Dance Samba

Samba

The music has 2 beats to the bar and about 50 bars per minute. Count 1, 2 (SS) or 1 a 2 (SaS) to a bar for most step groups or figures.

Very few figures use a close hold. For those that do, the latin hold is less close than the ballroom version. The couple are often side-by-side or in shadow position with no hold at all. This makes Samba difficult to lead and most dancers learn a personalised sequence with a regular partner instead.

The style of Samba is light and bouncy - especially the 1 a 2 rhythm. Steps are usually taken onto the ball of the foot first with slight flexing of the knee. On any a count the heel isn't lowered at all.

Basics

The basic figures can use either rhythm and may or may not turn. They begin with a forwards or backwards step. The other foot is closed to it. This is either without weight (flat rhythm) or with only partial weight on the ball before transferring weight back to the original foot (bounce rhythm). I prefer the bounce basic rhythm and can't imagine anyone other than a beginner using the progressive basic figure.

	Natural Basic - flat (FP, CH)				Natural Basic Turn - flat (FP, CH)
Beat	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2
Man	RF	LC tap	LB	RC tap	RDF+1	LC tap	LDB+1	RC tap
Lady	LB	RC tap	RF	LC tap	LDB+1	RC tap	RDF+1	LC tap

	Reverse Basic - flat (FP, CH)				Reverse Basic Turn - flat (FP, CH)
Beat	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2
Man	LF	RC tap	RB	LC tap	LDF-1	RC tap	RDB-1	LC tap
Lady	RB	LC tap	LF	RC tap	RDB-1	LC tap	LDF-1	RC tap

	Outside Basic (FP-ORP-FP, CH)
Beat	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2
Man	RF	LC-1 tap	LB	RC tap	RF	LC+1 tap	LB	RC tap
Lady	LB	RC-1 tap	RF	LC tap	LB	RC+1 tap	RF	LC tap

	Progressive Basic (FP, CH)
Beat	1	2	1	2
Man	RF	LC tap	LS	RC tap
Lady	LB	RC tap	RS	LC tap

	Natural Basic - bounce (FP, CH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	RF	LC	RC	LB	RC	LC
Lady	LB	RC	LC	RF	LC	RC

	Reverse Basic - bounce (FP, CH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LF	RC	LC	RB	LC	RC
Lady	RB	LC	RC	LF	RC	LC

Samba Whisks

The Samba Whisk is a side step with the other foot closed behind and touching toe to heel.

	Left / CP Whisk (FP-CP, CH)			Right / PP Whisk (FP-PP, CH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LS	RCb+1	LCf-1	RS	LCb-1	RCf+1
Lady	RS	LCb-1	RCf+1	LS	RCb+1	LCf-1

Samba Walks

The Samba Walk begins with a forwards step for both partners (being in promenade or side-by-side). Then the trailing foot is pushed back a fraction and finally the leading foot is pulled back a fraction too. With all this retrograde motion, they don't progress very far. An interesting variation combines ordinary Walks with the Samba Walk to get a faster stalk down the Line-Of-Dance.

	Left / Outside Walk (PP, CH)			Right / Inside Walk (PP, CH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LF	RBB	LFB	RF	LBB	RFB
Lady	RF	LBB	RFB	LF	RBB	LFB

	Left / Outside Stalk (SRP, NH)					Right / Inside Stalk (SRP, NH)
Beat	1	2	1	a	2	1	2	1	a	2
Man	LF	RF	LF	RBB	LFB	RF	LF	RF	LBB	RFB
Lady	RF	LF	RF	LBB	RFB	LF	RF	LF	RBB	LFB

Bota Fogos

This is a step across the body (usually forwards), with a side-step and replace to twist back the other way. They can be danced on the spot (in promenade) or travelling (facing or crossing in shadow) down the line of dance.

	Left Bota Fogo (CP-FP-PP, CH)			Right Bota Fogo (PP-FP-CP, CH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LxF	RS-1	LSF-1	RxF	LS+1	RSF+1
Lady	RxF	LS+1	RSF+1	LxF	RS-1	LSF-1

	Left Bota Fogo (OLP-FP-ORP, CH)			Right Bota Fogo (ORP-FP-OLP, CH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LxF	RS-1	LSF-1	RxF	LS+1	RSF+1
Lady	RxB	LS-1	RSB-1	LxB	RS+1	LSB+1

	Left Bota Fogo (PP-SFP-CP, LRH)			Right Bota Fogo (CP-SFP-PP, LRH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LxF	RS-1	LSF-1	RxF	LS+1	RSF+1
Lady	RxF	LS+1	RSF+1	LxF	RS-1	LSF-1

Voltas

These are side-closes with a crossing of the foot. They follow Whisks or Bota Fogos and may be used to turn or to travel. When the couple are on the same foot, they can use Voltas to rotate together (with either a single handhold or an arm round the other's waist).

	Natural Voltas (ORP, RRH)
Beat	1	a	2	a	1	a	2
Man	RCf+1	RS+1	RCf+1	RS+1	RCf+1	RS+1	RCf+1
Lady	RCf+1	RS+1	RCf+1	RS+1	RCf+1	RS+1	RCf+1

	Reverse Voltas (OLP, LLH)
Beat	1	a	2	a	1	a	2
Man	LCf-1	RS-1	LCf-1	RS-1	LCf-1	RS-1	LCf-1
Lady	LCf-1	RS-1	LCf-1	RS-1	LCf-1	RS-1	LCf-1

	Bota Fogo (SFP-CP, LRH)			Voltas (FP, LRH)
Beat	1	a	2	a	1	a	2
Man	LF	RSB-2	LF	RS-1	LCf	RS	LCf
Lady	RF	LSB+2	RF	LS+1	RCf	LS	RCf

	Bota Fogo (SFP-PP, LRH)			Voltas (FP, LRH)
Beat	1	a	2	a	1	a	2
Man	RF	LSB+2	RF	LS+1	RCf	LS	RCf
Lady	LF	RSB-2	LF	RS-1	LCf	RS	LCf

Switch-Step

If the man dances a switch step while leading the lady into a volta turn, they end up on the same foot ready for shadow figures.

	Left Whisk (FP-CP, CH)			Switch + Volta Turn (CP-SFP-PP, LRH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LS	RCb+1	LCf	RFS-1		LSF-2
Lady	RS	LCb-1	RCf	LDFX-3	RFS-2	LCf-1

Spins Out and In

If the man dances a right whisk while leading the lady into a left volta turn, he can take hold of her left hand as it leaves his right arm. They end up in promenade in a cuddle hold (double handhold wrapped round the lady).

	Left Whisk (FP-CP, CH)			Right Whisk + Volta Turn (CP-SFP-PP, DH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LS	RCb+1	LCf-1	RS	LCb-1	RCf
Lady	RS	LCb-1	RCf	LDFX-3	RFS-2	LCf-1

Normally they dance a couple of Samba Walks in this position first. Then the man uses his right to left handhold to spin the lady out to the side and pull her back in. The man can retake the double handhold and repeat the Samba Walks and Spins. To finish the figure, the man releases his handhold as the lady spins back in, but drags his hand round her waist. He takes her right hand in his left at the end of her spin to turn her further into a close hold. Usually some reverse turns or rolls follow.

	Samba Walk + Spin Out (PP-SRP, RLH)			Samba Walk + Spin In (SRP-PP, RLH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LF	RBB	LFB	RF	LBB	RFB
Lady	RSFX+4	LSB+2	RC+2	LSFX-4	RSB-2	LC-2

Turns / Rolls

The reverse turn or Samba Roll is also known as The Bow. The rhythm may be slow quick quick rather than 1 a 2.

	Forwards Reverse Turn (FP, CH)			Backwards Reverse Turn (FP, CH)
Beat	1	a	2	1	a	2
Man	LDF-1	RFS-2	LCf-1	RDB-1	LBS-2	RC-1
Lady	RDB-1	LBS-2	RC-1	LDF-1	RFS-2	LCf-1