One of the dances I am learning at the moment is Samba, but not the kind of samba you are thinking of with prominent dancers in tight and shining swimming suits, what I am referring to is Samba de Gafiera, a couple dance originated in the 1940's in Rio de Janeiro's gafieira (working-class dance halls).
It is a partner dance that incorporates Carnival Samba, Salsa and Argentine Tango concepts. The dance derived from the Maxixe and followed the arrival of the Choro (another samba musical style). It left most of the Maxixe’s Polka elements behind but maintained the entwined leg movements of the Argentine Tango, although adopting a more relaxed posture than the latter.
But why is so charming?
Well, one of the most important aspect in gafieira is the male dancer’s attitude towards the female one. Here I have to introduce you the “malandragem” concept. Literally translated as “rascality” ir “naughtiness”, in the Brazilian music and cultural context, turns into a bohemian lifestyle of petty crimes and love for woman. The “malandro” is the exponent of this lifestyle, he is the "bad boy" character which is present in the Brazilian music, cinema and literature scene (in particular in Rio de Janeiro one).
Samba de Gafieira is the kingdom of “malandro”. He normally dresses in white, with a white jacket, a red and white striped t-shirt, black and white shoes, and the most important, a Panama hat. What about the of walking? One hand is always in the pocket, while the legs are moving one in front of the other, like he is walking on a line.
While he is dancing the “malandro” is protecting his partner and at the same time giving her space to his to show herself.
It is an elegant and fine seduction play, where malandro is constantly looking at her partner, surprising her with improvisations, and giving her the possibility to ho show herself with solos.
Nowadays Gafieira has evolved a lot, near to the traditional style, that is the one I have described to you previously, there is a more and more mixture with Hip-Pop and contemporary dance styles. The most important style to remind is samba funkeado, a type of gafieira where the dancing flow is interrupted with movements that speed up and stop fastly at each moment. Besides, in the funkeado style the couple modify continuously distance between them.
Here an example of funkeado style and music:
Jimmy de Oliveira & Bruna Sousa Samba Funkeado
When people ask me why I like so much Samba de Gafiera I reply that gafieira means a lot for me, means elegance, seduction, laugh, improvisation, and having fun.
Are you still wondering why I like so much Samba de Gafieira?
Here some replies:
Samba de Gafieira - Anderson Mendes e Brenda Carvalho
Leo & Robertinha show
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| Couple dancing Samba de Gafieira |
It is a partner dance that incorporates Carnival Samba, Salsa and Argentine Tango concepts. The dance derived from the Maxixe and followed the arrival of the Choro (another samba musical style). It left most of the Maxixe’s Polka elements behind but maintained the entwined leg movements of the Argentine Tango, although adopting a more relaxed posture than the latter.
But why is so charming?
Well, one of the most important aspect in gafieira is the male dancer’s attitude towards the female one. Here I have to introduce you the “malandragem” concept. Literally translated as “rascality” ir “naughtiness”, in the Brazilian music and cultural context, turns into a bohemian lifestyle of petty crimes and love for woman. The “malandro” is the exponent of this lifestyle, he is the "bad boy" character which is present in the Brazilian music, cinema and literature scene (in particular in Rio de Janeiro one).
Samba de Gafieira is the kingdom of “malandro”. He normally dresses in white, with a white jacket, a red and white striped t-shirt, black and white shoes, and the most important, a Panama hat. What about the of walking? One hand is always in the pocket, while the legs are moving one in front of the other, like he is walking on a line.
 |
| Malandro |
While he is dancing the “malandro” is protecting his partner and at the same time giving her space to his to show herself.
It is an elegant and fine seduction play, where malandro is constantly looking at her partner, surprising her with improvisations, and giving her the possibility to ho show herself with solos.
Nowadays Gafieira has evolved a lot, near to the traditional style, that is the one I have described to you previously, there is a more and more mixture with Hip-Pop and contemporary dance styles. The most important style to remind is samba funkeado, a type of gafieira where the dancing flow is interrupted with movements that speed up and stop fastly at each moment. Besides, in the funkeado style the couple modify continuously distance between them.
Here an example of funkeado style and music:
Jimmy de Oliveira & Bruna Sousa Samba Funkeado
When people ask me why I like so much Samba de Gafiera I reply that gafieira means a lot for me, means elegance, seduction, laugh, improvisation, and having fun.
Are you still wondering why I like so much Samba de Gafieira?
Here some replies:
Samba de Gafieira - Anderson Mendes e Brenda Carvalho
Leo & Robertinha show
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