Jai Chavan's "Dance-Sport" Email : [email protected] Or General Mailer

Samba: Basic Sequence: Part 3

The first basic sequence.

THE DIRECTIONS (Generally when facing): A: Centre. B: Diagonal to Centre. C: LOD (Line of Dance). D: Diagonal to Wall. E: Wall. F: Diagonal to Wall against the LOD. G: Backing the LOD or facing against the LOD. H: Diagonal to Centre against the LOD.

Note: In the diagram above the dancer is facing and is square in the direction C.

6. Front Kick:
Transfer weight on to the Left foot, thus the Left foot is the stationary foot and the moving foot is the Right foot.
1. Move forward and step on the Right foot for the count 1. Immediately get a pause/stop, which in turn will swing the Left foot forward as in a kick, for the count 2.
Similar is the movement when started with the Left foot.
Exercise:
When practising in pairs there is more distance maintained between the partners. If man steps with the Right foot forward then the lady is stepping with the Left foot forward. The movement is slightly towards the partner’s side so that there is no hindrance for the kick.

7. Bota Fogo:
(Man): Stand on the Right foot, facing and being square in the direction D. 1. Move forward with the Left foot forward and step on it for the first count 1 (or Bota).
2. For the second count &, move the Right ball (foot) to the right side and forward (diagonally forward). The Left foot is retained in place.
3. For the next count 2 (or Fogo), replace weight on the Left foot and also swivel to face and be square in the direction B.
When man is performing the above the lady is dancing the one below. Man is slightly behind the lady and the hold is with the Left hand (man) and the Right hand (lady), and slight above the head.
(Lady): Stand on the Left foot, facing and being square in the direction B. 1. Move forward with the Right foot forward and step on it for the first count 1 (or Bota).
2. For the second count &, move the Left ball (foot) to the left side and forward (diagonally forward). The Right foot is retained in place.
3. For the next count 2 (or Fogo), replace weight on the Right foot and also swivel to face and be square in the direction D.
To continue this figure again, man does the lady’s part given above as far as the alignment, directions and the steps are concerned; and the lady dances the man’s part as given above.

8. Volta:
Refer to the diagram above.
Stand on the Right foot facing and being square to direction C. Swivel the right foot to 45 degrees to the right on the ball. 1. Move the Left foot across the Right foot in the direction E. Step on the Left foot with the toes touching first and then lowering the whole foot for the count 1 (or Volta). Now through out this figure the Left foot remains pointed in the direction C and the Right foot in the direction D. 2. Move the Right foot in the direction E and slightly leading to the Left foot, for the count &.
Repeat both the steps above for the counts 1, &, 2, &, 3, &, 4 (or Volta, &, 2, &, 3, &, 4) and end with weight on the Left foot.
To repeat this exercise again swivel 45 degrees on the Left ball to the left such that the Left foot points in direction B. 1. Move the Right foot from the front and across the Left foot, moving in the direction A, foot pointing in direction C, and step on it for the count 1 (Volta). 2. The Left foot moves next in direction A and slightly ahead of the Right foot for the count &.
Repeat both the steps above for the counts 1, &, 2, &, 3, &, 4 (or Volta, &, 2, &, 3, &, 4) and end with weight on the Right foot.
Exercise:
When practising in pairs, the man could start with the Left foot and the Lady with the Right foot, and both moving in the direction E. After the count of 4, the feet and the direction are reversed.

9. Change:
This is simple stepping on one foot and then the other in rhythm, to adjust the distances and alignment between the partners for the successive figure.

Continued...