Columbia
Rumba columbia dancing is a fast, acrobatic solo male dance in 6/8 time, where the dancer shows agility, balance, and improvisation—often mimicking machete fights, martial moves, or acrobatics—while dialoguing playfully and competitively with the lead drum (quinto).
- Winner: The is most elegant
- Type: Solo male dance, fast and acrobatic.
- Origin: Rural areas in Matanzas province.
- Influence: Congolese (Bantu) traditions.
- Context: Often performed during rumba gatherings or contests.
Structure same as columbia
- Intro "Llorao"
- Exchange between Singer & Coro
- Altogether "El capetillo" -> Ask for permission & Dance
Structure of Rumba Columbia (Cuban Style)
Rumba columbia is one of the three main Cuban rumba styles (alongside yambú and guaguancó).
It has a characteristic fast 6/8 meter and features a strong dialogue between singer, drummer, and dancer.
Structure
-
Diana (Introductory Call)
- Short improvised vocal warm-up using nonsense syllables.
- Invites the drummers and chorus to enter.
-
Verso / Décima (Soloist’s Verse)
- Lead singer (sonero) sings improvised or semi-improvised verses.
- Often witty, topical, or full of double meanings.
-
Coro (Chorus/Response)
- Chorus responds with a repeated refrain.
- Establishes call-and-response between soloist and group.
-
Improvisation Section
- Lead singer improvises around the coro.
- Quinto drum engages in a dialogue with the dancer.
- Dancer shows off fast, acrobatic, competitive movements.
-
Cierre (Closing)
- Lead singer signals the end.
- Often ends with a final coro repetition or a clear cutoff cue by the lead drum.
Key Features
- Meter: 6/8 (unlike guaguancó and yambú, which are in 2/4).
- Tempo: Fastest of the rumba styles.
- Dance Style: Solo male dance; acrobatic, agile, sometimes using props like machetes.
- Instruments: Congas (tumbadoras), quinto (lead drum), claves, cajones (sometimes), vocals.
Summary Flow
Diana → Verso (Décima) → Coro (Call/Response) → Improvisation (Singer + Quinto + Dancer) → Cierre
The largo, canto, or verse, is where the lead vocalist sings the main lyrical content of the song.
In Timba, the canto often contains a narrative or thematic element and is supported by the rhythm section and background vocals.
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- Coro = el Coro, canta una frase repetitiva.
- Pregón = el cantante principal canta líneas variadas o improvisadas
Lees meer >Rumba
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.
- Oldest of all, Late 1800s
- Clave blanco ( Son clave used in yambu)
- Originated in urban areas of Matanzas and 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:
