The Lambada

[Spitfire]

The Lambada; that notorious dance that made a run back in 1990. Is it completely dead or is it still being done in some areas of the country?

[DanceMentor]

I did the Lambada a couple of times several years ago. I can't remember how it goes. Isn't it kind of a slow samba?

[Spitfire]

I did the Lambada a couple of times several years ago. I can't remember how it goes. Isn't it kind of a slow samba?

I took a class and from what I recall the steps were kind of like triple time to a more Salsa or Samba rhythm...

I never actually went out and did it though.

[DanceMentor]

This seems to be a pretty good explanation taken from a Brazilian culture site (http://www.maria-brazil.org/).
The word lambada refers both to the rhythm - a fusion of carimbó and merengue - and to the dance, which incorporates elements of forró, samba, merengue and maxixe (the 19th century Brazilian dance which was a tremendous success in Europe). The dance is sexy, yes, but it is danced by all kinds of people, of all ages and sexes, without the "dirty" connotations given to it by very bad Hollywood movies. It's very graceful, fast-paced, and believe me, when you have to move your feet and body that fast on the dance floor without tripping all over yourself and falling on the dance floor, the LAST thing on your mind is sex...Anyway, the rhythm originated in the Amazon, was later adopted by Bahians, who proceeded to create the steps...and the rest is history!

...but I can't seem to find a reference to the basic step pattern.

[Spitfire]

This seems to be a pretty good explanation taken from a Brazilian culture site (http://www.maria-brazil.org/).
The word lambada refers both to the rhythm - a fusion of carimbó and merengue - and to the dance, which incorporates elements of forró, samba, merengue and maxixe (the 19th century Brazilian dance which was a tremendous success in Europe). The dance is sexy, yes, but it is danced by all kinds of people, of all ages and sexes, without the "dirty" connotations given to it by very bad Hollywood movies. It's very graceful, fast-paced, and believe me, when you have to move your feet and body that fast on the dance floor without tripping all over yourself and falling on the dance floor, the LAST thing on your mind is sex...Anyway, the rhythm originated in the Amazon, was later adopted by Bahians, who proceeded to create the steps...and the rest is history!

...but I can't seem to find a reference to the basic step pattern.

David, I have a book on the Lambada that I purchased at the time. It describes the basic step pattern this way...

Left , right, left, (like triple time) then kick with right foot...
Right, left, right, and kick with left foot...

That's right, there's a kick in there.

[DanceMentor]

Ah, yes...now it's coming back to me :D
I had someone from Brazil show me how to doit a long time ago, but I couldn't remember.
Isn't there a forward and back movement similar to samba?
Also, does your book mention some of the basic patterns?

[Spitfire]

Ah, yes...now it's coming back to me :D
I had someone from Brazil show me how to doit a long time ago, but I couldn't remember.
Isn't there a forward and back movement similar to samba?
Also, does your book mention some of the basic patterns?

I remember it as being more side to side then forward and back. Yes, it does mention basic patterns as it is an instruction book.

[pygmalion]

Huh? Lambada? Isn't that a movie? Did anybody see it? If so, did they do the actual dance in the movie? I found a British video company (Kelkoo Films) that's selling an instructional video called Lambada Me. Cute, huh? (Get it? Lobotomy? :lol: ) I wouldn't mind learning the dance, myself. Anything involving dirty dancing is okay by me! :lol: :D

[Swing Kitten]

What? What about Labamba? :lol:

[pygmalion]

You will not believe this, but I just found a Lambada Instructional video tape made by Kathy Blake for Butterfly Video -- actually Lambada 1 and 2. Amazing the useless, or sometimes even useful, information that's out there waiting to be had. :D

Edit: Just for the record, I did not find this video in google. I found it advertised on the back of Dancing USA magazine. So there! :lol:

[Spitfire]

Huh? Lambada? Isn't that a movie? Did anybody see it? If so, did they do the actual dance in the movie? I found a British video company (Kelkoo Films) that's selling an instructional video called Lambada Me. Cute, huh? (Get it? Lobotomy? :lol: ) I wouldn't mind learning the dance, myself. Anything involving dirty dancing is okay by me! :lol: :D

There were two Lambada movies and neither one had much to do with dancing. :roll:

[Pacion]

The lambada is still alive here but I believe you have to look for it as salsa has taken over. You can still find the classes advertised from time to time but no way in the same way as salsa.

It is interesting that salsa has so many people who 'teach' today and lambada never mushroomed the same way :roll:

[Sakura]

Hmm... Lambada... I believe this was mentioned by Genesius, Pacion, and a few others to me in the fashion that if my mother had seen that movie, I would never dance again. (Must find the link.)

Huh? Lambada? Isn't that a movie? Did anybody see it? If so, did they do the actual dance in the movie? I found a British video company (Kelkoo Films) that's selling an instructional video called Lambada Me. Cute, huh? (Get it? Lobotomy? :lol: ) I wouldn't mind learning the dance, myself. Anything involving dirty dancing is okay by me! :lol: :D

1. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Lobotomy!!!!!! =^___^=

2. It is a movie. Anybody who watched "I love the 90s" here in the States on VH1 would have seen it starring in its very own segment, with the lovely Hal Sparks giving his bit on it. *smiles and sighs happily* Now, *that* was funny...

Funnily enough, I was asking myself this very same question just yesterday, about whether the Lambada had died, and if it was really that "sex-focused" dance, Lambada had made it out to be. :D 8)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Pacion]

The funny thing is that if danced PROPERLY ie. the guy isn't squeezing you to him because he is thinking "Ooooh woman! Don't know when I will hold another one so let me hold this one tight!", you are in contact for just a few seconds before being spun out again :?

[Nicodarius]

Hi,

Not sure if this is where i should post this but someone said they couldn't find the steps for the basic lambada, they're on this site if they're still interested...

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/susan.foord/dance/dancel.htm

Seeya,

Nico

[Sagitta]

Thanks Nico, and welcome to df! :)

[etchuck]

Lambada... it's sorta like the salsa version of balboa. Just a lot less motion except in the pelvic area.

[cocodrilo]

The lambada is a fast, sexy dance involving L-R swaying motion of the hips, occaional grinding, and I'm sure most of you who've been to latin gigs have seen it sometime or other. I dance it on occasion, when a lambada tune comes on, and most of my latino friends know it or can easily pick it up once we start(they have the moves!).

The music was popular here in Japan about 10 years or so ago, but it never caught on (too "risque" for the Japanese at that time?).

[dancin_feet]

We do the lambada at our studio. Not everyone does it, because of it's sexy reputation, but I am beginning to love it!!

It certainly helps to have a few leads that are prepared to do a proper lambada (close hold) instead of at arms length. Really makes you feel sexy too. I think it has to do with the feet being at shoulder width and the rolling of the hips that does it. Most people can't get the hang of keeping your feet apart. A bit like the old cowboy stance. :lol: Rather than a "kick" our syllabus explains as a 1,2,3,flick. Kicking could imply a big kick, where people could definitely get hurt. :shock:

[cocodrilo]

Yeah, it IS a really close dance. I have to say that I've only done it with good male friends and a couple of times with girlfriends. I don't know if I'd want to get that close and grind hips with a total stranger, no matter how good a dancer he may be. :?

[etchuck]

Okay... to what I wanted to say. Lambada... gosh how 90's. That was the dance that I learned when I first arrived onto my undergraduate campus by the graduate students I associated with. Fortunately there isn't much to lambada... not like you have a ton of figures to remember. It's all about style there. :-D

[Sakura]

:D Thanks Nico! And to echo Sagitta, welcome to DF! =^_^=

No matter whether it was danced "properly" or not, I still think I'd be banned from dancing forever if my mum ever saw me doing it!!!! :lol:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[salsachinita]

The lambada is still alive here but I believe you have to look for it as salsa has taken over. You can still find the classes advertised from time to time but no way in the same way as salsa.

Ok, I believe the lambada you're talking about here is somewhat different to the original on from the early 90s most of us knew/learnt. It is technically 'zouk', as the London scene is generally packaged as "Zouk/Lambada" & run side by side with salsa nights some times.

I've written a bit about it: http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?p=24628&highlight=zouk#24628

BTW, you guys are gonna laugh: the only instructional video I own is a lambada one, from Japan :shock: :lol: (cheesy really isn't the word)!

[Sakura]

BTW, you guys are gonna laugh: the only instructional video I own is a lambada one, from Japan :shock: :lol: (cheesy really isn't the word)!

:lol: :lol: :lol: I would pay to see that!

SK :kitty:

[Pacion]

The lambada is still alive here but I believe you have to look for it as salsa has taken over. You can still find the classes advertised from time to time but no way in the same way as salsa.

Ok, I believe the lambada you're talking about here is somewhat different to the original on from the early 90s most of us knew/learnt. It is technically 'zouk', as the London scene is generally packaged as "Zouk/Lambada" & run side by side with salsa nights some times.

I've written a bit about it: http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?p=24628&highlight=zouk#24628

BTW, you guys are gonna laugh: the only instructional video I own is a lambada one, from Japan :shock: :lol: (cheesy really isn't the word)!

No, I don't believe it is zouk as the teachers are brazilian :? and yes, there is a promoter here who organises events with four rooms - salsa, lambada, RnB and something else, I believe it is lambada and not a hybrid of Zouk & Lambada. :D

Just read the thread and I noticed you mentioned Zouk coming from the french Caribbean/Brazil? The Zouk I am familiar with is from the African continent :?

[salsachinita]

I noticed you mentioned Zouk coming from the french Caribbean/Brazil? The Zouk I am familiar with is from the African continent :?

Ok, when I said French Caribean/Brazilian, I'm actually talking about the desendents from Africa. Zouk has a *very* strong connection with the Afro roots........while the music is generally sung in French or Portugese.

[Anonymous]

ah, yes- I remember "The Forbidden Dance"

Ok, I am a complete unseasoned newbie to anything dancing, but I know that THAT was NOT what Lambada should be like... maybe two-dollah-hoe, but not lambada.

The other one called Lambada I didn't see, but I'm sure it contained a similar quantity of CORN.

I personally liked "Dance With Me", because now with the beauty of DVD on computer, I can slow down the motion and try to emulate.

I like Valenzuela's style, despite having little to compare it to. Very sharp, concise, yet not lacking in expression, and he's got the cocky swagger NAILED DOWN.