How to Do Basic Samba Box Steps

Dr. Maya V. Patel was known to have said, ”To dance is to give oneself up to the rhythms of all life.” If you have ever done any kind of Latin dance, then you know that it is all in the rhythm. The basic box steps in samba are fairly easy to do, but its all in the bounce and the energy that you put into the steps, that make it the real samba. Remember, the key in samba is your bounce, your energy and the rhythm that is danced with. The samba is sensual and steamy. You need to use a lot of leg and hip movement. Its important to get a true feel for the rhythm of the music. Remember the samba has its beginnings in African music brought by the slaves that worked in the sugar plantations in Brazil. It was a free sensual and religious dance, so you need to think of this as you are doing the samba. The following is the basic box step that is used in samba. Remember that your step needs to be light, and you should step with the inner ball of your foot very lightly and bounce lightly with your knees.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

How to Do Basic Samba Box Steps

1. Keep your feet apart at shoulder length and keep them this way as you come out of each step. This is your ready position for the next step.

2. Step back with your right foot while doing a quick bounce, bringing your knee down and then back up into its original position with a slightly bent knee.

3. Step forward with your left foot and do a bounce again and bring your foot back into original position. Keep your knees slightly bent.

4. Take a step to the right side and do a quick bounce and then bring your foot back into original position

5. Take a step to the left and do a quick bounce and bring your foot back to its original position. Pay attention. This is where it gets a bit tricky (and this is an optional step).

6. Move forward with your left foot and then turn just a bit with your right foot, and pull your body around 90 degrees, moving the turn with your left foot but guiding it with your right. Then start step one again

Tips & Warnings

• The basic Latin samba box step. What makes it challenging is the speed with which you have to do it. And don’t forget you need to keep your body swaying to the music and those hips swaying all the time.