Origins of the Samba

Known to have originated in Brazil, and to this day exhibited in the street festivals and celebrations there, the Samba, a free spirited, festive dance, was made famous in the U.S. by the movies of Carman Miranda in the late 1930’s. This version, very unlike the original, has evolved into the American Style Samba of today. This dance has been greatly influenced by the music of the times. From the South American Bands of the 40’s and 50’s through the Ballroom Orchestras of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s to the Disco style music of the 90’s, the Samba has continued to change and keep pace with the current musical styles.

Music

Danced in 2/4 timing, the music has 2 strong, recurring, even beats.

Characteristics

This is a progressive dance, traveling around the floor in a counter-clockwise direction. A variety of rhythms are used, some with a slight “bounce” action and others with a flatter hip action or “tic”.

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