An easy Beginner line dance to teach common Samba figures and technique. This dance will help to prepare dancers in learning more advanced Samba dances that have authentic Samba figures, such as Oyeme Samba and Chica Bacilona. It should be especially useful as a stepping stone to Fantasia Orientale, an Intermediate dance which contains many of the same figures in very similar patterns.
Start on the 25th Count. - No Tags, No Restarts
SAMBA WALKS, STEP ½ TURN, STEP ¼ TURN
1a2Step R forward and bend knee (keeping L toe in original position), tiny step back with L toe, Slightly pull back R foot and step R in place.
3a4Step L forward and bend knee (keeping L toe in original position), tiny step back with R toe, slightly pull back L foot and step L in place.
1a2Step R forward and turn ½, step L in place and bend knee, no weight on R toes [6:00]
3a4Step R forward and turn ¼, step L in place and bend knee, no weight on R toes [3:00]
BOTA FOGOS, VOLTAS
1a2Cross step R over L, Rock L to L side, Recover weight to R and bend knee.
3a4Cross step L over R, Rock R to R side, Recover weight to L and bend knee.
5a6a7a84 x Circular Voltas, making a total of ¾ of a turn to R, ending at [12:00]
(Take little steps but travel in a small circle and not turning on the spot.)
WHISKS L & R, CUCARACHAS L & R
1a2Step L to side and bend knee, step on ball of R behind L, recover weight onto L and bend knee.
3a4Step R to side and bend knee, step on ball of L behind R, recover weight onto R and bend knee.
5&6&Step L to side, recover onto R, step L next to R, shift weight onto L
7&8&Step R to side, recover onto L, step R next to L, shift weight onto R.
2 BASIC SAMBA STEPS, BASIC SAMBA STEP WITH ¼ TURN, STEP, CLOSE
1a2Step L forward, step R next to L, Step L in place.
3a4Step R back, step L next to R, step R in place.
5a6Step L forward, step R next to L, Step L in place. ¼ turn to L [9:00]
7a8Step R back, step L toes beside R and slight back with little weight, shift weight fully to L and bend R knee as L heel is lowered, i.e. both knees are bent. Keep the bouncing action in these steps.
N.B. Dancers are encouraged to use proper Samba bouncing and body action when learning these basic figures, making use of the slower tempo. Remember that in most forward Samba steps, and especially in the Bota Fogo, the front knee has to bend after lowering, and, though this is difficult, try to extend the other leg by opening that hip. If anything in the description above is unclear or if more details are required, please refer to standard ballroom technique material.
Contact: dkchen1058@gmail.com
Last Update - 26th Feb 2014
Start on the 25th Count. - No Tags, No Restarts
SAMBA WALKS, STEP ½ TURN, STEP ¼ TURN
1a2Step R forward and bend knee (keeping L toe in original position), tiny step back with L toe, Slightly pull back R foot and step R in place.
3a4Step L forward and bend knee (keeping L toe in original position), tiny step back with R toe, slightly pull back L foot and step L in place.
1a2Step R forward and turn ½, step L in place and bend knee, no weight on R toes [6:00]
3a4Step R forward and turn ¼, step L in place and bend knee, no weight on R toes [3:00]
BOTA FOGOS, VOLTAS
1a2Cross step R over L, Rock L to L side, Recover weight to R and bend knee.
3a4Cross step L over R, Rock R to R side, Recover weight to L and bend knee.
5a6a7a84 x Circular Voltas, making a total of ¾ of a turn to R, ending at [12:00]
(Take little steps but travel in a small circle and not turning on the spot.)
WHISKS L & R, CUCARACHAS L & R
1a2Step L to side and bend knee, step on ball of R behind L, recover weight onto L and bend knee.
3a4Step R to side and bend knee, step on ball of L behind R, recover weight onto R and bend knee.
5&6&Step L to side, recover onto R, step L next to R, shift weight onto L
7&8&Step R to side, recover onto L, step R next to L, shift weight onto R.
2 BASIC SAMBA STEPS, BASIC SAMBA STEP WITH ¼ TURN, STEP, CLOSE
1a2Step L forward, step R next to L, Step L in place.
3a4Step R back, step L next to R, step R in place.
5a6Step L forward, step R next to L, Step L in place. ¼ turn to L [9:00]
7a8Step R back, step L toes beside R and slight back with little weight, shift weight fully to L and bend R knee as L heel is lowered, i.e. both knees are bent. Keep the bouncing action in these steps.
N.B. Dancers are encouraged to use proper Samba bouncing and body action when learning these basic figures, making use of the slower tempo. Remember that in most forward Samba steps, and especially in the Bota Fogo, the front knee has to bend after lowering, and, though this is difficult, try to extend the other leg by opening that hip. If anything in the description above is unclear or if more details are required, please refer to standard ballroom technique material.
Contact: dkchen1058@gmail.com
Last Update - 26th Feb 2014
