Rumba A small village just outside Havana, Cuba,
lies claim to the birthplace of Rumba, a dance that combines African and
Spanish influences. As an African folk dance it was most commonly a pantomime
of a romantic relationship between man and woman where domination, teasing,
withdrawal and sensuality were key elements. Performers usually danced to the
staccato music of Bongo and Conga drums, Clave, Gourds, Maracas, Maribola and
other instruments. The tune, however, was less important than two bar simple
rhythm phrase of Clave. Rumba was a generic term covering a variety of names,
but the exact meaning differs from island to island. Yet it is a spirit and soul
of Latin America.
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