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International Samba
- Author:
- Dave Watson
- Date Published:
- May 6, 2004
We will work a lot on understanding the pulsing action of Samba this month in this class.
The first elevation comes as a result of “launching” the body off of the supporting ankle. However, that energy should be used to move the body across the floor, not just up and down. Additional energy will be absorbed into the center of the body.
The second elevation will come as a result of pressing onto the ball of one foot, and then landing flatly on the whole flat foot of the other foot – kind of a “peg-legged” action. Again, we should not see the heads bouncing up and down; the energy here will be taken up in the hips and knees – a form of “Cuban Motion”.
Also, the counting of Samba is usually done in beats and measures. Therefore, we will frequently count the Samba: “1 uh 2, 2 uh 2, 3 uh 2, ….”.
PATTERN: COUNT:
Basic:
Man dances forward with his left foot (ball-flat), then side right (ball of foot),
Then close left foot to right (ball-flat)
Lady dances back right (ball-flat), side left (ball of foot), right foot close
To left foot (ball-flat) 1 uh 2
Both partners now dance the opposite; Man dances back – Lady forward left 2 uh 2
NOTE: the side step will be extremely small unless movement will be needed for the pattern. For example: a Basic without turn will have almost no movement to the side on the second change of weight – a Basic turning will have very little movement to the side for the partner dancing backward (inside of turn), but the person dancing forward (outside of turn) will have a larger side step.
Whisks:
Man dances side left, then crosses right foot behind left tightly, then replaces left
Foot where it was
Lady dances side right, tightly crosses her left foot behind her right, and then
Replaces her right foot where it was 1 uh 2
Both partners now dance the same action to the opposite side 2 uh 2
Lady’s Underarm Turns (Spot Volta Underarms):
Man dances normal Whisks as described above (1 uh 2, 2 uh 2)
Lady dances side right and prepares to turn under the Man’s raised left arm
She then dances forward left – turning to her right under the arm –
Now she replaces weight back onto her right foot and finishes her
Turn to face the Man 1 uh 2
Lady now repeats the action to the other side (left, right, left) 2 uh 2
Samba Walks: (Begin in PP)
Both partners will dance the same pattern. Obviously, the Lady will be dancing with her left foot whenever the Man is dancing with his right, and vice versa.
Dance forward (ball-flat) with your free foot. Then extend your other foot
back with turnout and press on the toe of that foot leaving your weight
over the front foot (the foot you moved first). Now “Pop” the hips back
which will cause that front foot to pull back just slightly. Repeat
with the other foot moving forward. 1 uh 2, 2 uh 2
Side Samba Walks: (Begin in PP with INSIDE FOOT free – remain in PP throughout)
This pattern is usually taken after a normal Samba Walk forward in PP.
Both partners dance forward with their inside foot (Man’s right – Lady’s left)
As if dancing a normal Samba Walk as described above 1
Both partners now extend their outside foot (Man’s left / Lady’s right) to
The side and apply pressure to the inside edge of the big toe uh
Both partners now replace weight to their inside foot (Man’s right / Lady’s left)
Having “pulled” the inside foot slightly toward the outside foot (away
From Each other) – this helps to create a little more space between partners 2
During this movement, it is important to note that the body weight never left the inside foot; the outside foot receives only pressure – not real weight.
The Side Samba Walk is used as an entry into a great variety of figures icluding Criss-Cross Traveling Voltas, Fallaway Voltas, and Shadow Bota Fogas. We will continue into the Criss-Cross Traveling Voltas.
Traveling Voltas:
There are many different Traveling Volta Movements. In this class, we will dance a “Criss-Cross’ Traveling Volta. But first, let’s examine the basic Traveling Volta action, with no curving or partnering. Both partners will dance the Volta action the same way, so we will examine first only the actual Volta action.
For a Traveling Volta action moving to the left, begin with your weight on your left foot and your right foot pointed to the side without weight. This is your starting position. Usually we will attain this position by first dancing a Bota Foga, a Side Samba Walk, or a Hip Bounce.
Begin by crossing the right foot tightly over the front of the left 1
Now open the left foot to the side (just the ball of foot – keep heel up) uh
Repeat usually to the count of 4 (although it could be more or less) 2, uh, 3, uh, 4
Notice that the Numbers are always on the crossing foot, and that you ended in a crossed foot position. If you repeat to the other side, you dance exactly the same thing (crossing left foot in front of right), except you will, of course, be starting with your free foot crossed behind instead of pointed to the side – no problem.
‘Criss-Cross’ Traveling Voltas: (Begin after dancing a Side Samba Walk)
There are many different Traveling Volta Movements. In executing the ‘Criss-Cross’ Traveling Voltas, Lady will always pass in front of Man as they dance toward opposite sides.
Man dances a traveling Volta as described above traveling to his right
(left foot crossing in front of right) – Man will lead Lady to dance
under his raised left arm – passing in front of him; back to front –
to dance a Traveling Volta to her left
Lady dances a Traveling Volta to her left as described above (right foot
crosses in front of left) – she will pass across the Man; back to front –
under his raised left arm 1, uh, 2, uh, 3, uh, 4
Both partners will curve approximately ¼ to ALMOST face one another (Man curves to his left – Lady to her right).
Repeat the Volta action in the other direction, again passing Lady across
the front of Man; back to front and curving approximately ½ turn
to face one another 2, uh, 2, uh, 3, uh, 4
Note that the traveling, combined with the curving, results in a Volta action that travels down the floor trading sides.
Shadow Bota Fogas: (Begin in PP having with outside foot free)
Frequently this pattern is danced after a Side Samba Walk or a Criss-Cross Traveling Volta.
Man crosses left foot over rightvery tightly (as in Volta action), and leads Lady
To Pass in front of his body – back to front - under his raised left arm
Lady will cross her right foot tightly in front of her left foot (as in Volta action)
While passing to her left under the man’s raised left arm. She will pass
Across the front of Man – back to front 1
Both partners extend their free foot (Man’s right – Lady’s left) to the side
Away from one another. Apply pressure only to the inside edge of the
Big toe of that side movement – NO real weight uh
Replace weight to the other foot (man’s left / Lady’s right) 2
Repeat to the other side – again, Lady will pass across the front of the Man
Back to front 2, uh, 2
No significant turn will be made on this figure – both partners continue to face front.
Contra Bota Fogas: (Begin in PP with Inside foot free)
In order to execute this move, Man must know how to dance a ‘MAXIXE’ action (Corta-Jaca). One HEEL will dance forward with only partial weight. This foot will be used to brace a forward movement of the hips which will result in the rear foot (the one where most of the weight remained) to be pulled forward slightly. Now the foot that was in front will be placed back with only pressure, and a backward movement of the hips will result in the forward foot being pulled back (just as in the last two steps of the Samba Walk as described above).
Man dances a Maxixe (or Corta Jaca) action beginning with his right foot (heel)
Forward -- He leads Lady to dance past him and takes a 2-hand hold uh, 1, uh, 2
Lady dances forward with her left foot commencing to turn to her left and
Moving past the Man / continuing to turn to her left until she has turned
Nearly ½ turn, she daces her right foot to the side with pressure only
(NO real weight) / she then replaces all her weight to her left foot 1, uh, 2
At this point couple is facing one another but offset to each others’ right sides slightly. They have attained a 2-hand hold. Both now have the same foot free (right foot). Both are prepared to move forward – past one another on their right feet, and turn to the right.
Both partners now dance two forward Bota Fogas dancing past one another and turning ½ turn on each one 2, uh, 2 – 3, uh, 2
Man now dances the same Corta Jaca (or Maxixe) action that he did at the start
Of this movement. He leads Lady to return to him in PP and
Regains normal closed hold uh, 4, uh, 2
Lady dances one more forward Bota Foga turning to her right to join the Man
in PP 4, uh, 2
Pattern ends in PP. Follow with Samba Walks, Side Samba Walk, or other Bota Fogas.
Combination # 1:
4 Whisks with a Spot Volta Natural Underarm for Lady on the third one – end in PP >
Contra Bota Fogas > 4 Samba Walks > Side Samba Walk >
ONE direction only of Criss-Cross Traveling Volta > 2 Shadow Bota Fogas >
OTHER direction of Criss-Cross Traveling Voltas to end facing >
2 whisks with Spot Volta Natural Underarm for Lady on first one.