Latin America / Brasil
“The samba” The dance that wakes up Carnival in Brazil
Despite the fact that carnivals are known worldwide for their costumes and samba parties, none is as good as the carnival that takes place in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, especially in the Sambadrome, known for being one of the largest open-air spaces in the city. city where one can hold big events.
The Brazilian Carnival or the Carioca Carnival is a great event where Brazilians and tourists meet to dance and see the great festivals offered by the different dance academies and/or samba studios where the evaluation of each one will depend on the rhythm, participation, costumes and the originality of the parade.
Samba is the national music of Brazil, which has Afro-Brazilian origin of 2 times 4 times but the beginning was specifically in Angola before reaching Brazil; It currently has a style that has currently received many fusions and is very varied.
To learn to dance it, one begins with the progressive basic movement that consists of the normal basic step and the lateral basic step (left and right, front and back), then the whisk step that consists of the variation of the lateral basic step and instead of carrying the other foot next to the leading foot, you will take it backwards if you want to know all the details of this step visit the following page (https://es.wikihow.com/bailar-samba), the next step is the stationary walk of samba where the person who performs it in a closed position holding the partner with both hands, unlike the position explained at the beginning; the arms should be extended.
The leader will have his left leg extended behind him, while the follower will have the same position but with his right leg behind him, the inside leg will be the one that stabilizes him and in this way the couple will not move and will stay in one place.
The samba walk is the displacement that is carried out in a very similar way to the stationary one, but in a walking position; it is very similar to the closed one, but it forms an open “V”; the left side of the leader and the right side of the follower should be slightly turned outwards so that the opposite sides of both are next to each other. To perform this move, start with your outside leg diagonally behind your inside stabilizer leg.
One of the secrets so that the movement reflects the essence of this music is the “rebote” between one step and another, there must be a fluid transition that engages the whole body and to achieve this it is possible to think that we are constantly stepping on different objects that appear in our way and that we quickly try to lift our foot so as not to break them. It is very important that this bounce is expressed with the whole body, and not just with the legs.
Among the recommendations to perform an effective and great dance is concentration and looking forward over the shoulders of your partner.
Among the many benefits that dances give, Samba has certain privileges not only physically but also psychologically.
- On a physical level:
- Strengthens the legs, as it tones them since the movements are very fast and continuous.
- Flat stomach, since in the dance they must have the abdominals contracted and the body stretched.
- Slims the hip for extensive movements.
- On a psychological level: it releases stress since the person plays sports by practicing it, in such a way that it helps the body to release tension, resulting in fun and relaxation.
Now that we know more about samba and its influence on carnival at an international level, can we say that it is a single style? Well, no… Did you know that the “Carnival” differs in the different ways in which it is carried out or developed in each city?
It is true that there are many traits in common, such as their origins and motivations. One of the most attractive characteristics in Brazil is that it takes place in the open air, which means that the visitor has a more active participation at a lower cost and can dance and enjoy the shows and/or shows that take place during the marches.
by the academies with their dancers wearing their best costumes and Samba steps as well as the allegorical cars and also the public can enjoy and see the electric trios (they are musical groups that travel the city in equipped trucks playing music) at street parties river; and not only in “Rio” it is celebrated but it can be found in Recife and Olinda, in Salvador de Bahía, the city where Samba was born – Florianópolis, among others.
These cities have an architectural beauty that seduces the visitor and transports them historically both historically and culturally.
If you want to have your own experience, do not miss the next carnival in Brazil 2020 that will take place from February 21 to 26, you can buy your tickets here https://www.carnavales-brasil.com/rio-brasil/carnaval /tickets-tickets/dates-2020/buy .
- Maite Hontele - June 23, 2025
- Azúcar Latin Dance Company - June 23, 2025
- Kizomba Conquering the World of Salsa - June 20, 2025