Cuban Rumba
By Chen Lizra, Latidos Productions

My first experience of Afro-Cuban Rumba was in Havana, Cuba. I didn't really know what to make of it! Both the man and woman performed fast rapid African movements, yet the woman's movements were more sensual and seductive. There was an evident connection between them, even though they were far apart from each other in a big space. This was new to me since in Salsa and Son the couple is in an intimate physical contact with each other. Every once in a while the crowd would suddenly laugh, reacting to something that was going on between the dancers. It was some kind of a game, but I didn't get it.

My little mystery got resolved when I started taking Afro-Cuban Rumba classes with teachers from the National Folklore group of Cuba (FNC), in Havana. I was taught that Rumba was a game of seduction between the man and woman, or as the Cuban professional dancer explained, the 'chicken dance.' What this meant is that the woman, as the hen, would do all that is in her feminine power to seduce the man! Her sensual and soft pelvic and upper body movements are intended to attract him to try and attack her, or as they say to 'vacunar' (= to vaccinate) her, like a rooster. If he succeeds, she will end up being pregnant. If he doesn't, he will try again.

As the woman moves around with grace, lightness and sensuality, she moves her arms away from her pelvic. She is teasing him, looking at him with a look that can only mean one thing, her mouth a little open and a seductive expression on her face. This is all as if to say 'It's open, come and get it!' Yet she is alert and ready for him, and as soon as he launches an attack, she blocks and shakes the energy away. The male, on the other hand, will try to decoy her, by playing tricks, such as trying to catch her attention with the
the right hand while trying to attack her with the left. He'll do anything to distract her so that he can get in.

No matter what, after she blocks, the female would use various movements to mock the male, or as they call it a 'burla' (= a joke), and will then go right back into seducing him with sensuality and softness, and the game goes on. Some even say that if the woman loses, she must spend the night with him, but so far I believe it to be a myth. But what can be said for sure is that there is a healthy sexual tension in Rumba, the kind that you wish to keep alive in your relationship for years to come.

Watching the game without understanding it is beautiful, but understanding the meaning of the movements, unfolds the whole game in front of you and you become part of it. I must admit, and I am not the first to say this, that playing Rumba is even more fun than watching it. Something about this seduction game simply brings fun, sexiness and flirting into your every day life, not to mention a great workout.