1. Don't Get Boxed In
Remember that music is played 2/4 time for samba. So, you count only two beats per measure. There's more than one way to interpret samba; however, typically samba steps are performed in triple time. Within two beats, three steps happen. Similar to the cha cha, count one and two. Because other similar dances and steps have derived from samba, it's easy to combine dances and movements to make them interesting. However, whichever version of samba you perform, you should do basic samba box steps. The samba tempo is typically played faster in the U.S. (52), whereas it's often played slower around the rest of the world (48 to 50), especially with social dancing. Do basic samba box steps to a fast tempo with knees soft for bouncing. Travel on the balls of your feet and lower to the heel to create the bouncing or rocking motion of samba. Keep a straight posture and an engaged core to do basic samba box steps. Lead with the body and not with the foot.
2. Samba Reflection
For gentlemen to do samba box steps, start with your left foot. The basic pattern for the samba box step is step forward, step side, close; step back, step side, close--or step left, step right, close left; step right, step left, close right. Ladies mirror the box steps of the leader, traveling in the opposite direction while facing their partner. Followers start on your right foot to step back, step side, close; step forward, step side, close or step right, step left, close right; step left, step right, close left. Count steps to tempo as slow, quick, quick or one, a two; one, a two.
3. Bouncing Balls
Samba music has a distinctly aboriginal sound, and the moves are also distinctly samba as they match the beat and feel of the music. One of the hardest tasks involved with learning samba dancing is getting the bouncing movement and footwork perfected. You don't step flat-footed but pump the feet instead when you move. Keep the knees flexible to support the footwork. To do basic samba box steps, footwork follows a ball, ball/flat; ball, ball, ball/flat pattern. The idea is to keep up on the balls of the feet for moving; don't lower the heel until the other foot joins it. This footwork helps not only with ease of movement and bounce but also with timing. If you try and move your feet in samba box steps with flat feet, you won't be able to move quickly or easily. You can also replace the word, ball, with the word, tap, to do basic samba box steps if it helps to clarify the footwork for you.
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