Rythms
Rhythms in Cuban Dance
Cuban dance is deeply connected to rhythm. Whether you're dancing timba, rumba or changüí — knowing the rhythm helps you move with confidence, musicality and sabor.
Explore the most important rhythms below:
Afro-Cuban
These rhythms are rooted in African traditions and are often danced solo with strong body movement, isolations and polyrhythms.
- rumba">Rumba: Yambú, Guaguancó, Columbia
- Yoruba: Danced to batá drum rhythms for orishas
- Makuta & Yuka: Powerful rhythms often seen in shows
- Bembé: 6/8 rhythm, often used for practice or Afro-fusion
Traditional Social Dance
These are the roots of Cuban partner dancing, great for timing, leading, and building musical awareness.
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Changüí
: Fast, syncopated — danced close to the ground
- Son Cubano: The classic – elegant and precise
- danzon">Danzón: Graceful and slow, with sudden tempo changes
Modern Dance
These are the rhythms behind casino (Cuban salsa), rueda, and timba parties.
Fusion & Urban
These newer rhythms mix Afro-Cuban tradition with modern styles.
- No clave">clave
- Feet not lifted of the ground
The dance features a shuffling footwork style—dancers glide their feet rather than lifting them.
- Originated in guantánamo">Guantánamo
Lees meer >National dance of Cuba, evolved from danza.
Lees meer >Cuban rumba is an Afro-Cuban music and dance genre characterized by complex rhythms, call-and-response vocals, and expressive, often flirtatious movements, rooted in African and Spanish traditions.
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- Oldest of all, Late 1800s
- clave">Clave blanco (Son clave">clave used in yambu)
- Originated in urban areas of matanzas">Matanzas and havana">Havana
- Not related to religion
- A form of collective culture
Lees meer >The dance involves a flirtatious "chase" between a male and female dancer, with the male attempting a symbolic pelvic thrust called the vacunao,
and the female using body movements to evade or accept it.
Lees meer >The following dances have their origin in Matanzas:
Cuban Dances Originating in Havana
Havana, the cultural heartbeat of Cuba, played a central role in the creation and evolution of several iconic Cuban dances. Some were born directly in the capital, while others were transformed there into the forms we know today.
Lees meer >The clave is a fundamental rhythmic pattern and organizing principle in Cuban music. It serves as both a musical pattern and a guiding concept, deeply rooted in Afro-Cuban traditions.
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