I presume the barrel roll and the natural roll to be the same step in samba. Can some one explain the footwork of this step please?

thanks

Hi,
I only know of the Reverse Barrel Roll. It is very similar to today's Reverse Turn. A figure of 6 steps more or less using the same foot positions as today's Reverse Turn. The footwork of the Barrel Roll: 1. Ball to Flat Foot. 2. Ball. 3. Foot Flat. 4. Ball Flat. 5. Ball. 6. Ball Flat. The main difference in the Roll is a very strong body action from the waist.

Can you please elaborate on the timing of the steps?
thanks

Hi Anonymous,
The timing of the Reverse Barrel Roll: In 2/4 Time. Step 1. Slow. Step 2. Quick. Step 3. Quick. Step 4. Slow. Step 5. Quick. Step 6. Quick. A slow = 1 beat. A quick = 1/2 beat. The whole figure is danced over 2 bars or measures of music.

In general, Samba's rhythm is counted as One A Two, Three A Four, where the A steps are like grace notes immediately preceding the even numbered steps. If you eliminated the A steps it would be straight 1-2-3-4, like a march. I'm not sure, but I suppose that if you looked at the music, you would see that the first step took 3/4 of the first beat and the A step took 1/4 of the first beat (or maybe 7/8 and 1/8?), then followed by a full beat for the 2 step.

The Reverse Barrel Roll uses that 1A2, 3A4 rhythm where the A steps immediately precede the next steps.

Hi Jerryblu,
I don't know if the Reverse Barrel Roll is a standardized figure in your country. But in the UK in appeared as a popular variation in 1972, published by the ISTD, UK. I agree with you that figures timed 1 a2 are the most popular. Also these figures have a bounce or pelvic action or both. A figure such as the Barrel Roll has neither. The action is from the waist upwards in which trunk of the body is rolled in a tight circle. This is why we used the timing of S,Q,Q,S,Q,Q.