Samba dancing

Synonymous with celebration and festivity the Samba is the lifeblood of any carnival in Brazil. It is danced to the music of the same name. The Brazilian inception can be traced as far back as the 19th century and shows no sign of losing momentum.

Description of Samba Dancing Style

Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance in 2/4 time, however, there are three steps to every bar, making the Samba feel like a 3/4 timed dance.

There are many versions of the Samba, as it will vary depending on influencing factors such as the culture and geography of where it is being danced. The Samba has roots which originate in Africa; however Brazil has undeniably claimed it as a national dance. It often can become an elaborate spectacle with flamboyant costumes for an extra wow effect.

In depicting the Samba it has a set of dances, rather than a single dance, thus no one dance can be claimed with certainty as the "original" Samba style. A key element to the Samba is that the dance is done in triple time - meaning, three steps are performed in two beats.

Different Types of Samba Dancing Styles

A slew of varieties have emerged throughout the ages, with a style to suit any taste and ability level.

Many of which are detailed below:

• Samba no pe - a solo dance that is most often danced impromptu when samba music is played. The basic movement involves a straight body and a bending of one knee at a time. The feet move very slightly - only a few inches at a time.
• Samba de Gafieira - a partner dance considerably different than the International Ballroom Samba. It appeared in the 40s and it gets its name from the Gafieira - popular urban nightclubs of Rio de Janeiro at that time.
• Samba Pagode - another Samba partner dance that resembles the Samba de Gafieira but has less acrobatic movements and tends to be more intimate. It became a dance style after the appearance of the Pagode (a Brazilian style of music) and it started in the city of Rio De Janeiro.
• Samba Axe - a solo dance that started in 1992 during the Brazilian Carnival season. It is major type of dance for the North east of Brazil during the holiday months. The dance is completely choreographed and the movements tend to mimic the lyrics. It's a very energetic kind of dance that mixes elements of Samba no pé and aerobics and because of the lyrics, which are made for entertainment.

Samba Dancing Lessons

Due to its informal manner the Samba can easily be picked up without any former technique training. For this reason Samba is a popular choice for people to join in lessons as it allows for experimentation and generally has fun loving and lax attitude. This makes it an attractive option as all levels of competency are met; classes range from beginner to advanced.

As it is a fast pace, high intensity dance a general level of fitness will help, however if this is not the case for everyone its only a matter of time before the attendee will be whipped into shape as it is an all over body workout.