12. THE SAMBA

The Samba comes to us from Brazil. It is exhilarating and showy, also quite sensuous in its original form. The American version of the Samba is consid­erably milder than the original Brazilian dance from which it was adapted.

The Samba rhythm is very similar to that of the Polka, setting a fast pace that never diminishes. In fact the music of the Samba is very similar to Polka music, the difference being primarily one of instrumentation. The Samba is characterized by constant forward and backward movement of the lower part of the body, while the upper part of the body appears to move in the opposite direction.

Though the Samba is not quite as popular as it was when first introduced into this country, it is still popular with those who are devotees of the Latin dances.

Since its rhythm is so exhilaratingly fast compared to most Latin dances, it always affords a change of pace from the Rhumba or Tango.

The basic rhythm is one and two, moving forward, starting on the left foot, three and four, stepping back on the right foot. It is usually danced in closed position, with frequent breaks in which the partners turn away from each other.

Though there is some traveling in the Samba, it should be regarded primarily as an In place dance.

BASIC SAMBA TIME STEP

This is the time step most frequently used in the Samba. It does not travel. However, it may be used while executing a step turn in place. Study the diagrams and rhythm of the step as explained below. The figure below which shows the "and" 2 Count should occupy the same place on the floor as the figure in the center which shows the 1 Count. The three figures on each line are used so as to avoid superimposing one figure over the top of the other.

BOY'S PART:

For'd—L	Together—R	In place
1	and	2
Back—R	Together—L	In place—R
3	and	4

Girl does exactly the same as boy only she starts backward as he starts forward.

Since the Samba is a gay, lively, spirited dance in which the music is frequently played quite fast, it is necessary to keep the momentum of the body weight well under control. To do this, always lean backward when stepping forward, and lean for­ward when stepping backward.

SLIDING SAMBA TIME  STEP

This step is used for traveling. Both boy and girl do this step exactly the same way— that is, the girl must step forward at the same time that the boy steps forward. The only difference being that she steps forward on her right foot when he steps forward on his left foot, thus the step cannot be used in a closed position. The boy may hold his partner's hand and travel with this step, as his partner travels with him to the side.

Forward—L	Slide Backward—L	Forward—R	Slide Backward—R
1	2	3	4

When stepping forward on the left foot, do not allow the foot to take the entire body weight. The step should take approximately one-third to one-half of the body weight. Lean slightly backward while stepping forward. Then as the foot slides backward, the knee over the foot straightens as the body leans forward. This same movement is repeated on the right foot in exactly the same manner. Be sure that the slide back only goes about half the distance to the other foot. To slide back more than halfway to the other foot would retard the traveling feature of this step. There is no syncopation in this step as there is in the other Samba time steps. The slide backward takes the same amount of time as the step forward. The sway of the body and the bending of the knees, keeps the step in character with the other Samba time steps.

SAMBA BREAKAWAY—MOVING IN AND OUT FROM PARTNER (This is sometimes called Copa or Cobana)

After doing your Samba Time Step to the Side, while facing your partner, drift into open position, holding the girl's right hand. The boy steps diag­onally forward to the right with his right foot as he pushes the girl out and away from him. Figure 1. Switch now to the Samba sliding time step, as you slide your right foot half way back to the left foot, while the girl slides her left foot half way back to the right. Then step your left foot toward the girl, as you pull her toward you, as shown in Figure 2. Follow this step by sliding the foot backward. Girl slides back on her right foot. Now you step out away from your partner again, on your right foot as the girl steps on her left foot. Continue the sliding time step as described previ­ously. (Figure 3.) Now back in toward your partner again with your left foot, to repeat the sliding time step. The impor­tant thing to remember in this step is that you zig zag in toward your partner and then out away from her. (Figure 4.) Now face your partner, and do a side step to the right with your right foot, as the girl steps to the left with her left foot. Follow this movement by doing the Samba time step to the side. The Samba time step to the side should always be used in the transition between changes of direction. You are now ready to do your basic time step, going forward with your left foot, or you may drift apart from your partner, and repeat the above step going back in the opposite direction, as explained on the following page. Throughout the entire step the girl does exactly the opposite of the boy.

SAMBA BREAKAWAY—MOVING IN AND OUT FROM PARTNER

The important thing to note here is that in going in the other direction your partner is now on your right side as you travel. With your right hand you hold the girl's left hand.

Boy steps out away from girl on left foot, then immediately slides left foot back toward right foot while girl steps out away from boy on right foot and immediately slides right foot back toward left foot.       Boy steps toward girl on right foot, then im­mediately slides right foot halfway back toward left foot while girl steps toward partner on left foot and immediately slides left foot halfway back toward right foot.     Boy and girl do Samba time step to side, as boy steps side left and girl steps side right.

SAMBA—Breakaway into Figure 0 Turn

In this step, both the boy and girl turn away from each other to make a Figure 0, and then return to each other. The boy turns to his left—the girl turns to her right. In executing the turn the dancers may use either the Samba traveling step or the Samba sliding step, as previously described.

Boy breaks away from girl by turning to his left as he steps out away from girl on his left foot. He leads girl into turn to right by pushing her slightly away from him and into a turn to her right as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 2, boy steps forward on his right foot, as girl steps forward on her left foot. The couple have now made a half-turn and are in a back to back position.

Boy continues his turn by stepping on his left foot—girl steps on right foot. Each partner has now made a three-quarter turn as shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 4, boy steps forward on right foot completing the turn and girl  steps forward on left foot, completing her turn.

The entire Figure 0 turn requires four complete time steps of the Samba.
Partners are now ready to join into a closed position.

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