Samba Dance
Samba dance requires time and effort in order to integrate the movements so that they become a natural part of the fluid motion required to perform the dance. Practice begins early on as children in Brazilian culture, but for anyone who is not born into the culture naturally and wishes to learn it on their own, any number of resources can be found on the Internet by searching "Samba Dance", or check out any number of videos offered for free that teach the basics of the movements of samba. There are many sites that offer Cds and DVDs with music designed just for the beginner to practice. Persistent repetition is necessary in order to imbue the magic of the music and rhythm as second nature to the dancer. It is recommended that you purchase this music and play it repeatedly for yourself in the privacy of your home or in your automobile and become accustomed to the timing of the music. Samba music has a tempo of 100 beats per minute or around 50 measures per minute. Once the rhythm begins to feel second nature to you, you can begin some basic moves to the timing of the music. Once your timing is perfectly in sync with the music then you can begin to practice different steps and variations in movement, all the while maintaining a perfectly synchronized tempo with the music.
Since there are many variations of the samba dance, find a variation that you are comfortable with and that you are physically capable of performing without discomfort. Wear very little or loose clothing to allow your body the freedom of the movement necessary to feel natural. Do not expect to perfect this dancing art quickly and be patient with yourself as you learn. Practice alone at first so that you don’t feel like you’re in competition with another, and you can fully concentrate inwardly on your own performance. You will soon find this to be a fun way to rejuvenate and energize yourself while building the confidence and the rhythm you need.
If you find yourself not able to maintain the tempo, do not give up — continue to persist until it becomes natural for you — practice makes perfect. When learning steps for walking forward and walking sideways, or sidestepping, you will notice there is a slight bounce — take note that the bounce comes from the knees and not the toes. You will begin to feel naturally when to bounce and it will become an expression of joy and liveliness as it becomes a part of your dance. The samba itself as an expression of joy and happiness, it is a free expression of the internal self, in whatever form the dancer wishes to portray. It is your own personal expression to the universe and to God about the joys, the gratitude, the aches and pains, the disappointments and the frustrations, or just the sheer rejuvenating exhilaration of feeling yourself relieved of mundane and ordinary life for even just a little while.