The Brazilian cultural is rich in colors and is known for its sparkly display of cheerful traditions. The samba dance was imbued into the Brazilian culture somewhere in the 19th century and has been becoming popular ever since then. It is basically a set of different types of moves with no set pattern. Yes, this is the definition of a samba dance. Samba dancers adorn themselves in rich sparkly bright colored dresses and entertain the audience.
Samba music
The music to this dance has the key notes of strings. Different types of guitars are played along with a Brazilian drum called tamborim. Together, this combination is a typical samba music which stimulates the samba dance moves.
Samba moves
As mentioned earlier, this particular dance does not have a defined dancing pattern and so it includes various steps
• Maxixe: This dance is actually the origin of samba. It is similar to a tango as both of them originated in the same time period. Samba got its elements mainly from maxixe.
• Samba no pé: This is one form of samba which is danced spontaneously. It is an impromptu performance as soon as the samba music is played. Mostly the feet are moved and one knee at a time is slightly bent according to the rhythm of the music. The pace of the dancers depends on the kind of beat that is being played.
• Samba de Gafieira: Unlike no pé, this is a couple dance, that is most similar to the tango moves. The legs are intertwined and the couple moves to the musical notes of the Choro. This style is particularly named after the famous clubs of Brazilian capital.
• Samba (ballroom dance): This is the modern version of the samba. Some of the elements are still retained in this style. Either the beat of the music is same or sometimes the dancers move about in a typical Brazilian style. This type is not restricted to any set locality but is famous now in other cultures as well.
Samba dancers
The dancers who move about on the tunes of the samba music accessorize themselves in masks, body paints and glitters. They also wear feathers in their hair and the glint of their clothes enhances the glistening performances. In the Brazilian parades and carnivals, these dancers, mostly from the samba schools, gather together and put up an interesting display of the Brazilian culture. Foreigners visit the cities of Brazil during these large carnivals to enjoy this traditional feast of the body and soul.
Afro Latino Dance Company 