This appears to be largely due to the addition of other musical instruments to the cumbia, such as the guitar, accordion, tambora (a large, two-sided drum), maraca, conga (a Cuban hand drum), horns and the piano. [1] X Research source
Women can tilt their wrists up for a feminine flair. [3] X Research source
Pause for a beat to switch your weight from left to right.
Move your hips and torso from side to side to the rhythm as you do the steps. Mouth or count to yourself for each beat: 1 when your right foot goes back, 2 when your left steps in place, 3 when your right moves forward, and 4 when it comes to neutral. When you repeat and move your left foot back first, start counting from 5-8. [5] X Research source [6] X Research source
You can also stand beside your partner shoulder-to-shoulder and do the basic steps in tandem - either while holding one another’s waists and extending your free arms or without touching. [7] X Research source And you can integrate the steps into the original style by simply replacing them with the sliding step.
The leader will release and extend his or her right arm, and the follower his or her left. This creates an open area as both partners step back and come shoulder-to-shoulder. You also can wrap your arm around your partner’s waist as you meet shoulder-to-shoulder and extend your free arm. Or you can combine the two.
Bring your free arm toward your partner while doing this, and hold hands again. Both partners should move their hips from side to side as they dance.
Continue switching from side to side. The count will be 1 when you both step back, 2 when you place your opposite foot, 3 when your bring your other foot forward, 4 when you come back together, 5 when you move your other foot back, 6 when you place your opposite foot, 7 when you bring your foot forward, and 8 when you come back together. [8] X Research source
Continue holding hands as you step back.
Almost simultaneously the leader also lifts the follower’s right hand and arm to begin the turn.
The count is 1 when they both step back, 2 when the follower steps forward and the turn begins, 3 when the leader steps forward and to the side to complete the turn, and 4 when they come back together to neutral. [9] X Research source
This was set to a new style of music, cumbia, using the rhythm of drums (the African influence) and the melody of flutes (the native Colombians).
Today, candles aren’t used much. Instead, women hold both sides of the skirt as they wave it or use one hand to wave the skirt while the other is raised in an open arc. You can dress in the original style or the more flamboyant one of today. If the former, wear a long and colorful skirt (a bolero) and a short-sleeved white shirt. Go either barefoot or in sandals, and wear your hair back. Or you can dress as many do today in long, colorful dresses. The skirt of the dress is often made of layers and ruffles and adorned with sequins. Wearing flower headdresses or a large flower tucked behind your ear is common. Large earrings and a face full of makeup are also the norm. You can go barefoot or in sandals.
Wear white pants and a white shirt; a hat or sombrero; and a large, colorful (often red) handkerchief tied around your neck. You can go barefoot or in sandals.
