Samba

In Zumba, we do a modified version of the Brazilian samba (or, as I always say, Shannon's version of Zumba's version of the Brazilian samba).

The samba takes practice! I put off practicing it for a long time, even after I was trained to teach it, because it seemed hard. Now the samba is one of my FAVORITE steps. Students have told me the same thing: once they get past their fear (because it looks scary), they LOVE samba. It's a fun step.

Those who came to the Basic Steps Review classes this week worked with me on the samba. Like I said in class, there are several ways to samba, and everyone's version looks like their own (this is code for "You can't do it wrong.")

I showed you a couple of ways you can get your samba on, but we have such a short time in class that I thought you might like to see some instruction on video that you can watch over and over. Did I already say that the samba takes practice? It does! Watch these, pick a method that works for you and your body, and then practice!

Back in the day when I was trying to learn samba, this is the technique I practiced over and over to get it down. This is still how I samba.




But if you've done the samba with me you know I break the step down in class differently than the way I learned it. The video below teaches the step closer to the way I teach it in class. Most students find this method easier to pick up quickly.

First, here's how I teach it in class:

1. Tap your right foot and then left in front of you.
2. When you’re ready, remove the tap so you’re doing more of a scissor step. Right foot front and left foot back—then jump and switch: left foot front, right foot back. Continue until this feels comfortable.
3. Put your weight on the balls of your feet and start to bounce to the music.
4. Become aware of a double tap on each foot before you switch to the other foot.
5. When your bounce with the double tap feels comfortable, start to turn your knee out. First tap: turn knee in. Second tap: turn knee out. Switch sides.
6. Continue to practice this until you loosen up and feel comfortable. You have the Samba!

And now here is the video:




One of my favorite songs to practice the samba with is Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendes featuring The Black Eyed Peas. You can find it in the playlist in the sidebar. Happy sambaing!