The rhythmic and lively Samba usually brings a lot of excitement on to the Competition floor. The choreography
should be well balance with the right balance in static and progressive zig-zag patterns, in
general the Samba is a progressive dance. The Samba movements should reflect a "parading"
circling in space, flavour to the audience with
sometimes no travelling remaining on one spot.
Our competition Samba of today has moved far away from the originally Brazilian version of the
Samba which really whips people up
into ecstasies. By the way, the fact that it moved a way from the originally version is not a
disadvantage in my opinion, although some is left of the parading and liveliness.
What we prefer to see from the competitors, is a high flexibility of the torso, the arms
play a secondary less important part to balance the pulsating torso. Good Samba dancers are
aware of the gravity and don't fight against it to create that heaviness in weight on the
right moments.
For competitors its is important to focus on the relaxation and gravity, stress factors and
a "fighting" attitude on the competition floor are killing for a......... lively Samba.
Best Regards
Piet Rullens
Attention: This Information,
may not be reproduced without our written permission
signed: © Piet Rullens, Rullens Dance Consultancy
1996 all rights reserved For reactions and messages send your mail to:
piet@rullens.com
The roots of the Samba are in Africa, but most of the development is done in Brazil, you will
recognise the Samba from the Carnival Parties and Samba Schools in Brazil. In 1925 the Samba
was imported into Europe. Although the samba was already accepted as a competition Dance,
the great breakthrough of the Samba happened on the World exhibition in NEW York in 1939.
Europe was really captured by the Samba in 1948/1949. Walter Laird with partner Lorraine
developed he Samba enormously.
- Character: Lively, Pleasure
- Movement: Zig-zag patterns, Parading and Circling, Spatial or on the Spot
- Timing: 2/4
- Bars/min: 50 according the IDSF Rules
- Accent: On beat 2
- Competition: 1,5 - 2 minutes
- Rise and Fall: Samba bounce Action
- Dynamics: Heaviness, now and then Sudden, Flexible
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The typical Samba Bounce Action is produced by the compression and straightening of the knee and ankle of the
of the leg supporting the weight. Each compression and straightening takes a 1/2 beat of music.
The degree of bounce used is not the same for all figures, some of them have a "slight" or
"no" bounce action.
The Samba movements should reflect a "parading" circling in space, flavour to the audience with
sometimes no travelling remaining on one spot.
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I have found my personal favourites:
- Bryan Watson and Karen Hardy
- Hans Galke and Bianca Schreiber
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The CD's that flow into my mind when writing this page are the following:
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