso Doble is Spanish for "Two Step" which is a reference to the marching style of this dance with its 1-2 count.

For the ballroom competitions the Paso Doble is done with chest high, shoulders wide and down, head back but slightly tipped down. The body leans slightly forward and the majority of the forward steps are done with the heel leading. The dance is further enhanced with strong steps and dramatic poses. The Paso Doble is one of the most dramatic of all the ballroom dances.

The Paso Doble is one of the few dances that is for the man. The woman's part in this dance is strictly a supporting one. Depending on their interpretation she may take the part of the matador's cape, or the bull, or in some cases even the matador at different times throughout the dance.

Some distinctive steps of the Paso Doble are the chassez cape (where the man uses the woman as the cape), the Apel, where the man stamps his foot as if to attract the attention of the bull (a very strong move) and the Apel which is a movement that starts with stamping of the feet then the couples walk in opposite directions.

It is full of energy, strict and powerful. With his haughty, bold pride the dancer expresses his superiority like a Torero. He convincingly transfers this solemn appeal to the audience. The woman, on the other hand, generates a self-confident distance to him, without surrendering to the power of the master. She is the literal image of the “Capa”; the red cloth that the Torero uses to keep the bull under control, and is, like this, lithe, agile and elegant. Whether in professional dance or Ice Dance, the Paso Doble is one of the most dramatic, precise dances.