I often read on this forum about how many people dislike watching the Rumba dances on SCD and how some think they should get rid of it from the show.

I've always liked the Rumba though (probably my favorite dance) and am wondering who else enjoys watching it being performed?

Chris and Ola's Rumba was fantastic and Cherie and Jame's was magnificant last year.

I reckon an appreciation thread should be set up for Fans of the Rumba!

Me, I do!

Only of late though.

It's taken me a while to appreciate some of the slower dances (like the Rhumba and the Foxtrot) and the control needed to perform them.

Done effectively the Rhumba can be extremely evocative.

I, too, enjoyed Chris and Ola's offering. It was intimate and believable.

More recently, I enjoyed Natalie's Rhumba on DWTS. She achieved some unbelievable positions. I was blown away.

What Rachel & Vincent performed last series is going to be tough to top though.

sorry, it just makes me

reminiscent of watching people snogging on telly when you're a teenager and your mum and dad are in the room

*hides face behind sofa cushions*

The only one I love, and can watch again and again is Rachel and Vincent's sublime dance.

That for me is by far the exception, rather than the rule.

I HATE dancing the rumba with a fiery passion. My face falls when my instructor puts the music on. I want the floor to open up and swallow me. I feel like a prancing fairy elephant.

The only one I've ever liked watching is Rachel and Vincent's, and that includes professional dances.


Anyway, the reason I'm here, not to spam your thread, is to ask rumba lovers to share with me those dances you think are truly amazing, OUTSIDE Strictly. i.e. on the pro or show circuit or whatever.

I don't understand the obsession with sexiness in the Strictly Rumba. The best and most enchanting rumbas from the professional field are all based on emotion, romance and the relationship between a strong man and feminine woman. No vulgar poses included.

We were talking about Rumba the other day on the "Let's Talk About Dance" thread. I posted a few clips of the most recent pro rumbas as well, so perhaps find the thread if you want to have a look.

The best pro Rumbas I have seen are from a few years ago - I'll have to dig some out on youtube.

I adore the Rhumba - and I learned to dance it as heartfelt and romantic rather than raunchy.

It was always one of the easiest dances for me to do well in and I love it.

I also adore the foxtrot - that one was the hardest for me to get - by far the most complicated and easiest to do badly, but when it goes well, it is sublime to dance, sod what it looks like!

Agree, agree, agree

I love the rumba, and think it makes a real "mental" test for the contestants, so think it should be in all series.

My top 3 across all series are

Matt and Lilia series 4
Chris and Ola series 7
Colin and Erin series 3

I didn't know you could dance! I like you even more now!

The foxtrot is my favourite dance to watch. It is just so beautiful.

I don't like the Rhumba at all, sorry. And the very worst are the 'sexy' ones Just noooooooooooo

I'm not a fan of the Rumba in any way, shape or form.

There are only 2 that I could watch again, including pro dances: Zoe & James and Lance Bass & Lacey Schwimmer (Dancing with the Stars).

I like it when it's done well, but it's horrible when it's danced less well. My all time favourite is Colin and Erin's.

It's got to be a believable pairing between the couple otherwise it just looks uncomfortable viewing. Only one for me was Rachel and Vincent's. Also thought. James Jordan and Cherie Lunghi's was a good one.

Its all well and good when the couple is say Vincent and Rachel, but when you get your Glorias and Darrens it becomes a bit indecent. Why Gloria wasn't selected for a different dance Ill never fully understand. James and Cheries more than pulled it off, but again a Flavia and Tarby Rumba would have been excruciating..

Yuck ! Doesn't bear thinking about !

When it's done well it is a beautiful dance to watch but, unfortunately very few celebs have captured the mood with the grace and finesse the dance requires. I think most of them (particularly the male celebs]feel embarrassed. I'll never forget the clip when Ian was showing Colin a move and Colin exclaimed "you're touching her boob", to which both Ian and Erin replied in unison "yes!"

The rumba has been given bad press by SCD because they seemed to go for the more lewd aspects, I won't mention a certain game show hostess, brain bleach will be needed.

It is a lovely dance, and when my friends complain I always show them this clip of a basic rumba, I'm not saying it is the best out there just a reminder that there are basic steps that are sensual, romantic and musical. Personally I don't think you should be going for the sexual aspect in any dance unless you are a stripper or pole dancer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0E55kQCtAA

I dont know if many people will have seen it but Mel B and Maxsim did a fabulous rumba on DWTS. I never really liked it before that but it was an incredible dance. She got top marks and it was the first time I really 'got' how the dance should be. Beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6b-h3liQ9g

OMG - I haven't seen any of DWTS as I don't have the right channel, but Maksim (?) is amazing - and Scary wasn't bad either - might have to watch it again to confirm that!

I always loved Colin and Erin's Rumba especially and this year Chris and Ola were great.

However sometimes I find them too personal to watch - I watched Mad Hot Ballroom about the time Strictly started this year and was alarmed when they said the 10 and 11 year olds were going to be doing a rumba - it was of course more about basic steps, and rhythm, and actually more enjoyable than some of the simulated flirting/pole dancing on SCD - I am alarmingly with Len on this, and will now get me back to my nunnery

My favourite dance, first one I mastered and my dance teacher told me if you can master the rumba you can master any of the latin dances!

Rumba is my all time favourite dance to dance.

Also to watch... but only when it is done properly. It is one of the hardest of the Latin dances because being slower, it is essential to get the technique right, which can take months/years to learn, time which, of course, the strictly celebs don't have.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but mine tend to veer towards Len's comments about some of the strictly rumbas being far too raunchy, which, I think, gives the wrong impression of the dance.

It is a romantic dance; or when danced by older folk or the very young, it is a dance of friendship.... couples look at each other and smile, they can even tease a little. Sex or raunchiness just doesn't come into it at all.

I absolutely adore dancing the rumba, one of my favourite dances to do. I don't like the Strictly version when it veers too far to the "raunchy rumba" category but do like it danced in its proper form.

I'm learning the rumba at the moment in my dance class. I really enjoy doing it and I think I take more notice of the footwork on Strictly after doing it myself.

My favourite Rumbas ever on SCD are Austin & Erin's, Aled & Lilia's, Jill & Darren's and Chris & Ola's - they were all absolutely beautiful.

From Hayley