| What is one of the first things that often comes to | | | | recently arrived in Brazil. In the 1980's when Brazilian |
| mind when a person thinks about Brazil? Samba. | | | | rock and disco were gaining popularity over the |
| Samba is an exciting and sensual dance that has roots | | | | Samba a fresher, underground Samba emerged in the |
| in Africa and Europe but has always been recognized | | | | Rio suburbs, which incorporated Samba with the banjo |
| as a symbol of Brazil. Samba is the most popular form | | | | and the tan-tan changing the language of the music to |
| of expression in Brazil and is an icon for Brazilian | | | | meet the needs of communities changing tastes. |
| identity. | | | | Samba has merged with Caribbean beats to create |
| The modern samba has a 2/4 tempo, and is | | | | samba-rap, samba-reggae and samba-rock. It seems |
| traditionally played by strings and more varied | | | | that whatever music flows into Brazil, soon enough it |
| percussion instruments like the tambourine. Nowadays | | | | emerges with a samba twist. The national beats have |
| you'll often see some brass and woodwind | | | | been laid down, and the people are proud and ready |
| instruments thrown in: trombones and trumpets and | | | | to show the world, who the best Samba dancers are |
| chor, flute and clarinet. | | | | every year during Carnival. No one else is really a |
| Samba is more than a dance. It is a people. It is a | | | | contender. |
| culture. It is a cuisine, a style, a dress, and a party. | | | | No Brazil vacation would be complete without a visit to |
| National Samba Day is on December 2 when the | | | | a Samba school to see high quality dancing or perhaps |
| whole country of Brazil celebrates their national | | | | to even go out for an evening of Samba dancing |
| pastime. During Rio Carnival, arguably the biggest and | | | | yourself. The locals would be happy to teach you. So |
| most important party of the year, thousands and | | | | put your dancing shoes on and book your Brazil |
| thousands of people dance the Samba in the | | | | vacation. |
| Sambadromo, Samba schools spending small fortunes | | | | While you're in Rio, you can tour Sugarloaf Mountain, |
| to prepare unique and fantastic performances to the | | | | Christ the Redeemer, at night you'll dance some |
| crowds in Rio. | | | | samba, and experience the pulsing Rio nightlife. In Brazil |
| With the evolution of music in the 20th century, Samba | | | | you don't want to miss Iguazu Falls, the most amazing |
| has stayed in step with the times, fusing with different | | | | waterfalls in the world which you can tour from both |
| beats, crossing genres, etc. In the 1960's Samba music | | | | the Brazil side and the Argentina side. And since you're |
| expanded to create Samba-funk, which fused | | | | on the border, and you're already dancing samba so |
| traditional Samba with an American funk group | | | | well, why not learn to dance the Tango in Argentina. |