I find Samba one of the hardest dances to lead since the lady is away from your frame or body on lots of figures and the music is very fast. It's easy for her miss a lead. Samba locks, Promanade runs (with qqs or 123 timing), and Open Rocks.

You have to precede and follow each figure with specific figures or it wont't work. Plus, there are all the rhythm changes from one figure to the next. Unless you have a very seasoned lady that knows all the syllabus inside and out you are going have problems when you use anything but very basic figures.

If you want to be adventuresome, try doing Cruzado Locks with a inside and outside spin the lady on the qq's. Slavik and Karina do it on their latest dvd. I have done it with my teacher, but not with anyone else. Or try leading this with someone you haven't danced with before.

Samba in someways is very choregraphed with all the precedes,follows, and constant rhythm changes.

If you are going to do anything adventurous the lady would need to know the choreography as well as the man. This is just me.A male teacher used me as somebody to show a step. I did it. But I had little idea of what I was doing. He just put me onto the steps. The point I am trying to make is. If I don't know what I am doing some of the enjoyment of dancing was missing.

Samba does require more skill to lead, but as in the other dances, changes of direction and timing can be lead. If you have a specific step you dont know how to lead, i can try to answer, or ask your coach.