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Afro-Cuban Rhythms and Dances
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Besides, there are some dances which developed in other Caribbean countries, but are popular as well among Cubans. The two most important are:
The merengue, which is supposed to come from the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). There are, however, some indications, that it might have developed in Cuba.
And the cumbia, one of the most popular dances of Columbia.
The word "rumba" simply means "party". The corresponding verb, "rumbear", is used to describe activities like going to a party, dancing and having a good time. The rumba is probably the rhythmic style most closely related to the African roots of Cuban music. Several kinds of drums are the most important instruments for the rumba. Originally it was performed in places where people from the neighbourhood used to come together and everything with any potential for percussion was used to make music: boxes, drawers, bottles, any sticks, the side of a cupboard etc. Usually the rumba starts with the drums and a solo singer who alternates with a choir.
There are two common forms of the rumba: columbia and guaguancó, both in 2/4 rhythm.
The columbia is a very fast dance for a male solo dancer. His choreography is very acrobatic and he moves in direct dialogue with the drum. The rhythmic patterns are short and aggressive; the dancer and the drummer spur on each other.
The guaguancó is the most popular rumba style in today's Cuba. It is slower than the columbia and a dance for couples. The guaguancó expresses the game of the woman's pursuit by the man. The man uses different parts of his body for conquest, for example movements of the head, of an arm or foot. These movements may be light, but are always very erotical, with the clear intention of sexual possession.
The woman covers her pelvis, pretending to avoid any contact with the man (but at the same time trying to prolong the game between the two. The climax of the game (and of the dance) is the man's gesture which indicates penetration: a typical movement of the pelvis, known as "vacunao".
Usually salsa is a dance for couples. The posture can be open, with distance (where the two dancers only take each other's hands) up to a very close posture (like glued together) – nearly anything is allowed. According to the style and figures a couple can continuously change from one posture to another. That way salsa gets its typical character with much variety and excitement.
There is a vivid discussion whether dancers should start "on One" or "on Two" (the first or second beat of the pattern). For myself, I prefer starting on One, but I've also been dancing with Cubans starting on Two – it works, but it needs more concentration. And no Cuban complained when I started on One...
So I think this question is a rather theoretical one; the most important thing is just to dance and have fun! (However, two partners of a couple should agree on starting at the same time to prevent "accidents".)
Whenever you start, the basic step goes always the same way (example for starting on One):
for the male partner: one step forward with the left foot (beat 1 - weight on left), one step on the spot with the right foot (beat 2 and weight on right), left foot returns beside right (beat 3 - weight on left), followed by a short brake (beat 4). The second half of the basic step starts with one step back with the right foot (5), then left on the spot (6), right beside left (7), break (8).
The woman does exactly the same, but she begins with the second half of the step (to avoid a collision, as her partner starts with left forward).
You don't have to keep your feet close together; moving the hips may be easier when your feet are standing a bit apart (as wide as your shoulders). In general, salsa is danced in a very relaxed way, more naturally than mambo.
Figures can be initiated when going forward. An easy way to start with complicated figures is to dance nearly "on the spot" for a certain time – so you don't have to consider whether going forward or back. But don't forget the right order of the feet, otherwise you may get out of time quickly...
When you're dancing with a new partner it is recommendable to start dancing close together in order to get to know how the other one is moving. Then it will be easier to coordinate the steps and start with figures.
Regarding the figures, there are some different styles, depending on the place and the teacher:
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The style taught in many dancing schools in Germany consists of the basic step, combined with a great number of figures (different turns of both partners, twists, and short solo parts). Cubans call this "casino style".
There are as well more spectacular figures where the woman lies back the upper part of her body – standing on both feet or only on one (and the other one wrapped around the man's hip). The partner can also lift her up; he has to bend his knees a little bit, then she puts her shins on his thighs, or she sits down on his thighs and wraps her legs around his hips. The partner should support her with one hand on her back and the other one on her neck.
And it is also possible to dance salsa as a solo dancer! In this case, almost anything is possible – keeping the basic step, combining it with figures, clapping the clave and so on... Talented dancers can make their own sophisticated choreographies and surprise the others with some funny elements, too!
Although salsa is very popular today, many experts do not consider it a musical genre of its own. For singer Felix Valoy (member of the Afro-Cuban All Stars), however, salsa is just a commercial name but not a rhythm and a style of its own. "Salsa es para vender y son es para disfrutar", he said. – "Salsa is for selling and son is for enjoying." Juan de Marcos González, leader of the Afro-Cuban All Stars, expressed the same opinion.
The big times of mambo were the fifties and sixties (especially in the USA), with famous artists like Pérez Prado and Beny Moré. Today, and particularly among younger people, salsa is more popular than mambo (what does not mean that it is not danced any more, however!)
There are some differences between mambo and salsa, which makes it easier to recognize it:
Concerning the way of dancing mambo, the basic steps are the same as in salsa, with one difference (I don't know if this is really the difference, but when learning mambo and salsa in German dancing schools, it seems to be so): When dancing salsa, the steps on beat 3 and 7 should be carried out in a way that the two feet end up more or less side by side. With mambo, both feet should end up exactly side by side. Mambo is danced more strictly and accurate than salsa and usually there are less figures used.
The danzón is a sophisticated and elegant style and goes rather slowly. Compared with other Afro-Cuban dances it seems very classical, featuring strings, flute and piano (often with virtuosistic passages). The dance is built up very clearly and strictly. It begins with an introduction, called the paseo, in which the partners come together (like in the old court dances which begin with greetings and bows). During this part the dancers have also time to count in order to recognize the system of measures, which can be slightly different from one danzón to the other.
The posture is very upright and with a small distance between the partners.
The basic step is a syncopated square step: Men start with one step forward on the right foot (beat 1 and 2), then left foot beside the right one (with a distance a little bit wider than the breadth of the shoulders / beat 3), right foot close beside left (beat 4), left foot step back (beats 5 and 6), right foot beside left with distance (beat 7) and finally left foot close beside right (beat 8).
Women start with the second half of the step, with a step back with the left foot.
By the way: this step is similar to the one used by many Cubans to dance the Bolero!
In ballroom dancing the Cuban bolero is called "rumba" (although this has nothing to do with Cuban rumba!) The dance should tell a story of approach and turning away, a story of a couple falling in love. The figures are corresponding to this; the partners change from a very close posture to solo dancing, come together again and so on... Sometimes when watching very good dancers (like in Latin American dance competitions) it seems as if the woman would enjoy playing a game with her partner while the poor man is running after her and trying to conquer her.
For Cubans, the bolero is a very romantic dance, too. But I have never seen a Cuban couple dancing the ballroom way, with complicated figures and telling a story. They keep together very close (in "normal" dancing posture or just glued together hugging each other) looking in each other's eyes...
Concerning the basic steps for the bolero, there are several possibilities:
In ballroom dancing the cha-cha-chá has some things in common with the rumba (the Cuban bolero), like the system of the basic step and the figures. But the character is very different: the cha-cha-chá is very playful and coquettish and dancers may show that they are just having fun.
The steps are nearly the same as in the ballroom bolero / rumba, but instead of the slow step on 1 / 2 and 5 / 6 there comes a chassé r-l-r or l-r-l. The start is the same as the bolero start for advanced dancers.
The posture is very open; sometimes the dancers even move without touching each other.
The Cuban step for the cha-cha-chá is practically the same – with one exception: it doesn't have to go from left to right, but also from forward to back (or the other way round) or just stay on the spot.
The basic step is just walking: left – right – left – right and so on... The most important thing is to keep very relaxed around your hips (so you should bend your knees)!
Today cumbia can still be danced by a group of people, but more frequently there are couples of a man and a woman, holding each other's hands. The partners should be looking into each other's eyes, but at the same time keep a certain distance, building up an interesting erotic excitement.
The posture is very upright and elegant; the arms should be held up on both sides, at eye-level. The step is rather easy: one step forward or on the side (weight keeps always on this foot) – the other foot follows, but without weight on it (usually this way of dancing looks a little bit like limping). The tempo is rather slow so that there is a lot of time for elegant movements with the hips.
There are some interesting figures like turns of one or both partners; one partner can turn into the arms of the other and continue dancing in this position. But don't forget to keep always a distance and to move in a rather slow and elegant way!
© 1998-2003 Peter -- last update: Sam Mai 3 13:42:55 CEST 2003