Rumba Sequences

NB Rumba sequences tend to be danced on the 1, 2, 3+4 count rather than the proper ballroom 2, 3, 4+1 count (to go with Cha-Cha). However, in either case it's best to be adaptable and do whatever everyone else in the room is doing. That way things are less likely to end up being a mess.


Rumba One
Beat Tempo Repeat Start Author
4 28 bpm 16 bars facing, man inside Peter Varley 1971

Forwards Basic (FP, LRH) Alemana Turn (FP-SFP-FP, LRH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LF RB LS RB LF RS
Lady RB LF RS LXFS +4 RSFX +4 LS

Outside Basic (OLP-FP, HH) Outside Basic (ORP-FP, HH) Outside Basic (OLP-FP, HH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LxF RBx LS RxF LBx RS LxF RBx LS
Lady RxB LFx RS LxB RFx LS RxB LFx RS

Fencing Line (PP-FP, DH) Spot Turn (SLP-BP-FP, NH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man RXF -1 LBX +1 RS LXFS +4 RSFX +4 LS
Lady LXF +1 RBX -1 LS RXFS -4 LSFX -4 RS

Walks In (FP, RRH) Rocks (FP, RRH) Walks Out (FP, RRH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man RB LB RB LF RB LF RF LF RF
Lady LF RF LF RB LF RB LB RB LB

Cucaracha (FP, DH) Cucaracha (FP, DH) Chassé (FP-SRP, DH-RLH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LS RS LC RS LS RC LS RC LSF -2
Lady RS LS RC LS RS LC RS LC RSF +2

Walks (SRP, LLH) Walks (SRP, LLH) Spot Turn (SRP-BP-FP, NH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man RF LF RF LF RF LF RFS -2 LSFX -4 RS
Lady LF RF LF RF LF RF LFS +2 RSFX +4 LS


Miami Rumba
Beat Tempo Repeat Start Author
4 27 bpm 16 bars facing, man inside ?

Forwards Basic (FP, LRH) Alemana Turn (FP-SFP-FP, LRH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LF RB LS RB LF RS
Lady RB LF RS LXFS +4 RSFX +4 LS

Curl In (FP-SFP, LRH) Walks to Rotate (SRP, LRH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LF RB LS RFX +2 LXF +2 RFX +2
Lady RB LF RXFS -4 LBX +2 RXB +2 LBX +2

Back Check (SRP, LRH) Turn Inwards (SRP-FP, LRH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LB RF LF RF LFS +2 RC
Lady RB LF RF LF RFS -2 LC

Chassé (FP, DH) Knee Bend (PP-FP, DH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LS RC LS RXF -1 LBX +1 RS
Lady RS LC RS LXF +1 RBX -1 LS

Basic to Outside (FP-ORP, DH) Walks Round (ORP, DH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LF RB LS RFX +2 LXF +2 RFX +2
Lady RB LF RF LXF +2 RFX +2 LXF +2

Curl In (ORP-SRP, DH) Spin across (SRP-FP-SLP, LRH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LB RB LB RB LF RFS -2
Lady RF LF RFSB -4 LSF -2 RFSB -4 LC

Cross Zig-Zag (CP-FP-PP, DH) Cucaracha (FP, DH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LXF +1 RS -1 LXB -1 RS +1 LS RC
Lady RXF -1 LS +1 RXB +1 LS -1 RS LC

Cucaracha (FP, DH) Solo Turns to cross (ORP-SFP-FP, NH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LS RS LC RF LFSB +4 RC
Lady RS LS RC LF RFSB -4 LS


Queen of Hearts Rumba
Beat Tempo Repeat Start Author
4 27 bpm 16 bars facing, man inside ?

Forwards Basic (FP, LRH) Hip Twist to Fan (FP-CP, LRH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LF RB LS RB LF RS
Lady RB LF RS LXF +2 RFSB -4 LB

Curl In (CP-SFP, LRH) Stop and Go (SRP-SFP, LRH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LF RB LS RF LB RS
Lady RC LF RFS -2 LB RF LSB +2

Curl In (CP-SFP, DH) Walks to Rotate (SRP, DH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LF RB LS RFX +2 LXF +2 RFX +2
Lady RB LF RFS -2 LBX +2 RXB +2 LBX +2

Twirl Out (SRP, RLH) New York (SRP-FP, RLH-DH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LF RB LF RF LBX +2 RS
Lady RSF +2 LFS +2 RBS +2 LXF +2 RBX -2 LS

Reverse Alemana (FP-SFP-FP, LRH) Walks Backwards (SLP, LRH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LB RF LS RXB +2 LB RB
Lady RXFS -4 LSFX -4 RS LXB -2 RB LB

Chassé to Cross (SFP, NH) Walks to Rotate (SRP, LLH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LS RC LS RFX +1 LXF +2 RFX +1
Lady RS LC RS LBX +1 RXB +2 LBX +1

Hand-to-Hand (SRP-FP, RLH-DH) Cross Zig-Zag (PP-FP-CP, DH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LB RF LFS +2 RXF -1 LS +1 RXB +1
Lady RB LF RFS -2 LXF +1 RS -1 LXB -1

Chassé (FP, DH) Man's Spot Turn (SBP, NH)
Beat 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4, 1 (S)
Man LS -1 RC LS RXFS -4 LSFX -4 RS
Lady RS +1 LC RS LB RF LS


Rumba Royale (= Tango!)
Beat Tempo Repeat Start Author
4 30-32 bpm 16 bars normal hold, man facing LOD Nancy Clarke 1964

Box (FP, CH)
Beat 1, 2 (S) 3 (Q) 4 (Q) 1, 2 (S) 3 (Q) 4 (Q)
Man LF RS LC RB LS RC
Lady RB LS RC LF RS LC

Side Close Taps (FP, CH)
Beat 1, 2 (S) 3, 4 (S) 1, 2 (S) 3, 4 (S)
Man LS RC tap RS LC tap
Lady RS LC tap LS RC tap

Forwards Walks Passing + Flick (ORP-BP, NH) Backwards Walks Passing + Flick (ORP-PP, NH)
Beat 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4 (Q) 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4 (Q)
Man LF RF LF RF flick RB LB RDB -1 LdF flick
Lady RF LF RF LF flick LB RB LDB +1 RdF flick

Promenade Walks + Flick (PP-CP, CH-LRH) Counter-Prom. Walks + Flick (CP-FP, LRH)
Beat 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4 (Q) 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4 (Q)
Man LdF RxF LFSB +2 RdF flick RdF LxF RFS -1 LS flick
Lady RdF LxF RFSB -2 LdF flick LdF RxF LFS +1 RS flick

Alemana Turn (FP-SFP-CP, LRH) Alemana Return (CP-SFP-FP, LRH)
Beat 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3, 4 (S) 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3, 4 (S)
Man LS RC LS RS LC RS
Lady RSF +2 LFSB +4 RB LF RFSB -4 LBS -2

Natural Chassé Turn (FP, CH) Natural Chassé Turn (FP-PP, CH)
Beat 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3, 4 (S) 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3, 4 (S)
Man LSB +2 RC LSB +2 RBS +2 LC RSF +1
Lady RSF +2 LC RSF +2 LFS +2 RC LSB +3

Promenade Walks + Flick (PP-CP, CH-LRH) Counter-Prom. Walks + Flick (CP-FP, LRH)
Beat 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4 (Q) 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3 (Q) 4 (Q)
Man LdF RxF LFSB +2 RdF flick RdF LxF RFS -1 LS flick
Lady RdF LxF RFSB -2 LdF flick LdF RxF LFS +1 RS flick

Alemana Turn (FP-SFP-CP, LRH) Alemana Return (CP-SFP-FP, LRH)
Beat 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3, 4 (S) 1 (Q) 2 (Q) 3, 4 (S)
Man LS RC LS RS LC RS
Lady RSF +2 LFSB +4 RB LF RFSB -4 LBS -2

Content: © Susan Foord
Version: 2007-08-08
Contact: sf@pedag.org
Link to: Dance (main page)
Link to: Rumba Basics
MIDI file: Rumba Music