When slave traders of the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries brought slaves from Africa on sailing ships, they thought only of how to make money from cheap labor. But along with the new people, elements of a foreign culture – dances, songs, rhythms – came to the American continent. Originating in the dry, hot climate of Africa, samba formed and took shape as a separate movement in South America. From there it has penetrated into the European continent.

Information about the origin of the dance is contradictory. Some sources say it originated in the 17th century in the Pedra do Sal neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, where there was a large slave market. Others point to the state of Bahia in eastern Brazil as the birthplace. Over time, samba took root in the big cities, penetrated into remote areas, small villages and became the national Brazilian dance.

Where the word samba came from is uncertain. There are several versions:

1) from the Angolan “semba” (so called one of the basic elements of ritual African dance);

2) from the word “saamba” from the language group of the nationalities of Congo (this term meant a ritual “initiation”, when a person received a new social status in the community);

3) from the African “kumba” (“to love”, “beloved”).

In addition to the utilitarian, there is a poetic interpretation of the word samba. Sometimes the term is translated as “sadness, longing for the homeland.

It reflects the spirit of Brazilians, their mood, philosophy of life, national character. People of Brazil believe that a foreigner can not reliably convey all the movements of this truly popular dance, as a representative of the Brazilian people is unlikely to dance Kamarinskaya. In either case, we will get a pathetic copy of the original.

Originally, the African dance was supposed to be a solo performance – paired elements appeared in it, thanks to the European cultural tradition.

Samba first appeared in the eastern (coastal) regions of Brazil. Gradually, the dance evolved, penetrating into the large cities and small villages. Like any folkloric phenomenon, it became variable, acquiring specific local features. In this regard, samba can be compared with the development of language: there is a literary version of speech, and there are local dialects, which may not be understood by a resident of another area. The same metamorphosis happened with the dance. Urban samba is not the same as in the countryside; the dance of one region of Brazil is very different from another.

Of course, such a rousing and free dance could only take root in a country with a warm climate, where the average annual temperature does not drop below 20°C. Brazil was a fertile place, where samba put down strong roots, but also was enriched by the traditions of the European waltz, as well as rock ‘n’ roll and disco.