The History of American Rumba:

   The Rumba began more than 400 years ago with the black slaves imported from Africa to Cuba. The dance was originally a sex pantomime which displayed the man having a sensual, aggressive attitude and the woman a defensive attitude. The dance movements were extremely expressive and fast and characterized by exaggerated hip movements. The music was played with a staccato beat in keeping with the strong and dynamic moves of the dancers. This sexually charged Afro-Cuban dance was often suppressed by authorities as it was viewed as dangerous and vulgar. This Rural Rumba however continued to grow in popularity and combined with various other Cuban dances which eventually developed into the American Rumba.

  The Rumba is made up of several dances that were popular in Cuba, including the Guaracha, the Cuban Bolero, the Cuban Son, and the Rural Rumba. The Rural Rumba is more an exhibition dance than a participation dance and depicts the movements of barnyard animals. The Cuban Bolero and the Cuban Son on the other hand are moderate tempo danced in a traditional ballroom style and lastly the Guaracha is characterised by its fast, upbeat tempo. All these dances have similar rhythms but in styling, the American Rumba closely resembles the Cuban Son and the Cuban Bolero.