Rumba
Stylistic origins	Afro-Cuban music
Cultural origins	Cuba
Typical instruments	congas
Mainstream popularity	1940
Derivative forms	Columbia - yambu[disambiguation needed ]
Fusion genres
son montuno – guaracha – mambo – Afro-Cuban jazz – chachachá – guajira
Regional scenes
Cuba and rest of the world

Rumba is a family of percussive rhythms, song and dance that originated in Cuba as a combination of the musical traditions of Africans brought to Cuba as slaves and Spanish colonizers. The name derives from the Cuban Spanish word rumbo which means "party" or "spree". It is secular, with no religious connections.^[2] Rhythmically, Afro-Cuban folkloric rumba is based on the five-stroke pattern called clave and the inherent structure it conveys.^[3] Carlos Vidal Bolado (better known simply as Carlos Vidal) was the first to commercially record authentic folkloric rumba (Ritmo Afro-Cubano SMC 2519-A and 2520-B, circa 1948).^[4]

The term spread in the 1930s and 1940s to the faster popular music of Cuba (the Peanut Vendor was a classic), where it was used as a catch-all term, rather like salsa today. Also, the term is used in the international Latin-American dance syllabus, where it is a misnomer: the music used for this slower dance is the bolero-son. Ballroom rumba, or rhumba, is basically son and not based on the authentic folkloric rumba. Similarly, the African style of pop music called African Rumba or soukous is also son-based.

The term is also used today for various styles of popular music from Spain, as part of the so-called Cantes de ida y vuelta, or music that developed between both sides of the atlantic. Flamenco rumba is a genre that is entirely different from Cuban rumba.

Types[link]

• Cuban Rumba, percussion, song and dance styles that owe their origin to African slaves in Cuba.
• Rumba (dance), international dance styles that correspond to slower Cuban music, such as the bolero-son.
• Catalan Rumba (rumba catalana), is a genre of music that developed in Barcelona's Romani community.
• Flamenco Rumba, a style of flamenco music from Spain also known as Gypsy Rumba or Rumba Gitana.
• African Rumba, Inspired by the Cuban son, a style of music that originated in Congo, and evolved into soukous music.

History[link]

Cuban music is diverse in styles and background that comes from several cultures. In this area of Cuban music, Rumba is a generic term covering a variety of musical rhythms and associated dances. In this style, that includes a combination of both music and dance, vocal and rhythmic improvisation is both involved ^[5] This includes a smooth combination of music, dance and poetry to produce a unique sound and dance ^[6]

Rumba has also been described by some as a folkloric music and dance complex combination. This may because of the influences rumba has from the music and culture presented by Africans who were brought by the Spanish colonizers to Cuba to be slaves. The mixing of these two cultures, among others that later came into the culture, created a deeply rooted people.

While the syncopated rhythms are clearly of African origin, the musical framework is largely based in the music traditions of Spain. The various styles of rumba derive their melodies, patterns and instrumentation from seguidillas, copla, peteneras, jotas, soleares, malagueñas, isas, folías and their related dances.

The Africans brought over to be slaves had a history and culture that later merged with the other cultures they had been pushed into. The African origins of Rumba can be traced to two secular dances of the Bantu origin. The two influences and roots for rumba in particular being from the “Yulea” and “Makuta” styles of dancing ^[6] There are numerous other African influences in the rumba that helped shape it into what it is today but those are the main influences that are noticeable today in the styles of dance.

People of African descent in Havana and Matanzas originally used the word rumba as a synonym for party.^[7] “[Over time] rumba ceased to be simply another word for party and took on the meaning both of a defined Cuban musical genre and also of a very specific form of dance . . .”.^[8] The old use of the word is still alive in Colombia, where ir de rumba means to go out at night.

In rumba there is a dance move where the couple dancing move together and almost meet at the navel and then separate. This is similar to a dance move that the Sara people of Nigeria do while dancing. In this move done, that is similar to steps in the rumba, while dancing the Sara people has a row of boys and a row of girls. The row of boys and row of girls stand across from one another and then they move together to touch than separate from one another, then the two rows repeat this move again. This move brought by the slaves made its way into rumba and has become a part of the Cuban culture since it was more openly accepted as a dance and art form ^[9]

Emerging in the mid 19th century from the marginal neighborhoods of Havana and Matanzas, this percussion based music and dance was not widely accepted. As an energetic Afro-Cuban dance, Rumba was often suppressed and restricted because it was viewed as dangerous and lewd. Because of this, when it first emerged it was done in private.

"Initially the musical instruments of rumba consisted of regular household items: the side of a cabinet functioned in the role of the present-day tumba or salidor (primary supportive drum), while an overturned drawer served as the quinto (lead drum) and a pair of spoons played the cáscara part on whatever was available"—Peñalosa (2010: xiii).^[10]

In the 1920s and 1930s the intellectual movement known as Afrocubanismo gave roots to traditional rumba ^[11] When this afrocubanismo movement came along it helped open the doors to African rooted dancing and ways of expression. Rumba became more accepted among Cubans and was a recognized cultural expression that identified as a part of the Cuban people. It also provided the means at that point of public expression for those without representation in the media, the Afro-Cubans. Before that time the whites had most, if not all, of the control over any means expression, culture, and so on ^[12] Rumba forming and for once being able to be expressed openly gave some of the control back to the Afro-Cubans. For the rumba, an expression place for the free and enslaved blacks to congregate was also established. The enslaved blacks’ still being able to attend only after their work was done; the free blacks having fewer restrictions ^[9]

Afro-Cuban rumba, developed in rural Cuba, is still danced in Havana, Matanzas and other Cuban cities as well as rural areas, especially those with a significant or predominant African community, although now it is infused with influences from Jazz and Hip hop.

Cuban Rumba can be broken down into three basic types: Yambú, Columbia, and Guaguancó. Yambú is the oldest and slowest style that exists. Then there is the most popular style; Guaguancó. This style can be heard in songs such as "Quimbara" by Celia Cruz. Guaguancó is also a couple’s dance that is a symbolic game of flirtation that is sexually initiated.

"The male periodically attempts to “catch” his partner with a single thrust of his pelvis. This erotic movement is called the vacunao (‘vaccination’ or more specifically ‘injection’), a gesture derived from yuka and makuta, symbolizing sexual penetration. The vacunao can also be expressed with a sudden gesture made by the hand or foot. The quinto often accents the vacunao, usually as the resolution to a phrase spanning more than one cycle of clave. The vacunao is not used in yambú. The classic phrase “En el yambú no se vacuna.” (‘In yambú there is no vaccination.’) is commonly heard during yambú performances. Holding onto the ends of her skirt while seductively moving her upper and lower body in contrary motion, the female “opens” and “closes” her skirt in rhythmic cadence with the music. The male attempts to distract the female with fancy (often counter-metric) steps, accented by the quinto, until he is in position to “inject” her. The female reacts by quickly turning away, bringing the ends of her skirts together, or covering her groin area with her hand (botao), symbolically blocking the “injection.” Most of the time the male dancer does not succeed in “catching” his partner. The dance is performed with good-natured humor—Peñalosa (2010: xiii, xvi).^[13]

“I was born in the neighborhood called Simpson. You had rumba for lunch and rumba for dinner . . . so, you had to learn rumba . . . Young and old, with great respect, and consideration. It was a whole way of life. [In other words, we’re born with the rumba] and we will die with the rumba”—Chachá Vega.^[14]

Yambu is a couple’s dance as well, however it is much slower paced. Columbia is a fast and highly acrobatic solo dancing that is performed by a male dancer. The main thing that separates these three types of rumba is choreographical differences and the pace of the music ^[6]

A Cuban Rumba song often begins with the soloist singing meaningless syllables, which are called 'diana(s)'. The male dancer and singer then may proceed to improvise lyrics stating the reason for holding the present Rumba ('decimar'; span.: to make ten-line stanzas), or instead tunes into a more or less fixed song such as: "Ave Maria Morena" (Yambú, Anónimo), "Llora Como Lloré" (Guaguancó, S. Ramirez), "Cuba Linda, Cuba Hermosa" (Guaguancó, R.Deza), "China de Oro (Laye Laye)" (Columbia), "Malanga (Murió)" (Columbia)".

Rumba is now most commonly performed at informal fiestas or just in the street when the mood arises. Percussions and vocal sections make up rumba’s musical ensemble ^[6] This African derived rumba dance and music also inspires poets and in turn they also inspire the dance and chants. Some poets, including Carmen Cordero and Maya Santos Febres, have said that a “poetic portrayal of dance maintains its meaning as a vehicle of resistance.” This could be taken as pushing for change and acceptance ^[15] These ideas go well with the expression associated with the rumba when it first emerged and when it became more widely accepted by all Cubans.

See also[link]

• Conga line

References[link]

External links[link]

• Basic Steps of Rumba Dance

Michael Malitowski is a ballroom dancer, the former professional World Latin Dance Champion, with his partner Joanna Leunis. Michael (christened Michał) was born 28 May 1980, in Zielona Góra, Poland. His partnership with Leunis has, since 2002, resulted in a string of victories, culminating in the world Latin championship in 2008.^[1][2] Before that, he won the Polish Latin dance championship four times with Iwona Golczak.^[3][4]

References[link]

This article about someone associated with the art of dance is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Joanna Leunis, born 22 May 1981 in Rocourt, Liège, Belgium, is a professional ballroom dancer. With Michael Malitowski, she is a former professional World Latin Dance Champion and International Latin American Dance Champion; the couple represented Poland until 2011, representing England from then on. As a young person of 8, she suffered from a blood disease similar to leukemia, but recovered after over a year in bed.^[1] She is a well-educated woman who speaks French, English, Dutch and German, and is working on learning Italian. She has training in ballet, tap and standard ballroom as well as latin dances. She had several partners before Malitowski: at 18, she won the World Amateur Latin Championship, with Slavik Kryklyvyy.and later on she won the WDC World Professional Latin Championship for 2 consecutive years (2008-2009)and now she enjoys her victory in last years competition in Blackpool 2011 and WDC World European Championship (Professional division)2011.And now she won in Uk Professional Latin Championship 2012. She is looking forward for the WDC World Professional Latin Championship 2012 that will be held in Innsbuck, Austria and get back her crown as the world Champion.

Her record in partnership with Malitowski includes wins in all the most important latin dance championships.^[2] As competition dancers, they specialise entirely in the latin dance events.

References[link]

Slavik Kryklyvyy (Vyacheslav Kryklyvyy, Ukrainian: Славік Крикливий, Вячеслав Крикливий) (born Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union^[1]) is a professional ballroom dancer specializing in International Latin. Born and raised in Ukraine, he is currently residing in New York, USA.^[1]

He and Joanna Leunis were amateur world champions in International Latin. In 2000 the couple took first place in the IDSF World Amateur Championship, the British Open (Blackpool), the ARD Masters Gala (Germany), and the IDSF European Latin Championship.^[2]

After becoming a professional dancer, he won a number of competitions with various partners.His longest and therefore most successful partnership was with Karina Smirnoff, who he split with in 2005 to dance with Elena Khvorova. ^[3]

He was credited in the 2004 film Shall We Dance? as the current Blackpool partner of Paulina (Jennifer Lopez) and as dance instructor.^[4]

He won second place in the 2006 and 2007 World Championships with Elena Khvorova.

In 2009, Slavik Kryklyvyy partnered with Anna Melnikova (dancer), representing Russia in the international arena. Slavik and Anna were guest competitors as Show Performers ^[5]

Slavik and Anna were the subject of a feature documentary "Ballroom Dancer". Directed by Christian Holten Bonke & Andreas Koefoed. It premiered all over the world, most recently in Tribaca Film Festival in NY. The plot of the film has been described by the directors as follows:

"The former world champion Slavik Kryklyvyy is making his comeback with his younger partner and girlfriend Anna Melnikova - a comeback that turns out to be much more painful than he expected. Slavik (34) is making his final comeback as a professional dancer. When he came on the scene, he was the fastest rising star in the history of ballroom dancing making it to world champion in a little over a year. Unfortunately, Slavik has been unable to maintain long-term partnerships, which has kept him away from the competition floor for a long time. Now, with his new dance partner and girlfriend, Anna, he has his mind set to regain lost ground and once again become the best dancer in the world. However, they are up against Michael & Joanna, the renowned world champions who seem stronger than ever. Slavik also suffers from severe hip pain and soon it becomes a question if Slavik and Anna’s relationship will survive the fight to the top as the pressure grows and former personal conflicts start to reappear.''" ^[6]

The pair split up in October 2010.

Slavik has been dating Daria Chesnakova who used to dance with Valentine Chmerkovski (dancer) , who has retired to dance on the show Dancing with the Stars (show). Slavik is rumored to have partnered with Daria. Their very first appearance was at Sunshine State Dance Competition where they have performed together.

References[link]

Karina Smirnoff
Karina Smirnoff in 2008
Born	Karina Smirnova (1978-01-02) January 2, 1978 (age 34) Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Occupation	Dancer

Karina Smirnoff (Ukrainian: Карiна Смiрнова; Russian: Кapинa Cмиpнoвa; born Karina Smirnova; January 2, 1978) is a Ukrainian^[1] professional ballroom dancer. She is best known for her appearances on Dancing with the Stars, where she held a runner-up title, a semi-final title, and several quarter final titles. Smirnoff finally became the champion professional partner in the thirteenth season, when she was partnered with army veteran and soap opera star J.R. Martinez.

She is also a five-time U.S. National Champion, World Trophy Champion, and Asian Open Champion. Smirnoff has won the title at the UK Open, is a three-time champion at the US Open, two-time champion at the Asian Open, five-time champion at the Dutch Open, and five-time US National Professional Champion. She has taken second at the British Open Blackpool Dance Festival^[2] and she is the first woman to also ever make the "British Professional Final" with three different partners.^[3]

Biography[link]

Smirnoff was born Karina Smirnova in Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union on January 2, 1978. When she was five years old, she began taking ballet lessons, followed by gymnastics, aerobics, figure skating, ballroom dancing and piano.^[4] She chose to pursue ballroom dancing. In 1992, Smirnoff immigrated to the United States.^[5][1]

Education[link]

Smirnoff attended Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis, MO and Christopher Columbus High School in New York and the Bronx High School of Science^{[citation needed]} before going to Fordham University, during which time she picked up her interest in dancing again. Smirnoff graduated from Fordham University with a double major in economics and information system programming.^[2] During her academic studies, Smirnoff's goal was to go to law school and become an attorney. However she later came across a dance school in Brooklyn, New York, and after some time there dancing became her profession.^{[citation needed]}

Career[link]

Early in Smirnoff's dancing career, she and Roman Nabatov competed as an amateur couple for USA. They ended their dance partnership in January 1997.^[6] Smirnoff soon after started dancing with Paul Killick in October 1998 as a professional couple for England; this partnership ended in July 1999. Immediately, Louis van Amstel and Karina Smirnoff, in July 1999, entered a professional dance partnership, representing the U.S.A; the partnership ended in December 2000.^[7] From January 2001 to September 2005, Smirnoff was in a dance partnership with Slavik Kryklyvyy and they represented the U.S.A; this partnership thus far is her most successful one. Kryklyvyy and Smirnoff earned numerous top titles and high ratings together.^[8]

Her last professional partner recorded in competitions was Dmitri Timokhin representing Russia in October 2005. They won first place at the 2006 Grand-Prix Dynamo in Moscow.^[9] They finished dancing together in June 2006.^[10] Smirnoff was the project manager/director of a dancing event entitled "Day & Night", held on November 18, 2006 at the Hollywood & Highlands Grand Ballroom.^[11] She is featured in a nude pictorial in the May 2011 American issue of Playboy magazine.^[12]

[edit] Dancing with the Stars

Smirnoff was a performer on the third season of the ABC series Dancing with the Stars with celebrity partner Mario López. They finished in second place, losing to the team of Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke. Smirnoff returned to the show on March 19, 2007 for Season 4, this time partnered with Billy Ray Cyrus, country singer and Hannah Montana star.^[13] The pair was the seventh to be eliminated from the competition on May 8, 2007. Her partner for Season 5 of the show was current five-division world champion boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. On October 16, 2007, Karina and Floyd were the fourth couple eliminated from competition and came in 9th place. She returned for Season 6, partnered with singer Mario and finished in 5th place. In Season 7, she was partnered with chef Rocco DiSpirito and they were the fourth pair to be eliminated with a finish of 9th place for the second time.

For the eighth season, Smirnoff's partner was Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak. They were eliminated in the fourth round on March 31, 2009, along with Holly Madison and her partner Dmitry Chaplin. For the ninth season, she was partnered with singer Aaron Carter. They were eliminated on November 10, 2009, placing fifth. In the eleventh season, she was partnered with The Situation from MTV's reality TV show Jersey Shore. They were eliminated in the fourth week. In the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars, she was partnered with movie star, Ralph Macchio. They were eliminated in the semi-finals.

Smirnoff appeared on the thirteenth season of Dancing with the Stars, where she was partnered with All My Children actor J.R. Martinez. Smirnoff and Martinez ended up winning the competition against Cheryl Burke and Rob Kardashian, who was known for his family's television show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. This was the first time Smirnoff had advanced to the finals since her inaugural season in season 3 with Mario López. For the fourteenth season of Dancing With The Stars, Karina was partnered with singer Gavin Degraw. They were eliminated in week 5.

Performances[link]

[edit] With Mario Lopez (Season 3) 27.6

[edit] With Billy Ray Cyrus (Season 4) 19.0

[edit] With Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (Season 5) 20.8

[edit] With Mario (Season 6) 25.4

[edit] With Rocco DiSpirito (Season 7) 17.8

• Would have been eliminated but wasn't due to Misty May-Treanor's injury and forcing her to withdraw from the competition.

[edit] With Steve Wozniak (Season 8) 13.0

[edit] With Aaron Carter (Season 9) 24.0

• Score was awarded by stand in judge Baz Luhrmann.

[edit] With Mike Sorrentino (Season 11) 16.2

[edit] With Ralph Macchio (Season 12) 23.4

*Donnie Burns was a guest judge

[edit] With J.R. Martinez (Season 13) 26.4

Week #	Dance/Song	Judges' score			Result
		Inaba	Goodman	Tonioli
1	Viennese Waltz/ "Breakaway"	8	7	7	Safe
2	Jive/"Jump, Jive An' Wail!"	7	7	8	Safe
3	Rumba/"If You're Reading This"	9	8	9	Safe
4	Foxtrot/Theme from "The Pink Panther"	8	9	9	Safe
5	Samba/"Conga"	9	9	10	Safe
6	Quickstep/"Hot Honey Rag" from Chicago Group Broadway Dance/"Big Spender" & "Money Money"	10 No	9 Scores	10 Given	Safe
7	Tango/Theme from "Ghostbusters"	9	8	8	Safe
	Team Tango/"Disturbia"	8	7	8
8	Waltz/"What the World Needs Now"	10	10	10	Safe
	Jive/"Tutti Frutti"	10	10	10
9	Paso Doble/"Theme from The Legend of Zorro"	8	7	8	Last to be called safe
	Argentine Tango/"Bust Your Windows"	9	9	9
	Cha-Cha-Cha Relay/ "I Like How It Feels"	Awarded	6	Points
10	Cha-Cha-Cha/"Let's Get Loud [disambiguation needed ]"	8	7	9	WINNERS
	Freestyle/"Whine Up"	10	10	10
	Jive/"Jump, Jive An' Wail!"	Awarded	28	Points
	Samba/"Shake Your Bon-Bon"	10	10	10

[edit] With Gavin DeGraw (Season 14) 21.4

Smirnoff has appeared nude in a PETA advertising campaign -with the tagline "I'd rather dance naked than wear fur".^[14][15]

Smirnoff has appeared nude in the May 2011 issue of Playboy.

Personal life[link]

Smirnoff dated her DWTS partner Mario Lopez from 2006 to June 2008. After Lopez, she began dating fellow Ukrainian and Dancing With the Stars dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy in the summer of 2008. They announced their engagement on December 31, 2008, but broke up in September 2009 before they got married.^{[16] [17][18]}

In October 2009, Smirnoff began dating MLB pitcher Brad Penny. The couple became engaged on October 4, 2010.^[19] The couple broke their engagement in December 2011. ^[20]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Karina Smirnoff at the Internet Movie Database
• Official website
• Dancing With the Stars profile
• Slavik Kryklyvyy & Karina Smirnoff - Innovation
• Karina Smirnoff starring in CWTS, June 3-10, 2012
• Karina Smirnoff Interview