Rumba Basic and Advanced Routine with Sliding Doors
The short answer: this lesson gives you two Rumba routines to follow along with. The basic routine uses the Open Basic Movement, Progressive Walks, Alemana Turn, Side Steps and Cucarachas. The advanced routine adds the Open Hip Twist to Fan Position, Sliding Doors, Opening Out to Right and a Spiral Turn. Each routine is danced in full, then named figure by figure and counted.
What is in this Rumba lesson?
Two routines in one video: a basic Rumba routine and an advanced one. I dance each routine in full as a demonstration, then every figure is named and the timing counted, so you can learn the steps and dance with rhythm.
How do you count Rumba?
Most Rumba figures are counted 2, 3, 4-1, with the 4-1 held as one slow step. The timing for the basic routine starts at 2:10 in the video, and for the advanced routine at 5:10.
What are Sliding Doors in Rumba?
Sliding Doors is a figure in side-by-side position where the lady crosses in front of the man from one side to the other. In the advanced routine you dance Sliding Doors, then Sliding Doors again into Fan Position.
What steps are in the basic Rumba routine?
- Open Basic Movement: steps 1 to 3.
- Progressive Walks
- Alemana Turn
- Side Steps to Left
- Left Foot Cucaracha
- Right Foot Cucaracha
What steps are in the advanced Rumba routine?
- Preparation Step
- Open Hip Twist: to Fan Position.
- Sliding Doors
- Sliding Doors: into Fan Position.
- Alemana Turn
- Opening Out to Right
- Spiral Turn: into Fan Position.
Common mistakes
- Rushing the 4-1. It's held as one slow step.
- Learning the figures without the timing. Each routine is counted so you can dance it with rhythm.
- Moving on to the advanced routine before you can dance the basic routine comfortably.
Try this in your next practice
Dance the basic routine with the timing section of the video from 2:10, counting 2, 3, 4-1 out loud and holding the 4-1 as one slow step. When that feels comfortable, try the advanced routine with the timing from 5:10.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count Rumba?
Most Rumba figures are counted 2, 3, 4-1, with the 4-1 held as one slow step.
How fast is Rumba music?
WDSF competition rules set Rumba at 25 to 27 bars a minute.
Is this Rumba routine good for beginners?
The basic routine is. It uses beginner figures like the Open Basic, Alemana and Cucarachas. The advanced routine adds the Fan, Sliding Doors and a Spiral Turn.
Which figures finish in Fan Position in the advanced routine?
The Open Hip Twist, the second Sliding Doors and the Spiral Turn all finish in Fan Position.
Is there another Rumba routine I can learn?
Yes. My Rumba basic and advanced routine with Aida gives you two more routines to follow.
Related lessons
- Rumba basic and advanced routine with Aida
- Advanced Rumba demonstration
- Rumba Forward Check body actions
- Rumba music, Cha Cha chassés and spinning without dizziness
Vaughan Liddicoat is a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia, an accredited coach and the founder of Ballroom Mastery. He has a passion for dance and wants to help you become the best dancer you can be and have an amazing time doing it.
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