The Samba

The Samba

You can't say Brazilians don't know how to party! The semi-official dance of Carnival, every Fat Tuesday (which we know as Mardi Gras) thousands of people from Rio de Janeiro to New Orleans Samba in the streets. Mardi Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday, a day of repentance for sin and the beginning of Lent in the Catholic Church. Since you have 40 days to repent for your sins, the Brazilians figure you might as well go out with a bang and enjoy the night before. They did and this they do, every year.

The Samba is danced at a variety of festivals but none quite so dramatic as Mardi Gras, where the dancing lasts for many hours. This is quite a feat considering the frantic pace of the dance. In fact, Samba dancers are considered athletes, many of whom see themselves as dancing for God. The Church may not have much influence in a Times Square nightclub, but the Samba is just as frenetic in New York, San Francisco, and around the world. The dance is a celebration in itself.

The United States first learned about the Samba from Street Carnival, a Broadway musical of the 1920's. The most memorable performance, if also the most bland, no doubt was offered by Carmen Miranda in That Night in Rio. Released in 1941, she dances to Chica Chica Boom wearing the fruit-laden hat that later inspired the great Chiquita Banana Watch a video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Vh3_vo0Q4. It must be nice to wear your lunch on your head in case you get hungry.

Oddly enough, despite the overtly sexual nature and speed of the dance, the Samba was not condemned as so many other dances were when first introduced - including the Waltz (how offensive)! Perhaps due to its quasi-religious nature and its place within the Church calendar, Samba schools flourish in the poorer areas of Rio De Janeiro. Neighborhood groups work together on the elaborate costumes all year in preparation to adorn their representatives in high style for Mardi Gras. There are contests and prizes for the best dancers, costumes, etc., but the work is done more as a matter of pride. The Samba represents the joy of life, but also the community and the neighborhood.

As a festival dance, the Samba is usually performed solo, but it is also a partner dance with competitions throughout the year. The style is smooth and fluid, and although the music is played in 4/4 time, the Samba is counted in 2/4 time and danced in triple time so there are three steps for every two beats. Versions of the Samba include the legendary Conga, as well as the Carioca, Mesemba, Samba de Roda, Samba Reggae, and of course, Carnival. The ballroom version is performed much like a Waltz with a very lively bounce. Rather than the traditional count and box step, however, the Samba is danced in a one-and-two, three-and four tempo with a ball change step rather than a march step.

The Samba is not very difficult to learn, although it requires a fair amount of energy. There are many dance studios that teach the Samba and many clubs where you can dance. So get started now and save up for that plane ticket to Rio next Mardi Gras!