Intl. vs. American: Samba

[suburbaknght]

What are the differences between international and American samba, technique-wise?

Also, is anyone familiar with the Chris Morris American samba variations videos from Dancevision? Are they worthwhile or would I be better off with the international variations DVDs by Max and Yulia? This is for a non-competitive showcase piece.

[and123]

I have the Chris Morris variations (on VHS). You're welcome to borrow them if you want. Should be fine for exhibition purposes. FWIW I notice more "bounce" in the American style videos, but these are rather dated. Actually, what bothered me most was the female demonstrating the steps did it in closed-toe dance shoes. That HAD to have hurt! :shock:

[Leonid Turetsky]

I think there isn't much difference btw Intl and American style Samba technique....
Although I don't know for sure, I would speculate the American Samba came out of International style.....And just the figures were made more social friendly.....Maybe someone else here knows?

[emkey]

weird though I don't think I've seen american style samba in competition

[and123]

It's only done in Pro-Am as far as I know.

[suburbaknght]

Figure-wise I see a lot of Latin in American samba. When I dance American Viennese with standard dancers I tell them, "it's like samba, but without the bounce."

And123, I thank you for your very generous offer, but I think I'd need to hold on to them for longer than would be appropriate. I've had some DV points burning a hole in my account so I expect I'll pick up the tapes for this. Thanks for the review, though.

[dlgodud]

It's only done in Pro-Am as far as I know.

May I ask what category the American Samba is danced? In American smooth? I've never heard that American Samba is danced in competition either.

[suburbaknght]

It's danced as part of rhythm. In competitions with extensive American-trained competitors (read: most franchise-sponsored comps.) rhythm becomes a catch all category. It usually breaks down as follows:

Smooth
Waltz
Tango
Foxtrot
Viennese Waltz
Peabody *
Argentine Tango **
Quickstep ***

Rhythm
Cha Cha
Rumba
East Coast Swing
Bolero
Mambo
Samba
Salsa
Hustle
West Coast Swing ****
Merengue
Bachata
Paso Doble ***

Country
Country Two-Step
Texas Two-Step
Country Waltz
Country Swing
Polka *****
Nightclub Two-Step *****

* Used to be a primary smooth style.
** I'm wagering that within ten years you'll see Argentine as the fifth smooth style for all competitions.
*** International style but may be danced under the American heading if insufficient international entries.
**** May be danced as part of country.
***** May be danced as part of rhythm.

[tangotime]

....
Although I don't know for sure, I would speculate the American Samba came out of International style.....



There are no Intern. style dances ( Q.S. is moot ) that are ENGLISH , if you will.

They were all being taught in the States( rhythm dances ) as a social non competitive style format, long before they were adapted to the Comp. field as we now know them .

And , the Intern.style Samba. "came out " of the Amer. style which was preceded by its Brasilian origins .

In reality, the Intern. Latin did not have a World championship category until 1960 ,and the " British " until 64.

Essentially, what the UK did, was to reconstruct some dances ( like Rumba for e.g. ) into a new format, whereas the Americans retained the Square style ( still do ) .And of course, Jive is the classic e.g. of reconstructuion.

[suburbaknght]

Interesting. So you're saying the real history is Carnival samba -> maxixe -> American samba -> international. That actually explains a lot.

[dlgodud]

It's danced as part of rhythm. In competitions with extensive American-trained competitors (read: most franchise-sponsored comps.) rhythm becomes a catch all category. It usually breaks down as follows:

Smooth
Waltz
Tango
Foxtrot
Viennese Waltz
Peabody *
Argentine Tango **
Quickstep ***

Rhythm
Cha Cha
Rumba
East Coast Swing
Bolero
Mambo
Samba
Salsa
Hustle
West Coast Swing ****
Merengue
Bachata
Paso Doble ***

Country
Country Two-Step
Texas Two-Step
Country Waltz
Country Swing
Polka *****
Nightclub Two-Step *****

* Used to be a primary smooth style.
** I'm wagering that within ten years you'll see Argentine as the fifth smooth style for all competitions.
*** International style but may be danced under the American heading if insufficient international entries.
**** May be danced as part of country.
***** May be danced as part of rhythm.

I mean American rhythm. lol......Thank you for clarifying though. ;)

[NielsenE]

The american samba I've seen at new england FADS tend to emphasis the bounce action, tends to use 1 & 2 timing exclusively, and tends to replace voltas with side-close. Otherwise its look like Latin.

[samina]

(hi nielsie!!! *waving*)

[etp777]

I don't dance samba, except for two pros who make me, but definitely fame bounce and count here, both with our FA only pros and ones who came out of independent international training, here or abroad. Can't remember what a volta is, so can't speak for that. :)

[suburbaknght]

The american samba I've seen at new england FADS tend to emphasis the bounce action, tends to use 1 & 2 timing exclusively, and tends to replace voltas with side-close. Otherwise its look like Latin.
All American samba syllabi I've seen, including those of a franchise studio, began as you're describing (emphasize bounce, focus on 1a2timing, side-chasses rater than voltas) in low bronze but became more expansive in upper levels. DVIDA, for example, uses the side-close steps (they call it extended samba box) in junior bronze (http://dancevision.com/files/dvida/DVIDA%20American%20Rhythm%20Bronze%20Syllabus%20Fi gures.pdf) (.pdf link) but voltas in full bronze.

[Angel HI]

What are the differences between international and American samba, technique-wise?
To simply answer the question....."Nothing".
Interesting. So you're saying the real history is Carnival samba -> maxixe -> American samba -> international. That actually explains a lot.Not to answer for TT, but yes. We know that BR samba is based on Carib samba...not Brazilian samba (Carioca), though, there are several steps/movements that cross over between the 3 styles, Carib, Amer, Brazilian.

[etp777]

Interesting. Explains the differences I've seen there.

Err, differences between brazilian and international, not int/american.

[waltzguy]

I think American style ballroom dancing is just like American culture. It's a melting pot mish-mash of all sorts of things put together. After a while, you don't know what's what.
:uplaugh: