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Cumbia
(Colombia)

Cumbia is a traditional folk dance from the Atlantic coast of Colombia. It is a blend between European,
African and indigenous cultures. It was born on Colombia’s Caribbean coast where it was originally an
African courtship dance that evolved with the addition of African, European and indigenous instruments
and indigenous dance steps.

Music: The basic musical rhythm of Cumbia is 4/4 time signature. Both African and Amerindian
influences can be detected in Cumbia. Traditionally, Cumbia is played on drums flutes and percussion
instrument of African and indigenous origin.

Costume: Women wear long skirts while holding a candle. Men, wearing or holding a hat, dance behind
the women with one hand behind their back. The male dancers wear white shirts and pants. They carry a
red handkerchief which is either wrapped around their necks, waved in circles in the air, or held out for
the women to hold.

Formation: There are two areas in the formation. The “close area” (CA) is the space next to the woman –
the space defined by the width of her skirt (when it is held wide open by her hands). The second area is
the long area (LA). The male dancer dances in this area when the woman’s skirt is held out.

-I-
OPEN POSITION FACING PARTNER BUT NOT TOUCHING
a) ah before 1 Small flick of R ft.
b) Step back on ball of R ft, keeping L in place (ct 1); step in place with L and drop R heel (ct
2);step on R in place, keeping L in contact with floor (ct 3); pause (ct 4); small flick of L ft (ct
ah).
c) Repeat (b) with opposite footwork.
-II-
CLOSED PARTNER POSITION
Description is given for M; W use opposite footwork and direction.
a) Small step to side with R (ct 1); pause (ct 2); step on L next to R (ct 3); step in place with R (ct
4)
b) Repeat (a) with opposite footwork.
-III-
TURN AROUND IN PARTNER
Begin facing each other with a single hand hold; M L hand holding W R hand—arms extended.
a) Men does Figure 2 (a) , beginning a CCW half turn, rolling his body into his R arm, letting go of
W hand once it is touching his body. W begins to dance fwd to change places with the M.

b) Men does a Figure 2 (b) completing CCW turn to end facing W, taking the place where she
began the sequence. As he turns, she keeps her hand lightly touching his turning body so that he
can catch it and resume the hand hold after the turn.
c) Men does (a-b) once again changing places with the W. He dances fwd, pulling her in a turn
under his L arm.