SAMBA
(Intermediate)

Samba is the fast and exciting Latin Dance inspired by Carnival time in Brazil. It is an Intermediate level dance. Our basic Samba step is a box step. Samba Video

Gentleman's Basic - The man steps forward with his left foot, then does a side together. Steps back with his right foot and does another side together. What's different about this about this box step is that it is very fast. The timing is properly counted "1 & 2, 3 & 4". But you want to move in your samba box step.

Lady's Basic - The lady begins by stepping back on her right, then side together. Forward on her left foot, then side together. Again, the timing is "1 & 2, 3 & 4", but we want to dance it to the tempo of "quick, quick, slow"

Technique for Gentleman - Samba is a fast dance. Here is the technique we will use for our Samba box step. There are no heel leads in this pattern. When the Gentleman begins his box step his first step with his left foot is a toe lead, as are all his steps in this pattern. Leading out with his left toe, the man wants to step onto the toe, or ball, of his foot, and then to a flat foot (we can think of this as "toe flat"). His side step (to the right) is again a toe lead and he stays on the toe or ball of his foot. Quickly, the man brings his left foot to close his feet, and this step is a "toe flat." So we can think of this as "toe flat, toe, toe flat." This is the first half of our box step.

For the second half of our box step, the Gentleman steps back on his right foot, toe lead to a flat foot (toe flat). Then steps to the side with a" toe" (only) and quickly his right foot closes with a "toe flat".

Technique for Lady - As with the Gentleman, the Lady should remember there are no heel leads in the Samba box step. The Lady begins with her right foot and steps back with a toe to a flat foot ("toe flat".) She then does a side step with her left foot and this is a "toe" only. She quickly brings her right foot to close with a "toe flat" step. So her first half of the Samba box step is "toe flat, toe, toe flat."

For the second half of her Samba box step, the Lady steps forward on her left foot ("toe flat").She then steps to the side on her right foot, "toe" only, and quickly her left foot closes with a "toe flat".

Body Technique for Both Partners - In Samba it is important that both partners remember to keep their sternum and their pelvis aligned throughout all their steps. A mistake is to lead out with your foot and attempt to follow with your body. This causes you to look awkward and lose balance. The foot and body should move as one, with the body initiating the move.

Even though Samba is a Latin dance, we do not use Cuban Motion, but rather do what is called "Samba Pulse." The difference between the two is that Cuban Motion is a smooth continuous movement, whereas the Samba movement is more like a pulse or hiccup. For example, in Rumba we smoothly transition between steps and it is counted "slow, quick, quick". But in Samba the order is reversed. We don't begin with a "slow" but a " quick", so it is counted "quick, quick, slow". This results in the hiccup or "pulse' that gives the Samba it's unique character. See the Samba Video

 

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