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Lazy Samba Turns
by Tim Eum
Samba is a fun rhythm that is rarely done in round dancing, but a few
of its figures are done in other rhythms, and one of the classic
two-step dances, That Happy Feeling, has the phase 4 samba figure Lazy
Samba Turns at the very beginning of the dance. Many cuers simply cue
each step in each measure of this eight-measure figure as follows:
“Balance Forward Step Step; Back Left Turn to face LOD Step Step;
Balance Forward Step Step; Back Left Turn to face COH Step Step;
Balance Forward Step Step; Back Left Turn Step Step to face RLOD;
Balance Forward Step Step; Back Left Turn Step Step to face WALL;”
The true Lazy Samba Turns actually turn about an 1/8 on each measure
instead of turning 1/4 on each second measure – but you can do it
either way. Note that you begin and end in the same spot having gone
full around in those eight measures. I remember when this was first
taught to me nearly forty years ago and the teachers really did put
samba styling into these steps for That Happy Feeling. When you do the
Forward Balance 3 and step forward you lift up as you are moving
forward and then relax your knee lowering as you take weight. Then you
rise a little as you take the second step (i.e. close) and quickly
lower again into the third step (in place). This is the classic “Samba
Bounce”.
One other styling tip is that as you balance forward you should tuck
your buttocks under which rotates the lower part of your body forward.
Consequently, if you are stepping back you should relax your buttocks
and tuck in your tummy with upper body forward poise. And one last
samba styling tip is that instead of the normal closed position hold
where man’s right hand is on the lady’s left shoulder blade, the “samba
hold” can be used where the man instead puts his right hand on top of
the lady’s left upper arm. This gives a very secure upper body hold and
allows a little more space between partners so that the upper body
frame can look big.
What is neat in round dancing is that you can simply Balance Forward
& Back (with left turn) without doing any samba styling and add it
only when you are feeling playful – dancer’s choice.
Tim
Eum has
prepared many Round Dance Tips for Calls 'n' Cues,
WASCA, for his weekly Rocket Rounds email reports, and for
other
publications.
DRDC is
grateful for permission to collect and reprint. A Tim Eum archive.
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