Okay so in my research I learned that Clara Nunes, Alcione, and Beth Carvalho are the holy trifecta of Sambistas (samba singers) and their music and voices are indeed powerhouses. Yet my teacher says the music is not samba. But research through wikipedia and through Samba CDs like O' Samaba clearly indicate that it is.

The issues for me is that I want to know what dance to do to this music but if it's not samba (ballroom or street) then what the heck is it?

Here is a link to a sample Clara Nunes song. It should be the first song on the playlist.

http://www.mixpod.com/playlist/23746798

Thanks for you help!

Hi there Bear, this is very simple actually, the timing to wich you dance Samba is "and one and two, and one and two"

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Very true Simba,

However that count pattern is only in the ballroom world and can vary if the dancer hasenough skill. There are many variations on the dance and the true forms of Samba as danced in Brazil are not identical to those you will see.

So a Baion, Conga, Carnivale, Carioca, Mesemba etc. are all different forms of Samba and they all get danced to different rhythms.


It's kind of like Tango. The Argentine Tango is the true root of the Tango you see in ballroom but it isn't the same dance. You can't except in a few rare exceptions use the music from Argentine to dance American or Standard tango because it has a different tempo.

Does that help??

Update on the Samba question...

Yeah that song can be danced to a Latin samba. It's a touch slow...still a Samba. I would say it probably is more of a Carnivale Samba but its absolutely got the right count.

And as terence would love... it has the Clavae rhythms (did I spell that correctly?)

I will end with this...I'm not an expert but I could dance a Samba to that.

1a2, please. Very little Samba is danced 1&2.

Samba timing is 'ONE a TWO ', not 'ONE and TWO'. The difference is that "a" is a quarter of a music beat, while "and" is half of a beat of music. Hence Cha Cha is timed 2,3, 4 AND 1.

Clave..

Interesting " take " on the samba. The music being use frequently in Comps ( about time ! ) is now of Bras/ Portug. origins .

It has transformed the style and musical interpretation, completely. For the better, I might add .

terence,

a bit off subject...but of a Portugese bent. Do you have any knowledge of Fado and where I can get some good Fado without going across the pond?

Belle