Rumba (also Rhumba)

The word Rumba comes from the verb rumbear, which means going to parties, dancing, and having a good time. The Rumba originated in Cuba and is danced in 4/4 time. The characteristic feature is to take each step without initially placing the weight on that step. Steps are made with a slightly bent knee which, when straightened, causes the hips to sway from side to side, called Cuban motion.

Rumba evolved as a faster and less refined version of the Cuban dances Son (the popular dance of middle class Cuba) and Danzon (a dance brought over by the French which became the preferred dance of Cuban high society). It was introduced in the U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s when Cuban dance bands brought their music to the U.S. and the dances followed.