Samba de Gafieira

Samba de Gafieira (also called Gafieira) is a partner dance to the Brazilian samba musical rhythms. Unlike various street and club forms of Brazilian samba, it evolved as a ballroom dance (dança de salão, literally, "salon dance").

Samba de Gafieira must be distinguished from the ballroom Samba, danced in International Latin and American Rhythm ballroom dance styles.

Gafieira is usually a pair dance, although in artistic performances it is not uncommon to add solo variations, including steps of Samba no Pé.

The word "gafieira" can also refer to the traditional samba music orchestra, as well as the dance hall where it is performed. The term gafieira was Brazilian Portuguese slang meaning "low dancing resort, gaff, honky-tonk" or "dance festivity frequented by the populace".

The style originated from samba dancing in cabarets and gafieiras (hence the name, literally meaning "Samba of gafieira"), primarily in districts of Botafogo, Catete and Centro of Rio de Janeiro. The term gained recognition in 1940s. Over time the style significantly evolved away from the style 1940s under significant influence of Argentine Tango and incorporating many acrobatic elements."

Like Argentine Tango, Gafieira is danced in either open embrace, where lead and follow connect at arms length, or close embrace, where the lead and follow connect chest-to-chest.

Passo basico ("Basic step", sometimes called Quadrado ("box step") or Quadradinho) is a simple beginner's step with rhythm "quick-quick-slow" over 4 beat measure.

It is not really a box step, but rather similar to the "Basic movement" of the international ballroom Samba syllabus, and its 8-beat basis step sequence is performed in reverse, with the leader moving his left foot back on three and his right foot forward on seven.

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