The Samba, also known as the Brazilian Waltz is African, South American Indian, and Portuguese in origin. The many complex rhythms and patterns of Samba can be traced back to the trance-like music of Brazilian religions.

Samba was introduced in the United States in the 1920's in a Broadway play called "Street Carnival". The festive style and mood of the dance has kept it alive and popular to this day. Samba music is always joyful, especially at Carnaval time (Mardi Gras), in which thousands of musicians and dancers participate in the pre-Lenten celebrations.

The Samba differs from other formal dance forms in that it uses groups of four to six step movements incorporating side-to-side, forward-and-backward, and circular motions.

This high energy dance, when practiced outside of its native country, is characterized by a bouncing or dropping action obtained by bending and straightening the knees. During this action, the weight is transferred from the ball to the flat of the foot.