The other day I received a phone call from a couple interested in starting dance lessons. When I told him we'd be doing Rhumba & Cha Cha, he said the names should be changed because they sound like "old dances". Well yeah, they've been around for awhile, and I guess to a non-dancer Salsa sounds more contemporary. Salsa is just Mambo re-worked and is probably the dance everyone thinks of when you say "Latin". Good, glad that Salsa sounds like fun!
The Beginners Level-1 Group is finishing up Merengue this week, while everyone else is working on Rhumba. Merengue is so much fun, and so easy it is a great introduction to Latin, and a great confidence builder for people new to dance. Absolutely anyone can mange to do Merengue and have fun on the floor with this party dance. The strong beat of the music is like a march anyone can hear and almost anything goes in Merengue. Going on a cruise? This is a great dance to know!
Rhumba is the slower, romantic Latin dance. It became popular in the US in the late 30's and 40's, but at that time was a faster dance. Rhumba is related to all kinds of Latin rhythms, like Guaguanco, Bolero, and yes --- Salsa. Contemporary dancers do Bolero, or the International version of Rhumba called "Rumba-Bolero", or Social Rhumba. International dancers like their music slow (or else extremely fast --- like Jive & Quickstep), but we Social dancers like a rhumba with a slightly faster tempo or it can feel draggy to us. We like a Rhumba with a little more kick. Michael Buble has some pretty rhumbas you can practice to --- or if you're into oldies, try the Drifters.
Because it's a slower dance, this is the dance that will really help the men to develop good clear Latin leads (like for a 5th position break) and get started using Latin motion. Latin motion is a personal thing......some people will take to it easily, others will have a difficult time adding this styling. American men have a harder time with it, but believe me, you'll look sexier on the dance floor and your hips won't overdo it --- you're just not built the same way, Guys!! Getting used to dancing that "Slow-quick-quick" rhythm consistently will make it easier when you finally start learning Salsa --- which we count "quick-quick-slow".
And what about that other old dance, Cha Cha? You'll get used to dancing to a faster tempo, but be practicing many of the same leads (and follow techniques) that you were using for Rhumba. Cha Cha puts a lot of footwork into the Latin rhythm because of syncopation. It's been around since the 50's, but is definitely a dance you can use almost anywhere. Got a wedding to attend? Listen to the music and you'll find lots of contemporary artists singing to a Cha Cha rhythm. Gotta learn to Cha, just gotta.
And once you've learned Rhumba and gotten that Cha Cha syncopation, you'll have a much easier time dealing with the faster Salsa music. Everyone wants to learn to Salsa, but most people have a hard time keeping up with the music. That's why it's better to learn some fundamental movements in Rhumba and Cha Cha before you try tackling Salsa. Everything happens faster in Salsa --- men need to feel comfortable and at home with the leads and understand the timing, while women need to keep tone (resistance) and react to leads that are coming fast and furious. You want to have fun doing Salsa, not feel overwhelmed or confused.
Each dance has its own flavor and you will come to love and appreciate each for its unique take on Latin. Hey, salt and pepper have been around a lot longer and we would all feel deprived if we couldn't grab that shaker!! So don't limit your dance palate either --- and go out there and shake your bon-bon!!
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