Rumba

The Rumba originates from Cuba as a typical dance of a hot climate. It has become the classic of all the Latin American dances. In its present form many of the basic figures of the dance retain the age-old story of woman's attempt to dominate man by the use of her feminine charm. In a well choregrphed dance there will always be an element of "tease and run"; the man being lured and then rejected.
Marcos (from Panama City) mjustine@marc-harris.com has recently added that Rumba is composed of three rhythms: Guaguancу, Yamb, Columbia.
When you point out that Rumba is about feminine charm it is not quite like that. Actually Rumba is a fertility dance and thorough time it has broken down into three classes (in Cuba, of course).
In Guaguancу, the male tries to "penetrate" the female and the female responds. (Of course, only dancing). In Yamb, the female just flirts but at the end "backs out" and refuses the pelvic thrust of the male dancer. Columbia is a later development and danced only in very few country towns.
I hope these clarifications will aid in the diffusion of Rumba, the most african of Cuban rhythms and in my opinion, the best rhythm to both listen and dance. Syllabus:

Bronze

Alemana

Basic movement

Closed hip twist

Cuban rocks

Cucarachas

Fan

Hand to hand

Hockey stick

Natural opening out movement

Natural top

New York

Progressive walks

Shoulder to shoulder

Side step

Spot turns

Silver

Aida

Curl

Forward walks in shadow

Open hip twist

Open out from reverse top

Reverse top

Shoulder to shoulder from hockey basic

Spiral

Gold

Advanced hip twist

Alemana with R to R hand hold

Alternative basic

Continous circular hip twist

Continous hip twist

Fallaway

Fencing

Kiki walks

Opening out to R & L

Rope spinning

Sliding doors

Syncopated cuban rocks

Three alemanas

Three threes

Underarm turns to R, L

Thanks for information "Ballroom Dancing U.K."