Is the basic box step for waltz and rumba the same?
I just had my first two ballroom dance lessons- the rumba and the waltz. It seems that the steps for the box step are the same for both. I understand the music and styling is different- but the basic box step seems the same in my memory. Can this possibly be correct or am I missing something?
There are definite similarities to the two steps.
The differences will be:
The timing in the steps, in the Rumba the forward and backward steps take two beats of music each, while the side and close steps will take one beat of music each. In the Waltz all of the steps have one beat value.
The dragging of the feet, In the Rumba the toes drag all of the time, and in the Waltz the forward and side steps are above the floor, but the close steps will be dragging of the feet.
The side step, in Rumba I always teach that the side step is an arc that starts like you are going to close your feet, and then arcs to the side. So if I was to draw the box on a piece of paper it would be a box with the outline of an eye inside, from the bottom left corner of the box to the upper right corner of the box. In the Waltz, I teach that you step diagonally to the side, so drawing above would be a box with a line between the corners.
So if in you styling and music differences, you remember the same as I described then you are correct that they are the same step.
Enjoy your new activity.
If you wanted to modify what I said, I bend to personal preference as there are many different styles and opinions on how to personalize steps. I might try to convince that you may have problems later with your modification, and I would explain why.
There are definite similarities to the two steps.
The differences will be:
The timing in the steps, in the Rumba the forward and backward steps take two beats of music each, while the side and close steps will take one beat of music each. In the Waltz all of the steps have one beat value.
The dragging of the feet, In the Rumba the toes drag all of the time, and in the Waltz the forward and side steps are above the floor, but the close steps will be dragging of the feet.
The side step, in Rumba I always teach that the side step is an arc that starts like you are going to close your feet, and then arcs to the side. So if I was to draw the box on a piece of paper it would be a box with the outline of an eye inside, from the bottom left corner of the box to the upper right corner of the box. In the Waltz, I teach that you step diagonally to the side, so drawing above would be a box with a line between the corners.
So if in you styling and music differences, you remember the same as I described then you are correct that they are the same step.
Enjoy your new activity.
If you wanted to modify what I said, I bend to personal preference as there are many different styles and opinions on how to personalize steps. I might try to convince that you may have problems later with your modification, and I would explain why.
References :
Waltz is 3/4 timing and requires the use of rise and fall while performing the basic and variations of the same.
You can perform the waltz basic as a box however this is considered a variation of the basic waltz step which is performed counter clockwise around the outside of the "Ballroom".
Rumba is 4/4 timing and requires the use of hip movement sometime equated to walking in sand to create the rhythmical movement of the hips. The Rumba Basic is in fact a box step which the variations are taken from the box step and return back to the box step.
Both dances require a good sense of timing and it is said of both that if you cannot perform the basics your performance will never progress beyond that point, no matter how many variations that you know.
Reference The Alex Moore Technique of Ballroom Dance
http://www.usistd.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=61
References :
Western Canadion 1966 Juniour Ballroom Dance Champion