Brazil is a land rich in culture and diversity, where music and dance play a fundamental role. Brazilian dances often contain elements of African, Portuguese, and European dance forms. Among the most famous are Capoeira, Carimbo, Forró, Jongo, and Samba.
Samba dancers at Rio Carnival
Samba: The Heartbeat of Brazil
Samba is synonymous with Brazilian dance and music, deeply rooted in Africa. The modern Samba emerged in Rio de Janeiro at the beginning of the 20th century. The term "samba" originally encompassed many different rhythms, tunes, drumming, and dances of various periods and areas of the Brazilian territory. In the indigenous language, samba means a circle dance for celebrations such as Catholic festivals, Amerindian, or Afro-Brazilian religious ceremonies.
Some believe that samba was derived from the word semba, which signifies a naval bump in Kimbundu, a Bantu language, and symbolizes the invitation to dance from a man to a woman. Semba is also an infinitive of kusamba, which means to pray, or to appeal for the favor of the gods or ancestors by singing and dancing.
The unusually-accented (syncopated) beat is a factor that frequently draws the attention of most people to the rhythm. The absent beat is the strongest characteristic of Samba, promoting the listener to dance to fill the gap with his/her body movements. This syncopated rhythm is also an indication of Black resistance against cultural assimilation.
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Samba de Roda: The Circle of Tradition
Samba de Roda (dance circle) is the main root of the Samba Carioca, the type of Samba that is played and danced in Rio de Janeiro. All participants, including beginners, are invited to join the dance and observe as well as imitate. Usually, only the women dance, with one solo dancer after another, surrounded by others dancing in a circle and clapping their hands. The choreography is often spontaneous and is based on movements of the feet, legs, and hips.
One of the most typical moves is the umbigada which has clear Bantu influence, where the dancer invites her successor into the circle's center. The Samba de Roda has significantly waned during the 20th century because of economic decline and increased poverty in the region. The effects of mass media and competition from popular modern music have also devalued this tradition among the younger generation.
Samba Styles: A Diverse Landscape
There is actually a set of dances, rather than a single dance, that define the Samba dancing scene in Brazil; however, no one dance can be claimed with certainty as the "original" Samba style. Besides Brazilian Samba, a major style of Samba is ballroom Samba, which differs significantly.
- Samba no pé: A solo dance commonly danced impromptu when samba music is played.
- Samba de Gafieira: A partner dance derived from the Maxixe, maintaining entwined leg movements of the Argentine tango.
- Samba Pagode: A Samba partner dance that resembles the Samba de Gafieira but tends to be more intimate.
- Samba Axé: A solo dance that started in 1992, with movements that tend to mimic the lyrics.
- Samba-reggae: A mix of reggae beats created by Samba drums, influencing a style of African-influenced dance.
- Samba-rock: A playful form of the samba that originates from São Paulo.
The evolution of Samba has been marked by the cultural influences and historical events that have shaped Brazil.
Brazilian Entertainment Shows became really popular around the world because of Samba and Capoeira. One of the first references to "samba" was in Pernambuco magazine's O Carapuceiro, in February 1838. During the mid-19th century, the word referred to several types of music made by enslaved Africans.
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Samba further developed specific characteristics in each Brazilian state, not only due to the diversity of tribes of African immigrants, but also because of the distinctive cultures each region embodied.
How to Do Basic Samba Footwork | Samba Lessons
Capoeira: The Art of Resistance
Capoeira is another important Afro-Brazilian dance, believed to have evolved from martial arts. It was also created in Brazil by African slaves, mainly from Angola. Some experts suggested that the word capoeira was derived from capao, which is a Portuguese word for "castrated rooster." The dancing style is also similar to a fight between two roosters. Or Capoeira could have gotten its name from the Bangu Kikongo word kipura, that describes the movement of a rooster while fighting.
Capoeira moves
Though there are considerable differences of opinion regarding the origin of the dance and its name, the dance steps have close similarity with martial arts, with fighting movements like kicks, sweeps, punches, and elbow strikes.
Jongo: The Dance of Symbols
Jongo is associated with African culture in Brazil. The formation of Samba Carioca was heavily influenced by Jongo, that was brought to Brazil by Bantus. One essential characteristic of Jongo is the utilization of symbols that, aside from maintaining rhythm, possess a magical function, apparently evoking paranormal phenomenon.
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These days, both men and women can participate in the Jongo, but this participation in its original form, was very restricted to the initiated or the more experienced members. This is related to the ethical and social norms commonly found in other traditional societies, such as the Amerindians. The basis is a respect and obedience towards the older individuals and the ancestral past.
Historical research indicates that the Jongo possesses, within its Bantu origins, the need to create diverse communities, similar to secret societies and political-religious sects.
Carimbo: The Sensual Folk Dance
Carimbo is a folk dance of the Para state in Brazil, in which African, Portuguese, and European influence can be noticed. Carimbo is the name of both the dance and the large drums that accompany it. It is a sensual dance, where the woman tries to cover the man with her skirt. Sometimes, the woman throws her handkerchief on the floor, which her male partner has to retrieve by using his mouth.
With the influence or more modern rhythms, Carimbo contributed to the development of another dance form, Lambada. In Portuguese, "lambada" means "strong slap" or "hit." It may refer to the wave-like motion of a ship in Brazilian Portuguese.
Forró: The Festive Dance of the Northeast
Forró, derived from the word forrobodo, means "great party." it is one of the most popular dances of northeastern Brazil and can be danced to the rhythm of different musical genres. There is a lot of variation in the dancing style of Forró in different regions of Brazil.
Xote, a common type of Forró dancing, is a Brazilian music genre and dance for pairs or groups of four. It is the local equivalent of the Schottische. The word site is a corruption of the German word schottisch, meaning "Scottish." The Schottische was brought to Brazil in 1851, and was popular among the upper classes. Later, African slaves danced their own adaptations of the dance, adding their own influences, converting it into a dance that was more popular and well known.
Other Afro-Brazilian Dance Forms
Brazil boasts a variety of other dance forms influenced by African traditions:
- Xaxado: A popular dance often practiced to commemorate victory in battle.
- Ciranda: A type of dance and music from Pernambuco, characterized by a large circle of dancers.
- Maculelê: An Afro-Brazilian dance where people gather in a circle, striking sticks together rhythmically.
The Cultural Significance
Forró goes beyond a simple dance and music; it plays a crucial role in Brazilian society, especially in the Northeast of the country. It promotes unity among people, strengthens cultural ties, and preserves tradition from generation to generation, impacting the economy and influencing other arts such as plastic arts, audiovisual, crafts, and others. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival.
These dances are not just forms of entertainment; they are expressions of history, resistance, and cultural identity. They reflect the blending of African, Portuguese, and indigenous traditions that make Brazilian culture so unique.
Forró dance
Here is a table summarizing the key aspects of these Brazilian dances:
| Dance | Origin | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Samba | Africa/Rio de Janeiro | Syncopated rhythm, circle dance, various styles |
| Capoeira | Angola/Brazil | Martial art, acrobatics, dance, percussion |
| Jongo | Bantu/Brazil | Symbolic, magical function, restricted participation |
| Carimbo | Para, Brazil | Sensual, folk dance, drums |
| Forró | Northeastern Brazil | Festive, varied styles, Xote |
