Sizzling Samba
Beautiful dancers wearing feathers and sequins, performing high energy hip shaking movements in carnival processions.
Samba is the national dance of Brazil and of one of the best known forms of Afro-Brazilian dances. Afro-Brazilian culture developed through a blending of cultures as a result of the Portuguese colonisation of Brazil. This vibrant culture is still evolving and is expressed in different ways in various parts of Brazil. What is referred to as samba or samba music‚ is an umbrella-term encompassing several different forms of music and dances (samba‚ samba-reggae‚ maracatu‚ samba de gafieira, pagode etc.).
In Brazil‚ ‘samba’ refers to the carnival music associated closely with Rio de Janeiro.
No one is sure where the term samba originated. Some say it comes from the word semba‚ a Congo/Angola expression used to describe a traditional African dance brought to Brazil by slaves. It may also come from the Umbanda term san-ba meaning to pray as many samba players and composers are followers of Umbanda and Candomblu.
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Today’s samba schools are descendants of the neighbourhood blocos - groups of poor Rio residents who came together to sing and dance to the accompaniment of percussion music. Blocos celebrated carnival in their own neighbourhoods and visited neighbouring favelas and often got in trouble with the police for their raucous and sometimes lewd antics.
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The first samba school Deixa Falar (Let Them Speak) was formed in 1928. Quickly‚ many other samba schools were formed such as Mangueira (1930) and Portela (1935)‚ all of which exist to this day. The term samba school refers to the fact that many of these early groups rehearsed in school yards.
A typical samba school can number 3000 to 4000 members‚ although not all members will perform for carnival.
A samba school carnival entry will typically include singers (puxadores)‚ musicians including a drumming section called the bateria‚ dancers‚ giant puppets‚ several floats and flag bearers‚ all ornately decorated and wearing colourful costumes. As well as the performers‚ there will be an army of people behind the scenes‚ building props and floats‚ making costumes‚ designing elements of the entry‚ doing the administration‚ etc.
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The most important event in the annual life of a samba school is the carnival parade. Carnival is celebrated each year just before the Catholic feast of Lent and‚ as such, occurs in February or early March. Samba schools will begin their preparations for the carnival as early as mid-July. Samba school members compose songs and submit designs for costumes‚ floats‚ etc. The samba enredo (winning song) is selected and becomes the key song and determines the overall theme for that year's entry. Then‚ intensive rehearsals‚ float construction and costume making commences which will continue right up to the beginning of carnival |
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The basic step is the 'passista' step where you see the exciting gyrating movements of the bikini-clad samba dancers from Rio. Genuine samba is danced with 'feet' – samba no pé. This basic step of samba carefully follows the rhythm of samba. Female dancers emphasize their femininity by using their hips a lot. Male dancers do acrobatic tricks with their feet. It is said that good dancers 'speak' with their feet.
Samba was not played in Britain until the 1980s. For the most part‚ the development of a vibrant samba scene can be attributed to the work of a small group of samba fanatics.
The London School of Samba is the longest established group in the U.K‚ dating back to 1984. Inner Sense Percussion Orchestra have had a huge effect on the samba scene in the U.K touring incessantly and bringing Brazilian music to many new audiences and inspiring new bands to form far and wide.
In Scotland one the most established samba groups is Edinburgh Samba School founded in 1992, promoting samba and Brazilian music in Edinburgh. Their popularity is reflected especially in the number of high profile events they have performed at including the opening of the Scottish Parliament.
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Samba is about having fun.
Samba is about inclusion - there's a place for everyone, no matter how fit you are, how old you are, or how experienced you are ... everyone can join in and feel the freedom of the rhythm.
Always fancied joining the carnival parade, why not contact Edinburgh Samba School dance co-ordinator Marie-Anne Syre for information on classes. |
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