Samba essentials: the bounce isn't a jump, and where to learn it in Montreal
Samba looks like three minutes of nonstop hopping. It isn't. The bounce is a small knee and ankle action, and every samba figure is built on it.
Quick answer
Samba classes in Montreal at our studio start from zero in private lessons, or in the intermediate group class once you know the basics. We teach ballroom samba, one of the five International Latin dances, danced to 2/4 music at about 50 bars a minute.
In this guide
Samba is the dance of Rio's Carnival: Afro-Brazilian roots, drums up front, and a rhythm that pulls you off your chair. The partner version you learn in a studio keeps that energy and gives it a structure you can learn step by step.
I'm Alina Litvak, two-time Canadian vice-champion, and I've taught Latin dance for 19 years. Samba starts in the knees, so that is where we start.
Is samba a Latin dance?
Yes, in both senses. Samba comes from Brazil, and ballroom samba is one of the five International Latin competition dances, next to cha cha, rumba, paso doble and jive. Our guide to Latin vs ballroom dance explains how the two families differ.
There are two sambas, though:
- Carnival samba (samba no pé): danced solo, with very fast footwork, in parades and street parties in Brazil.
- Ballroom samba: a partner dance with a set vocabulary of figures (whisks, samba walks, botafogos, voltas), danced in a hold or side by side. This is the samba we teach.
Both share the music and the bounce. If you have seen samba at a dancesport competition or on a TV dance show, you have seen the ballroom version.
The samba bounce: knees, not a jump
The bounce is a steady flex and straighten of the knees that makes you look like you are riding a wave. Your feet never leave the floor for it. Without the bounce, you are stepping to Brazilian music. With it, you are dancing samba.
Three parts of the body make it:
- Knees: the engine. They flex on each counted beat and lift a little on the quick "a" between. A small flex is enough; deep knee bends make you bob.
- Ankles: the spring. You stay on the balls of your feet, so the ankles soften each landing.
- Core and pelvis: the core stays engaged so the chest stays steady, while the pelvis tilts with the knees. That tilt is where the samba hip action comes from.
Picture dribbling a basketball with your whole body: down, up, down, up, smooth and never stopping. It should feel like a heartbeat, not a workout you are forcing.
The samba basic step, count by count
Every samba figure grows out of the basic. It is counted 1 a 2, 3 a 4. The quick "a" between the beats is the syncopation that gives samba its groove.
Natural basic (leader's steps; the follower mirrors them)
- Step forward on the right foot, knee soft, bounce down (count 1)
- Close the left foot to the right with part weight, ball of the foot only, knees lift a little (count "a")
- Replace full weight on the right foot, bounce down (count 2)
- Step back on the left foot, bounce down (count 3)
- Close the right foot to the left with part weight, ball of the foot only, knees lift a little (count "a")
- Replace full weight on the left foot, bounce down (count 4)
The detail that makes it samba: on the "a", the closing foot only taps. Give it a little weight, then rock straight back. That small rock is what creates the rolling quality.
A five-minute bounce drill at home
No partner and no space needed. Put on "Mas que nada" and set a timer:
- Minute 1, bounce in place. Feet together, hands on your hips, knees flex and straighten on every beat. No steps yet.
- Minute 2, add a weight change. Shift from foot to foot while the bounce keeps going. If the bounce stops when your weight moves, slow down.
- Minutes 3 and 4, the basic. Forward and back, saying "1 a 2, 3 a 4" out loud. Small steps.
- Minute 5, check yourself. Film 20 seconds on your phone. Are your heels light? Does your chest stay level while your knees work?
For more ways to practise alone, see how to practise dance at home.
Samba figures after the basic
Once the bounce runs on its own, these are the figures that come next:
- Whisks: side to side, with one foot crossing behind the other. Same 1 a 2 timing as the basic.
- Samba walks: travelling steps forward or back with the bounce and a delayed hip action.
- Botafogos: crisscross travelling steps that alternate a cross in front with a step to the side. They share their name with a Rio neighbourhood.
- Voltas: quick travelling steps where one foot keeps crossing in front of or behind the other, so you spiral across the floor. Fast and flashy, usually an intermediate figure.
Common samba mistakes
Bouncing from the shoulders. The bounce lives in the knees and ankles. Fix: practise holding a glass of water. If it spills, your upper body is bouncing.
Flat feet. Samba lives on the balls of your feet. Let your heels touch down for a moment, then lift again; if they settle, the bounce dies.
Forcing the hips. The hips move as a result of the knee and ankle action. Get the bounce right and the hips follow. Cha cha and rumba hips work differently; see Latin hip movement.
Bigger steps when the music speeds up. Do the opposite: the faster the music, the smaller your steps.
Samba music for practice
Competition samba runs at about 50 bars a minute, which is fast. Start with steady, mid-tempo tracks and work up:
- "Mas que nada" by Sergio Mendes: a classic with a pulse that is easy to hear
- "Magalenha" by Sergio Mendes: good for whisks and botafogos
- "Aquarela do Brasil" by Ary Barroso: the samba standard
- "Samba de Janeiro" by Bellini: modern party samba with big drums
Before you dance to a track, listen to it first. Find the pulse, tap along, then add the bounce. The body follows what the ear understands.
Samba classes in Montreal: where to start
Pick your route by where you are today:
- You know the basics of partner dancing. Our intermediate group class adds samba to cha cha, rumba, salsa, bachata and jive. Classes run in sessions, usually 8 weeks.
- You're starting from zero and samba is the dance you want. Private lessons start samba from the bounce, at your pace. Come alone or as a couple.
- You're starting from zero and open to any dance. The beginner group class teaches salsa and bachata from the first step. Samba joins once you move up to the intermediate class.
- You want samba at your wedding. See our Latin wedding dance styles, where samba works as a surprise switch after a slow opening.
Not sure which route fits? Tell us on a free 15-minute phone consultation: 514-966-3736. Classes in English, French and Russian.
Samba questions
Why do my calves burn after samba?
Because you dance it on the balls of your feet, and the bounce never stops. That is your calves doing their job. Samba is one of the fastest Latin dances, which is why it shows up in our dance fitness guide.
Can I dance samba in sneakers?
Not well. Rubber soles grip the floor, and voltas and whisks need your feet to pivot. Smooth-soled shoes, or socks while you practise at home, make the turns easier. More in what to wear to a dance class.
How is samba different from cha cha?
Cha cha is Cuban, counted in four with its quick triple step on 4 and 1, and its hips move through Cuban motion. Samba is Brazilian, counted in two, and the knee bounce runs through every step. Cha cha demystified breaks down its triple step.
Alina Litvak, Founder of Quartier Latin Dance Studio
Two-time Canadian Vice-Champion • 19 Years Teaching Experience
