The cumbia traces its roots to Colombia, but is also very popular in Mexico. This social "Latin" dance crops up every so often in the United States, too; usually it's included in the mix of salsa, merengue, bachata and cha-cha music played at so-called salsa clubs.
Cumbia music bears some similarities to salsa and the basic cumbia step is very similar to a salsa step known as the "Cuban basic." Yet despite the similarities, the two dances are distinct, and the cumbia has different body movement, and a slightly different rhythm, from salsa.
Instructions
1. Listen to the music and locate the repeating four-count pattern that forms the backbone of every cumbia song. Ignore the melody and concentrate on the percussion and rhythm instruments instead; they carry the beat, no matter what the melody instruments or vocalist are doing. If you can't pick out the basic four-count beat, try walking or clapping in time with the music until you're moving with the music instead of against it -- that's how you know you've found the right rhythm.
2. Stand facing your partner and practice the basic four-count step that goes with the music. First, the man breaks back with his left foot. In other words he takes a small step back and shifts most of his weight to his left foot. The woman breaks back with her right foot, mirroring the man's movement. This step happens quickly, on the first beat of a four count.
3. Shift your weight back onto your other foot -- right for men, left for women -- which you had un-weighted, but not moved. This step also happens quickly and takes the "two" count of a four-beat measure.
4. Take a small side step with your left foot for men, or right foot for women. This step is slower and occupies the last two beats of a four count, creating the cumbia's distinctive pattern of fast-fast-slow steps.
5. Repeat on the other side: The man starts by breaking back with his right and the woman continues to mirror him, breaking back on the left. Follow this up with a quick step onto your stationary leg-- left for men, right for women -- and then a slower step with your right leg for men, left leg for women.