Samba - Stationary Samba Walks

Much like the Forward Samba Walk, Stationary Samba walks have similar footwork, but as the name suggests, don't travel.

With the "1-and, a, 2" counting already explained in other Samba movements, Stationary Samba Walks are often done facing your partner and in a variety of holds: the simplest of which is two hand hold (often changes slightly so that if you are facing your partner and your forearms are parallel to the floor, there is a break at your wrist so that your palms face your partner - but don't interweave your fingers!). Like the other Samba Walks, this step requires a looseness of hold in order to accomplish it smoothly... you are not going to be able to keep your partner as close to you or in one static position as you may in a lot of the other steps so far. Allow them to move a little further away and come back in towards you throughout the step... a little like breathing!

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting facing your partner, you should have your weight on your Right foot with your Left collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk).

Place your Left foot on the ground next to your Right foot (a little like a tiny march). (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Right foot pull your Left foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Dont lift your Left foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Right foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Left foot and simply use your Right foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Left foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Next, bring your Right foot forward to step beside your Left foot. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Your Right foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.


Followers'/Lady's Footwork


Facing your partner, you should have your weight on your Left foot with your Right foot collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk).

Lift your Right foot and place it down beside your Left foot on the floor. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Dont lift your Right foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Left foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Right foot and simply use your Left foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Right foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Reverse, stepping onto your Left foot as you place it beside your Right. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot behind you on Count "a".

Put part weight onto your Right foot to allow you to slide your Left foot backwards about half a foot length. (Count "2")

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- Remember that the bounce action still needs to be maintained. Every time a number is said ("1,2," etc), your knees should be bent. they need to stretch on the half beats in the middle. This is one of the hardest aspects of Samba to master.

Samba - Side Samba Walks

As mentioned in the previous Samba Walk post, Samba walks are generally done in two variations at the same time. The first is a Forward Samba Walk and the second is a Side Samba Walk. There are also Stationary Samba Walks, but right now, we are looking at the Side Samba Walk!

Counted the same as the other Samba steps with the first beat broken into half count at first and then split into quarters before taking a full count to complete the movement ("1-and, a, 2"), Samba walks are done moving around the room in the same Line of Dance that you have for the Ballroom dances. (As a travelling dance, in this Samba is slightly different from its fellow Latin Dances; especially the ones often danced socially.) The "Side" in the step name, refers not to the direction of movement generally, but the direction of the second step in the whole movement.

They are also done from an opened Promenade position - meaning that the Man's Right side and the Lady's Left are closer together and the opposite shoulder has opened out slightly so that they are both facing the side wall (with bellybuttons still trying to face each other). For now, keep your partner in hold (Men's Right hand on the Lady's shoulder blade and Left hand holding hers in front of you.) But be aware that this step requires a looseness of hold in order to accomplish it smoothly... you are not going to be able to keep your partner as close to you or in one static position as you may in a lot of the other steps so far. Allow them to move a little further away and come back in towards you throughout the step... a little like breathing!

We are going to combine one Forward Samba Walk with one Side Samba Walk, as the Side Samba Walk should only be done on the outside foot.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting in promenade position, you should have your weight on your Right foot with your Left collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk). Step forward (along the LOD) onto your Left foot and a bent knee. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Right foot pull your Left foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Don't lift your Left foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Right foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Left foot and simply use your Right foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Left foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Next, step forward on your Right foot remembering to keep your knee bent. (count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot to the SIDE, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, sideways towards the outstretched foot. ( Count "2") Your Right foot should slip side approximately half of your foot length.

Repeat as desired!


Followers'/Lady's Footwork


From promenade position, you should have your weight on your Left foot with your Right foot collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk). Step forward (along the LOD) onto your Right foot and a bent knee. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Don't lift your Right foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Left foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Right foot and simply use your Left foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Right foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Next, step forward onto your Left foot. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot to the SIDE on Count "a".

Put part weight onto your Right foot to allow you to slide your Left foot sideways about half a foot length. (Count "2")

Repeat sequence as lead!

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- Remember that the bounce action still needs to be maintained. Every time a number is said ("1,2," etc), your knees should be bent. they need to stretch on the half beats in the middle. This is one of the hardest aspects of Samba to master.

- When you take the side "touch" step, try to keep your body as much over the supporting leg as possible and be aware that your hold is going to need to give a little in order for both of you to slide slightly away from each other.

Samba - Style

The style of Samba is one that is very different from the rest of the Latin Dances. Based more on the bounce motion that is integral to the movement, Samba uses the forward and backwards movement of the pelvis in conjunction with the bend and stretch of the knees rather than purely side to side hip movement.

As many people know, Samba originated in Brazil and though formalized in the Ballroom and Latin syllabus, should still bring to mind a party spirit and a sense of fun.

One of the hardest Ballroom/Latin dances to dance socially, the Samba has a lot of movements that are done out of the closed hold and which generally require the partners to be very clear with and aware of what their partner is doing. There are tonnes of variations on the basic steps and attention should be taken to make no assumptions about which variation will be done.

One of the key elements to making the Samba feel correct is the bounce which should go down on the full count (1, 2, etc) and up on the half beat (&) or delayed until the "a" - which occurs on the last quarter beat. This bounce is then used to drive the movements and is manipulated to create the different rhythms within the dance.

Samba - Turning Voltas

This step is one that is a nice way of moving from a variety of different steps and back into a closed hold. It incorporates the Whisk step and the Voltas that have been described before and are essentially an underarm turn for the Lady.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

The Leader simply does 2 Whisks, Left first then Right.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Using the Volta motion that you have already practised, take a step onto your Right foot turning to your right. Try to take a fair amount of the turn with this step - ideally to face the wall behind you.
Bring your Left foot behind your Right, turned out, with part weight (dont put your heel down) to lift your Right foot and complete the turn to face your partner.

Then complete with a Whisk to the Left matching your partner.

Notes for both the Leader and Follower:

- Leaders, dont attempt to turn your partner for her, allow her to complete the movement naturally. Ladies, try not to move the first step too far away from your partner sop that you can remain connected to him and return to essentially your original position.

Samba - Voltas

Voltas are one of those steps that will either fall in easily or that you will have to think about a bit before they work - sort of like skipping. The basic movement is the same for either partner and can be done in a variety of different ways choreographically. To begin with, we will just look at the footwork.

Step side onto your side on your Left foot, stretching your knees. (Count "and")
Voltas move because of one foot crossing in front of the other. In this case we are going to say it will be the Right foot. When crossed, your knees should be bent and "inside" one another - the back of your Right knee in contact with the front of your Left. (Count 1 - or any other number count)

Repeat at will until you decide to change direction/hear a change in the music.

Samba - Botafogos

When you look past the slightly funny name, Botafogos are an interesting and useful Samba step. They can be used to travel or to change direction, get you out of closed hold and generally create the big frame and movement that Carnival (where Samba originates) evokes.

Both the Leader and Follower do the same movement with the feet, although generally this is done as a Shadow step - meaning that the couple is moving in opposite directions. First though, to learn, it is best to just get the footwork.

Remember that Samba counts generally as "1+, a, 2" with the first beat being split into quarters. "1+" equals 3/4 of the beat and "a" equals the last quarter. "2" is a full beat.

Footwork for Leaders and Followers

Start facing a wall with your feet together but your weight on your Left foot, Right foot on the ball of your foot. (This is an arbitrary choice as this step can start on either foot.)

Step forward in a diagonal across your body, onto a bent knee, using your Right foot. Leave the ball of your Left foot where it was, but allow it to 'turn out' (be in a position where the inside of your heel is closer to the floor). This should put you in a lunge type position. (Count "1+")

Leaving your weight over your Right foot, move your Left foot to the side to create the opposite diagonal. (Count "a") Only place PART WEIGHT on this foot as you use it to shift the angle of your body and underneath leg - in this case your Right - finishing facing a new diagonal, still in a lunge position, for Count "2".

You are now ready to step forward on this new diagonal with your Left foot into a new lunge. (Count "1+").

Swing your Right leg to the side with part weight on Count "a" and then change your body and foot alignment to the first diagonal on Count "2".

Repeat as desired!

Notes for both the Leader and Follower:

- As described above, this is an individual step, however, if done after a step such as your samba walks, you are both facing in the same direction but on opposite feet. Maintaining connection with your outisde arm (Men's Left to Lady's Right), you can each do Botafogos with your free foot, stepping in opposite directions - these are Shadow Botafogos.

Samba - Samba Walks

Samba walks are generally done in two variations. The first is a Forward Samba Walk and the second is a Side Samba Walk. For now, we are just going to look at the Forward Samba Walk.

Counted the same as the other Samba steps with the first beat broken into half count at first and then split into quarters before taking a full count to complete the movement ("1-and, a, 2"), Samba walks are done moving around the room in the same Line of Dance that you have for the Ballroom dances. (As a travelling dance, in this Samba is slightly different from its fellow Latin Dances; especially the ones often danced socially.)

They are also done from an opened Promenade position - meaning that the Man's Right side and the Lady's Left are closer together and the opposite shoulder has opened out so that they are both facing the side wall. For now, keep your partner in hold (Men's Right hand on the Lady's shoulder blade and Left hand holding hers in front of you.) But be aware that this step requires a looseness of hold in order to accomplish it smoothly... you are not going to be able to keep your partner as close to you or in one static position as you may in a lot of the other steps so far. Allow them to move a little further away and come back in towards you throughout the step... a little like breathing!

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Starting in promenade position, you should have your weight on your Right foot with your Left collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk). Step forward (along the LOD) onto your Left foot and a bent knee. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Right foot pull your Left foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Dont lift your Left foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Right foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Left foot and simply use your Right foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Left foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Next, step forward on your Right foot remembering to keep your knee bent. (count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Your Right foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.


Followers'/Lady's Footwork


From promenade position, you should have your weight on your Left foot with your Right foot collected underneath you if you have just finished the Basic Movement (or crossed behind you if you have just finished a whisk). Step forward (along the LOD) onto your Right foot and a bent knee. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Left foot behind you, simply touching the side of your big toe to the floor. (Count "a")

Putting part weight on your Left foot pull your Right foot along the floor, backwards. ( Count "2") Dont lift your Right foot from the ground or transfer your body weight back over your Left foot. Keep your head, shoulders and hips over your Right foot and simply use your Left foot, extended behind you as a stationary point that you can use to activate your muscles from. Your Right foot should slip back approximately half of your foot length.

Reverse, stepping forward onto your Left foot. (Count "1-and")

Extend your Right foot behind you on Count "a".

Put part weight onto your Right foot to allow you to slide your Left foot backwards about half a foot length. (Count "2")

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- Remember that the bounce action still needs to be maintained. Every time a number is said ("1,2," etc), your knees should be bent. they need to stretch on the half beats in the middle. This is one of the hardest aspects of Samba to master.

Samba - Whisk

Much like the Basic Movement, a whisk has the same general footwork, however it moves from side to side instead of from forward to back.

The same rules for timing and part weight apply though! You should still be counting "1-and, a, 2" and the "a" step only has enough weight given to it so that you can lift the other foot slightly off the ground.

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Step side onto your Left footwith your knee bent for count "1-and". (Try to leave your Right foot where it was; you will have to lift your heel off the ground so the leg is extended and the foot is pointed.)

Stretch your Left knee as you pull your Right foot into a crossed position behind your Left putting only part weight on the Right foot for count "a". Then replace your weight onto the Left foot putting it down where it was for Count "2".

Reverse by stepping to the side on your Right foot. Remember that your knee should be bent for this step. (Count "1-and")

Stretch your Right knee and pull your Left foot into a crossed position behind you on Count "a" taking only part weight onto the foot. Replace the Right foot where it was on Count "2".

Repeat as desired.

Followers'/Lady's Footwork

Step side onto your Right foot with your knee bent for count "1-and". (Try to leave your Left foot where it was; you will have to lift your heel off the ground so the leg is extended and the foot is pointed.)

Stretch your Right knee as you pull your Left foot into a crossed position behind your Right putting only part weight on the Left foot for count "a". Then replace your weight onto the Right foot putting it down where it was for Count "2".

Reverse by stepping to the side on your Left foot. Remember that your knee should be bent for this step. (Count "1-and")

Stretch your Left knee and pull your Right foot into a crossed position behind you on Count "a" taking only part weight onto the foot. Replace the Left foot where it was on Count "2".

Notes for both the Leader and the Follower:

- Remember that in Samba at least one of your knees should be bent on every "whole" count (1, 2, etc) to make sure that the bounce action is happening at the right times. Practice simply bouncing to the music before putting footwork in if you are having trouble combining the two.

- Keep your shoulders and upper body square to your partner throughout this step. From the waist down you can develop a figure eight sort of hip movement, but that should not affect your shoulders.

Samba - Basic Movement

(sorry for the slight delay on this one, the show i am currently doing has erased all memory of days of the week from my mind!)

Samba is one of the two Latin Dances that actually travels around the room. It is based on the Brazilian carnival dances and has a completely different hip action to most of the other Latin Dances.

the counting in Samba is also unlike any of the other rhythms that we have seen so far. In Samba the most common rhythm pattern is counted "1,and, a, 2". This is to indicate that the beats are not being broken up evenly. As the "1, and" section above is often one foot movement (but both a bend and a stretch of the knee) the counting is sometimes also reffered to as "3/4, 1/4, 1" - meaning that you take three quarters of the first beat for the first movement, a quarter for the second, and a full beat for the third.

Remember - in Latin dances there are no Heel leads! If you are stepping forward it will almost always be onto a toe! This is especially important in Samba. For this step, and to get the general movement that Samba requires, imagine you are jumping over a little ditch or stream or something with each of your forward and backwards steps. (Sounds like a silly thing, but if you have to imagine that you need to go up and over to the other side and then up and over again to come back to where you started, you will begin to get the bounce action correct.)

Leaders'/Men's Footwork

Start by going up and over (forward) on your Left foot. (count 1, and)

Bring your Right foot beside your left foot but only with part weight - do not put your heel down! Place just enough weight on the toe that you can lift your Left foot slightly off the ground on count "a" - and then place the Left foot back exactly where it was on count 2.


Reverse this by stepping backwards onto your Right foot. (count 1, and)

And then place your Left foot beside your right, just the toe on the ground, and put just enough weight on it to lift your Right foot off the ground. (count "a") Replace the Right foot where it was on count 2.


Followers'/Lady's Footwork

You are doing the natural opposite of the man. Start by stepping backwards onto your Right foot. (count 1, and)


Place your Left foot beside your right, just the toe on the ground, and put just enough weight on it to lift your Right foot off the ground. (count "a") Replace the Right foot where it was on count 2.

Next, go up and over (forward) on your Left foot. (count 1, and)

Bring your Right foot beside your left foot but only with part weight - do not put your heel down! Place just enough weight on the toe that you can lift your Left foot slightly off the ground on count "a" - and then place the Left foot back exactly where it was on count 2.

Notes for both the Leader and Follower:

- Samba is a tricky dance to do correctly; all the elements (bounce action, hip action, etc) are slightly different from the other latin dances. I would highly suggest trying to take each element on its own and try to perfect your footwork first before adding the bounce action. Get that comfortable before even thinking about your hip movement, and so on.

- Bounce action - this is a term that talks about the bounce necessary for Samba. Generally if you stand with your feet together and bed your knees on the "1" and stretch them on the "and" and continue like that, you will get the feel of the appropriate bounce action. While you do this, make sure not to stick out your bum - but rather to keep your back and hips in line and upright.