Rumba is a family of popular dances and music genre of Cuban origin.
The word Rumba roughly means “party,” and Cuban Rumba is a distinctive feature of the Cuban nation. It is the quintessential dance of courtship, bringing energy, awareness, and expressiveness to the dancers’ movements.
There are three main genres of Rumba: Yambú, Guaguancó, and Columbia, born from the freed slaves’ desire to celebrate. For many Cubans, Rumba is a way of life.
Regardless of the Rumba style danced, key characteristics include deep muscle relaxation and springy, rhythmic movements.
Cuban Rumba, with its rhythms and movements, is the mother of Salsa, and thus, those who get more into Rumba gain expressiveness and elegance.
Rumba Yambù
Rumba Yambú is the style where young people mimic the movements of the elderly. The steps are springy and rhythmic, and the music includes an introductory section called alaleo or diana, where the singer emits nonsensical sounds and syllables representing and recalling the lament of a slave. In Rumba Yambú, the clave used is the Son clave.
Rumba Guaguancò
Rumba Guaguancó is energetic and somewhat erotic. Playfully, the man attempts to “win over” the woman through a characteristic gesture called the vacunao. The introductory section of the music features a narrative by the singer, during which the dancers listen to the singer and, marking their steps in place, respectfully wait for the moment to start dancing. In Guaguancó, the Rumba clave plays a pivotal role, as dancers follow it during their improvisations and attempts to execute the vacunao while staying in rhythm.
Rumba Columbia
Rumba Columbia takes its name from a neighborhood in Havana and has roots in the Abakuá religion, practiced by groups of enslaved people. Originally (but no longer), it was danced exclusively by men. This dance consists of a few basic steps on which dancers constantly improvise. It is commonly performed in groups arranged in a circle, where dancers take turns showcasing their skills.
A key feature is the presence of the quinto, one of the conga drums, whose rhythm the musician improvises. The game is as follows: in the first half of the song, the dancer performs steps that the quinto player tries to follow; in the second half, the music speeds up, the roles reverse, and it is the dancer who must follow the rhythm played by the quinto.