Basic Rumba Top 10 Steps & Routines (American Style) | Dance Lessons

Hey, I'm Titus. And I'm Nguyen. From Dance Insanity. And today, we're going to be showing you... The American Rumba. Top 10 Steps. That's right. Absolute Beginner's Guide. We're going to do the step together, and then we're going to do follower's part, leader's part. We'll do it together one more time. Make sure you've got all the connections. And at the very end, we're going to put it together into a little routine, and then dance it to music. So that way, you can see how the steps interconnect all together. Now, if you are brand new to dancing, remember, learning to dance is like learning a language. And usually, we don't learn a new language immediately. You need some repetition. So at first, it might be a little challenging, but just keep on doing it, and eventually, it'll sink in. Because repetition is the mother of skill. That's right. And even if you don't have a partner, and you're like, but I really, really want to go out and dance with someone, but I want to kind of get to know the dance a little first. So you are in absolutely the right place, because you can do this with a partner and also by yourself. Yeah. Let's get started. First step is the box. Slow. A quick, quick snap. A quick, quick. Let's see the follower's footwork. Okay, followers, your weight is on the left. You'll go back on your right. Then step to the side, on your left. Bring your right foot in, switch your weight onto the right foot, then left foot goes forward, bring your right foot to the side, and bring your left foot in, close. Yes, that's your box. Leaders, you're going to have that weight on that right foot. First thing that happens is you're going to go forward and left. Now that right foot's going to go to the side. Then you're going to close that left foot, switch the weight onto the left. Now, right foot's going back. From here, left foot's going to go to the side, and we switch the weight onto it, close the right foot, and we have made a leader's box step. Now, we're going to do our box. It goes slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick. Let's just check that out from another angle. And slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick. Okay, step one completed. Our next step is called together, together, and it's a really important step because it gives you all kinds of transitions. So we're going to do it as a step, and you're going to have it come back a little later on when we do the full routine. Let's do this. So it'll be, and slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick, slow. A quick, quick, slow, quick, quick. Follow this part. Follow weight starts on the left leg, go back on the right. Bring your left foot together, switch your weight, and switch your weight back onto the right. Go to the side on the left, bring your right foot in, switch your weight to the right. Together, together, weight goes back on the left, and you go side on the right again. Bring your left foot in, put your weight on the left foot. Put your weight back onto the right foot, then you come forward on the left, go to the side on the right, and bring your left foot in to plate. Leader's footwork. We begin by going forward left, close the right foot, weight goes on the right, switch to the left, and then we've got side on the right. We've got weight onto the left, switch it to the right, side on the left, and we've got weight onto that right foot, switch to the left, and then it goes back on the right, finish off a box, side, and close. All together now! Here we go. Slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick, slow, a quick, quick, slow, a quick, quick. Let's check it out from another angle, a nice sensual boxy frame. And slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick, slow, a quick, quick, slow, quick, quick. Okay, our next step is open break, and we're going to include our fourth step, which is underarm turn, all in one go. So let's check it out. It's going to be slow, half a box, quick, quick, slow, open break here, quick, quick, slow. We're going to go right into our fourth step, underarm turn, quick, quick, slow, and then quick, quick, we're ready to pick it up with another box step. Let's check out the follower's footwork first. Follower, start with your weight on the left, go back on the right. Side on the left, close your right, weight onto the right. Another side step on the left, then you go back on the right. Replace to the left, side on the right. Now you're ready for your turn. Cross your left foot in front, then replace back to the right, side on the left. Bring your right foot in, close, then close back to the left. That's it. Okay, leaders, we start with half a box step. It's going to go forward on the left, side on the right, close the left. Now we go to the side on the right foot. Rock that left foot back. This is our open break right here. Back, replace, side. Now that left hand will come up for the underarm turn. You're going to just rock back on the right. Back, and then replace to the left, side on the right. Now we're going to get together, together, and we're ready to start off with a box step or the basic. Check it out with a partner. We start off with our basic frame. We've got half a box, side, together. Side step, open break. We're going to just rock step away from each other. Now as I step to the side, I want my left hand to point leftward so she knows to turn in that direction. Under she goes, and we come back to our frame and we have together. Together we're ready to do another half a box or some other basic from another angle. Starting with half a box, slow, quick, quick, slow, open break. Rock step, underarm turn, rock, replace, side, together, together, we're ready for a box step. Steps three and four completed. Our fifth step is the fifth position break. And it goes slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick. Right back into a box, quick, quick, slow. Finishing it off, and we're ready for a box at that point. Followers, start with your weight on the left. We'll do half a box. Going back on the right, side, and close. That's your half a box. Then you go side on the left. You're ready for a fifth position break. Back on the right, replace to the left, side on the right, back on the left, replace to the right, side on the left. One more, back on the right, replace to the left. And this time you're going to do a little bit of a turn and stepping back on your right. And you go side left, close your right, forward left, side, close. Closing with a box. Leader's part for the fifth position break. We do half a box to get going. Slow, quick, quick. Now side on the right. Just rock that left foot back. Replace to the right, side left. Now go back on that right leg. Rock, replace, side right. Back on the left again. Back, replace. There's a mini lead here just to get her to swivel. Then we've got to do a box, forward left, side, and then close. Finishing it off, the box step back on the right, side left, and close. Let's see how it works with a partner. Half a box to get started. Slow, quick, quick, side, slow. Now we just keep the frame as we rock back. Rock, replace, side. On this other side we're going to release the frame. Rock, replace, side. Regain frame. Rock, replace, and we're ready to box. Side, together. Walk, side, together. Let's check the whole thing out on another angle. Slow, quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick, slow. Release the arm. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Trampoline, cucarachas. Which goes, slow, quick, quick, slow. A quick, quick, slow. We kept going into a box step. Let's check out. Am I in trouble? No. This dance is full of boxes. There's a lot of box when you do American Rumba. Follow us for work. Weight on the left, go back on the right. Side, cucaracha on the left, replace to the right. Back on the left, side, cucaracha to the right. Replace to the left, and you're done. Leaders are going to do forward left. Then it's side rights, replace to the left, forward right. And side left, replace to the right. And we complete our forward traveling cucarachas. Partner time. We go just right in frame, very direct. Slow, quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Let's just check it out. Another angle. And slow, quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. This step is also an underarm turn, but we're going to be using that box to get in and out of it. Check it out. We do a slow, a quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. A lot of box. Okay, followers. Weight on the left, go back on the right. Do your box. Side, close. Come forward on the left. Now, do your turn by walking around. Right, left, right. Side on the left. Close your right. Then you continue with your box. Forward left, side, close. Then check that box because you're done. Leaders will work. We're going to go forward, side, close. Now, we actually do the box. We're going to turn it just a touch. So you're going to go back, side, close. You start to turn just a little bit. Forward, side, close. Then it's finishing off back, side, together. So the leader's just doing the box step, a little bit of turn, and he's got to lead it. Let's check it out with a partner. When you do this box underarm turn, we're going to end up doing a full quarter turn by the time we're done. So we start here, finish there. So it will be slow, quick, quick, slow. Start to turn. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. It's a beautiful step. Let's try it again from another angle. We got slow, quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Underarm turn box, complete. Check. Next we have our crossover break. It goes slow, quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Away with you. Ball's weight is on the left. We start with our box. Side on the left. Close that right. Then another step to the side on the left. Come forward on the right. Replace to the left. Nice. Side on the right. Then you do a little turn. Step forward on the left. Back to the right. And a side on the left. One more. And a little turn. Forward on the right. Back to the left. And step side on the right. Then you bring your left foot in and close. And close back onto the right. Then you'll finish your box. Step forward on the left. Side on the right. And bring your left foot to close. We're going to do a box. Well, just half a box, really. So, it is forward, side, close. Now, side step. That gets us ready for that crossover break. Forward left. Replace the right. Side on the left foot. Right foot comes forward. Rock. Replace. Side. Left foot crosses in front. Replace. Side. And it's going to be close the right. Left foot right on the spot. Finish off half a box, of course. Back on the right. Side. And close it. Let's try it with a partner. We get half a box. Side. Together. Release the right arm leaders. You're going to drop your left arm all the way down as you step to the side. That sets us up for the crossover. We have rock. Replace. We're going to actually have two hands for a moment. Release the left hand. Rock. Replace. Side. And we're going to regain that frame. Side. Together. Finish off. Again. Surprise, surprise. Half a box. Slow. Quick. Slow. Quick. Slow. Quick. Slow. Quick. Slow. Quick. Slow. Quick. Spot turns. Slow. Quick. Slow. And quick. Quick. Slow. Quick. Slow. Quick. Slow. Quick. Slow. Quick. Followers part! Followers, business as usual, start with half a box. Back on the right. Side. Close your right. Then you take another step on the left. Ready for your spot turn. Right foot crosses. Replace to the left. Step side on the right. Spot turn over to the right. Left foot crosses. Step onto the right. Replace to the left. One more spot turn. Right foot crosses. Step onto the left. Replace to the right. Then we do a together, together. Weights on the left. Close to the right. Followed by a half a box to finish. Left foot forward. Side on the right. Close to the left. We're going to do our spot turns. Leaders, you got forward. Side. Close. Then side on the right foot. The left foot's going to come around. Just pivot those toes. And then weight comes back to the right. Side left. Right foot's going to cross. Swivel those toes around. Back on the left. Side on the right foot. And left foot comes across. Swivel it. Replace again. Side. And then we have together, together. Back on the right. Side left. And you guessed it. Half a box to finish. And slow. Quick, quick. I'm going to drop my arms down. Little patty cake there with that right hand so she knows spot turn is coming. And quick, quick. Some patty cake. And quick, quick. Slow, quick. Regain that frame. Slow, quick, quick. Slow, up, quick, quick. Nine out of ten steps. Complete head. Up next we've got a cross body lead. Let's check it out. And slow, quick, quick. Slow, quick, quick. Slow. One more for luck. Slow, quick, quick. Let's check out the follow this footwork. Half a box to begin. And your waist dries on the left foot. You go back on the right. Side on the left. Close. That's your half a box. Then you come forward on the left. Go forward on the right. One more step forward on the left. Now you're going to turn on the left foot. Step back on the right. Side left. Close your right. Then you finish with half a box. Left foot forward. Side. And close to the left. You're done. Let's see that from one more angle. Back on the right. Side. Close. Come forward on the left. Forward on the right. Forward on the left. Turn back on the right. Side on the left. Close. Then finish your box. Forward left. Side right. Close to the left. Let's see the leader's part. You're pretty much doing box steps, but you're going to have to turn a little bit to open the door for her. Let's check it out. We do half a box again. Forward. Side. Close. Now you're going to go back. Open that left side. Side. Close. Now you're going to go forward left. Forward. Side. Close. You finish off by going back. Side. Together. I know you want to see that from another angle, because at the end we're probably looking good. So let's just check it out from another direction. Cross body leaders. Forward. Side. Together. It's a box step, but you're opening the left side now as you go back. Side. Close. Now you're going to go forward left. Forward. Side. Close. Finish off. Back. Side. Together. So it's a series of box steps still, but you're just turning and opening the door for the follower so she can get those swivels and those cross body leads. Let's check it out with a partner. We start off with our half a box. Slow. Quick, quick, slow. That left side opens the door for her. Quick, quick, and slow. Quick, quick. Now we can just finish off half a box. We could keep repeating it, of course. Let's just check it out on the other side. Slow. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Alright, we're going to put all 10 steps together for you in a routine, but we're going to make a couple little adjustments here and there so everything can flow. Let's check out how this is going to flow together and then we'll try it all with music. Begin with a box step. Slow. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick, slow. Together, together. Side, together, together. Slow. Quick, quick. Now we're ready for our open break underarm turn combo. Slow. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Immediately into the fifth position break. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Right into the cucaracha. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Finishing off with a box there. Now we're going to do our box underarm turn. Slow. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Next we have our crossover break. Slow. Quick. Quick, quick. Three of those. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Now three spot turns. Quick, quick, slow. And quick, quick, slow. Just a note. We're actually starting those spot turns on the opposite side. But that's fine. We're practicing both ways. Then we have together, together. We're ready for the cross body. Slow. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick. Just one of those is enough. Quick, quick, slow. And we're ready to keep doing it. Let's check it out with some music. Thank you for joining us for the Top 10 Steps in American Rumba. And perhaps you have questions about what you learned today. Maybe you have a favorite step. Don't be shy. Make a comment below. Let us know what you're thinking. Any questions on anything. We don't know what questions you have. So ask them. And make sure you subscribe to our channel. Because that way you're going to get notifications right away if you hit the bell. If you've been watching and following our channel for a while, you know that we come up with new steps. Creative stuff. That's right. We like to keep it interesting. And we know you do too. So do all our students who come and take classes from us. Because there's nothing worse than something that's boring. You know what I'm saying? We want things to be exciting for you. So that's why we've actually organized a class for you. 20 American Rumba Steps that breaks it down into 5 little mini patterns you can memorize and practice. So when you go out social dancing, we take out the guessing game for you. So you've got to get a hold of our 20 Steps in American Rumba where we take it to the next level. We have some more beginner patterns, some intermediate, some advanced. So you can really expand your dance level just by taking the course. Totally. You have to take the course right away because if you put it off, you're going to end up putting off being a good dancer. And you don't want to do that. Most people just put off being good. And you could be brilliant as a dancer. It's not really that hard. It's just, are you willing to take action now? Just click the link right here and you can purchase Rumba Heaven. But you have got to get the course. You absolutely must get it. So it's going to really help your dancing. So get a hold of the next 20 Steps in American Rumba. We will see you there. Yeah. And 5, 6, 7, 8. Slow, quick, quick, slow. We look forward to seeing you in the next video. See you next time. Bye.