samba, ballroom dance of Brazilian origin, popularized in western Europe and the United States in the early 1940s. Characterized by simple forward and backward steps and tilting, rocking body movements, it is danced to music in 4/4 time with syncopated rhythm., Explore the history of samba music from Afro-Brazilian roots to Rio Carnaval - key rhythms, instruments and social impact. Learn more, Present in the Portuguese language at least since the 19th century, the word ‘samba’ was used to designate ‘popular dance’ and is a prefix to several rhythmic variants such as ‘samba de Roda’ – rural samba, ‘samba carioca’ and others., How did samba music emerge in Brazil? Discover the rhythms, culture, and history that created this iconic sound. Click to dive into samba’s fascinating roots!, Samba is almost as old as Brazil. It was born in the engenhos or sugar cane mills in Salvador da Bahia, in the northeastern coast of the country. Founded in 1549, this settlement was the first capital of Portuguese America until 1763., From the African influence on the Portuguese spoken in Brazil, to the country’s cuisine, music, dance, religious traditions, and ways of life, African cultural legacies have made an immeasurable and ever-evolving contribution to Latin America’s largest state..