Samba Dance Steps

Samba Styles

Here are just a few examples of samba’s immense variety and worldwide popularity.

• Samba no pe an impromptu form
• Samba de gafieira popular in nightclubs
• The intimate embrace of a samba pagode
• The tightly-choreographed solos of the samba axe
• Mesemba
• Carioca
• A Baion
• A Batucado
• Conga
• Carnivale

Two, Four, Three -- Samba Rhythm

Regardless of the style, the rhythm of the samba is the secret to its transgressive appeal. While the music is in 2/4 time, there are three steps in each measure. More simply put, every two beats has three steps. The dance is usually performed in couples, with the partners mirroring each other's steps as they move back and forth. More advanced dancers get creative, putting in small turns, partnered twirls, and other decorative moves. Unless it’s being danced professionally, though, the real point of dancing the samba is to have fun enjoying the rhythmic connection with a partner.

The Two Basic Samba Dance Steps

To dance samba, you only need two actual steps, and they are mirrors of each other. Actually, the word “step” is a little misleading, as most expert dancers will point out that it’s more of a weight shift (or, to use a choreographic term, a “ball change”) from foot to foot. Traditionally, men will start with a Forward Basic, which the woman mirrors with a Backward Basic. Each will then reverse direction for the next two measures and repeat, going back and forth.

So what is the basic samba dance step”? Take the ladies first:

Back Basic

1. On the first beat of the music, slide the right foot back very slightly and put the body’s full weight on it.
2. Sliding the left foot back, let the weight shift subtly onto the ball of the left foot. This move is also subtle, with the left heel never even making it to the floor.
3. After the right leg rises because of the ball change, let it come back fully to the floor, the full weight coming back.

Gentlemen will begin with a forward basic, but both partners immediately follow with the opposite movement.

Forward Basic

1. On the first beat of the music, slide the left foot forward very slightly and put the body’s full weight on it.
2. Sliding the right foot forward, let the body shift subtly onto the ball of the left foot. As with the Back Basic, the right heel shouldn’t touch the floor.
3. After the left leg lifts as the weight shifts, place it back on the floor, flat and ready to go into the complementary back basic.

Feel the Rhythm of the Dance

Three steps to each basic move leads to what may at first be confusion in counting, since the music is in 2/4 time. Some teachers use a “quick-quick-slow” method to teach, but this can be perplexing as the last step is not so much a “slow” movement as a preparatory placement for the upcoming shift in weight and direction. For that reason, many people will instead use “and” set between beats of measure, counted “one and two, three and four, five and six, seven and eight.”

Unfortunately, while those are accurate representations of the dance steps, there is no way to verbally convey the real feeling of the dance without actually listening to the music and, preferably, taking a class from a teacher. The samba has also been represented many times in films such as Strictly Ballroom and Take the Lead as well as the popular television shows Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. However, these shows tend to showcase professional performing samba, rather than the kind of intimate social dancing that can be found in nightclubs all over the world.

The most effective way to learn more advanced samba dance steps is to actually go to a dance studio or local club where “samba night” is advertised. Newcomers are almost always welcomed and taught by those already experienced and in love with the dance, all around the world as the "1 & 2, 3 & 4" beat goes on.