How to Learn Samba Steps

In the Samba, dancers employ their feet in many shifts and changes in direction. Incorporated into this are the hip moves, which make this the dance of choice for many party-goers and ballroom dancers. Let's learn some Samba steps!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Approximately 3-4 square feet of dancing space to practice.

1. Stand with your feet about shoulder-length apart. Keep your feet this width as you come out of and go into each new move.

2. Step back with your right foot and do a quick bounce. Bring your feet back together. Bend your knees slightly as you come back together to keep that "bounce effect."
   Step forward with your left foot and do a quick bounce again. Bring your feet back together. Remember to bend your knees slightly again.

3. Take a step to your right side and do a quick bounce, bring your feet together. Remember to bend your knees. The music timing will also help you remember this. This move is called a Cuban move.

4. Go back to your left side and do another quick bounce and bring your feet back together. Bend your knees again.

5. Move forward with your left foot and turn slightly with your right foot. While you're in this momentum, propel your body around 100 degrees moving with your left foot and guiding with your right.

6. Transition right back into the Cuban move after the last step and you have just completed a basic Latin Samba step!

Tips & Warnings

• Practice, practice, practice!

Resources

• Ballroomdancers.com teaches the basic Samba steps.
• Articletree.com gives information on Samba dancing.