I think it can be a beautiful dance. That said, I think that because of the limitations of the celebs, the pros put in too many posing bits and not enough dancing bits. I would like to see it replaced with something else - what? I am not sure.

Well said VL. I totally agree with you.

When it's good, it's very very good. I've enjoyed James's with Cherie, Zoe and Pamela.

Never liked the dance I hate it

And it's so sad that the rumba has such a bad image. One reason I decided to learn latin american, rather than just ballroom, was that I remember seeing a couple dancing it when I was on holiday (usually rumbas on cruises are dire) and it was so beautiful. Nothing complicated either. I remember seeing them dance the fan into hockey stick and fan into alemana, and thinking what beautiful and graceful moves they were.

It can be beautiful and romantic, and it isn't boring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrdpR...eature=related

I think it's a beautiful and much needed contrast to the fast Latin dances. And when it's done well, it's one of the most captivating and moving dances to watch.

Rachel, Chris and Cherie's Rumbas have stayed with me. I never tire of watching them.

Well I will have to check some of those out when I have time but the way it was performed last night leaves me seriously underwhelmed.
I think Latin dances above all come alive with some authentic latin music which was sorely missing from last night.

Never like the Rumba and never will. Very few have worked on the show. Few male celebrities get it right and for the females, it seems to me, it appears to be all about looks and legs.

Having said that, it's all about individual tastes and so I wouldn't necessarily want it dropped from the show. I have a fast forward button after all.

Thanks for that link VL.

Have a look at this one:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye5Gd...eature=related

They start dancing at about 1.40

If the SCD professionals concentrated on a performance like that for their celebs, I think it would look far better.

Hope the link works.

Thanks! That is much much more appropriate than the link I posted (which was for a very showy rumba which is more what the celebs try to do at the moment, not very successfully) I tried unsuccessfully to find a rumba which had nice classic silver level steps performed beautifully and this one is a great example. I completely agree that this is exactly the sort of rumba that the celebs should be doing.

Wasn't Erin and Colin's Rumba quite good too?

This is the comment of a non-dancer so apologies if it annoys anyone who knows about dancing. But what I dislike is that on SCD it has to be the 'raunchy rumba'. They make it all about the sexual chemistry of the couple, so that all the celebs have to put on this 'sexy' dancing that usually seems very fake and can be really embarrassing. I can't see why you can't do the steps of the rumba but have more flexibility in the mood of the dance. I mean, I find it annoying that almost all the quicksteps were danced to pop songs, but if that's OK why is not OK to play with the mood of the dance depending on the personalities of the dancers? People have different ways of being romantic, and I find the way the programme talks about the 'dance of lurrve' makes it feel tacky before they even dance.

I think it is hampered by the show's adolescent attitude to sex. Any dance with any romantic or sexual content is greeted with a chorus of sniggers and Vincent waggling his eyebrow about like we're in a Carry On film. It's tragic. Maybe when the show grows up a little celebs will be less awkward dancing it.

Thank you so much for posting this - it's really lovely. I bumped into Carmen the other day, at Matt Cutler's studio and she is just as beautiful as ever.

I wondered if any other rumba lovers might enjoy this really classic and simple performance - I think it's stunning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn2x1eA4xSE

Will say though, on the subject of whether to bin it or not, I'd like it to be kept in.

It is my favourite dance, but that aside, I think to keep it in might give us some idea of the kind of control the contestants might or might not have, with a much slower dance like this. It's extremely difficult to do well.

I do accept though that often on Strictly it makes poor tv with some of the efforts!

On balance, I'd vote to keep it.

Yes, the dancers might need to get more comfortable with themselves before doing this dance.

The professioneals can mask some of the contestants' early incompetence with some of the ballroom and Latin dances, but in the Rhumba it shows....

Pamela's Rumba - another example of why they should keep it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AnNfK4wajo

Noo! Rumba is one of the '10 dances', so if they had to bin anything, it should be either salsa, charlston or rock and roll I personally love the rumba, and when it is done well it looks gorgeous!

I've only liked 6 rumbas on the show:

Chris & Ola
Zoe & James
Cherie & James
Pamela & James
Rachel & Vincent
Matt & Flavia

They're not in preference order, btw.

When it's done well, it is a lovely dance. I also love watching cross-over dances like the Foxtrot/Rumba Flavia and Vincent used to have in their cabaret, but obviously that wouldn't work on Strictly (although we had a lot of Foxtrot/Tangos last week!).

I do usually enjoy watching the professionals do the rumba more though, every year I look forward to James and Ola's rumba to a celeb guest, they are just magical when they dance it, it's fabulous

The trouble with the rhumba on the programme I think, is the music they use. The music and rhythm should be the kind that you can't resist moving to. Does no one else think this?

No, I like it in the show. Rachel and Vincent's was the best, especially the one they danced in the final. I thought Brendan's choreography was actually the nicest last night, but Michelle didn't quite do it justice. I think Vincent heard Karen Hardy praising his cha-cha choreography for Felicity after week one, saying how clever he was for showing everyone how supple she could be. So we got more of it in the rumba, and it just looked like Felicity was doing stretch exercises in a gym class, concentrating so hard that all feeling of romance and tenderness failed to come through.

Yes, absolutely. So many of the rumbas they use don't have any beat to them, and most are too slow.

It would be SO SO nice if they used a proper rumba song, such as this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaet-tDyHbc

or this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXbcdvvN1Gg


Or even used pop songs which actually fit the beat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i79fFwh3JbU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eul_Vt6SZY&ob=av2e

Now thats exactly what I meant. I was sitting on the sofa when I clicked on it and couldn't help moving to the beat - I almost got up to dance. It really tells you how to move.

I'm always amazed that the judges don't comment on the choice of music.

Sometimes watching a routine you didnt particularly enjoy first time, can have an altogether different effect on second viewing. I was totally underwhelmed by Pamela and James on Saturday and I have to say, watching the routine again I feel even more underwhelmed. Did it last 30 seconds? It felt over before it had even begun and the aeroplane lift at the end...what was James thinking? Still at least he conceded it didnt work when Len pulled him up about it.

Sorry fatskia, I am aware I am a lone voice when it comes to Pamela's Rhumba.

On the otherhand...


Oh my gosh, I can't breathe, that was fabulous! I loved that Anna sang her way through it (though it does annoy Craig) and the ability to translate something so private to a public audience in a way that isnt awkward is a real art. I can really see Matt and Aliona pulling this off to a great celeb/pro standard.

Thank you, I shall watch that again and again.

I love it. My favourite up till now was Cherie and James.