The Samba is an Afro-Brazilian dance from Bahia, Brazil; the word Samba (or Mesemba) means “to pray.”  It is derived from a dance called Lundu, West African Slaves, Portuguese Songs and Indian rituals.  This early form of Samba (Mesemba) later mixed with Maxixe during the 1900’s and became known has Samba.

The Maxixe (Brazilian Tango) came from Rio de Janeiro in the 1870’s and was the first Brazilian folk dance to come to the United States in the 1910’s.  Later, the Carioca Samba, a ballroom version, became popular in the U.S. in 1933 largely through the choreography of Fred Astaire for the film “Flying Down to Rio.”

Some Types of Samba Dance Defined:

Samba de Gafieira, Samba–no-Pé, and Samba Pagode.

Samba de Gafieira

Samba de Gafieira is danced completely different from International Ballroom Samba. As an original Samba, Samba de Gafieira gets its name from the popular urban nightclubs of Brazil called "gafieiras." These gafieiras produced their own particular syncopated style of Samba music called Samba-choro or Gafieira samba.  Samba de Gafieira dance is characterized by its rhythm, timing, lead, attitude and musicality.  Because of its grace and Tango-like movements, it is easy to see why many see this form of Samba as a combination of Waltz and Tango.

In recent years, Brazilian dance teachers have been working on their own Brazilian dance syllabus; this syllabus, like American Ballroom, is divided into the categories of Bronze, Silver, and Gold. As a result of a poll in Rio de Janeiro in July 2001, a set of primary figures was chosen for the purpose of teaching and competing.

Samba-no-Pé

Samba no Pé (“samba on the foot”) is the dance made famous by the Samba Schools which dance every February during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.  This very fast-paced and stylized Samba is danced solo using basic hip-moving steps and improvisation.

Samba Pagode

In Brazil, the word “pagode” is used to describe a type of outdoor party with food, drink, music and dance.  During the 1970’s, the pagode (parties) became a good venue through which samba musicians could promote their music.  This commercially successful form of Brazilian music fueled the popularity of this new Samba dance known as Samba Pagode.