How to Dance the Samba

Samba is dance with Brazilian origin which is danced to samba music. Samba is used both for the traditional Brazilian folk dance and the ballroom adaption of the dance. This page takes you through the steps of how to dance the Samba.

(Creative Commons photo by fabiogoveia)

• Samba originates in Brazil where it's today a symbol of the annual carnival in Rio de Janeiro. It has its roots in folk dances of African-American immigrants living in Rio de Janeiro at the time. There are two basic types of samba and many divisions. Traditional samba, or folk dance samba, is the samba danced at the carnival. It has been impacted by other dances of African and Caribbean origin, creating several subdivisions. Samba has also been adapted into a ballroom dance.

• Traditional (Brazilian) samba is a lively and rhythmical dance. It can be performed in couples or alone, but is most often danced alone in Brazil.

1. For every two beat there are three steps.
2. Samba is danced with a bouncing or rhythmic movement in the legs. The legs bend and straighten according to the beats of the music.

• Ballroom samba is an adaption of traditional samba to a ballroom pair dancing. Ballroom samba will be slower than traditional samba, but is still a fast dance for Ballroom dancing.

1. These are some basic steps for the leader when dancing samba in a pair. The follower do the opposite movement. There are many other steps. When you step forward and backward in samba the legs bounce.

2. Take a step forward.

3. Bring your right foot to your left foot.

4. Move your weight to the left foot.

5. Move your right foot back.

6. Bring your left foot next to it.

7. Transfer the weight to your right foot.

• After learning the basics of samba, you will need to either practice with someone who knows the dance or learn from watching other people dancing samba. Samba has many other movements that you can learn from instruction videos and other sources. Moreover, you need to visually see the bounce movements in samba to learn how to perform them. Consult dance instruction videos, sign up for a samba class, or let someone who knows samba teach you more about how to dance the samba.

• Samba is a lively and energetic dance, whether it's danced in its traditional form or in ballroom style. Learn the style of samba and some basic steps first, and the continue to practice and learn more samba steps and movements.

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