How to Learn Samba Timing

SAMBA, SAMBA! Just thinking about the samba makes you want to move. It is a primal, wild sensual dance and to get the feel, and do the dance justice, it's all in the timing. Samba is a quick dance so you need to get that timing down.Samba was created by the African slaves in Brazil and later adapted by the nation. Depending on the region, there are different Samba dances, but they all use the basic timing and tempo. Putting the timing into musical language can be a little difficult and a little difficult to understand too, but the following tips show you an easy way to follow the timing, no matter what the type of Samba you are dancing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

The following tips will help you learn how to get that timing right!

1. Understand that Samba is a 2/4 timing dance with 50 measures a minute. So two beats are to a bar of music and three steps are performed in two beats. If you can remember that you need to complete three steps in two beats of music then you pretty much understand the way the timing works.

2. Know that some samba is slower than others and that the “slow” step is done on one beat of music.

3. Getting into the mood is the easiest way to start feeling the timing. Keep in mind this entails knowing that you have a short/short/long step that needs to be done in two beats of music, so its going to be quick.

4. Don't get confused with the quick-quick-slow count. You might think of your first step as a “get ready” step, then all you have to do is count Tap, Up/Down, Place; and then again Tap, up/down, place.

5. Understand that the tap is when you step out and on the ball of your foot, the up/down is the changing of the weight from one leg to the other without putting your heel down, and the place when you change your weight to the other leg.

6. Play the slower Samba music when you are first learning the steps. That way you don’t have to time it so fast.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also watch videos and listen to samba music and time it with your fingers, and your voice by doing 1 a 2 a 3, without dancing. Listen to the music for a certain period of time so you can get the feel for it. That way, when you do get out on the dance floor, you will be better prepared for that timing, which is so important.