After reading the rather long thread involving the Samba Corta Jaca, I thought is best to start a new one.

First, I'd like to say that the Revised Techniqe, part 4 - Samba, is now in print. It can be obtained from USISTD Publications, 5718 Brock St., Houston, TX 77023-5906

Samba uses a variety of rhythms. All of which are 'correct' in one sense or another. ISTD technique counts the Corta Jaca as a Slow followed by 6 Quicks, or the numerical count of 1 2& 1& 2&. 1st step is given a whole beat value. All others are half-beat values. No bounce is used.

Voltas are normally given the count of 1a2a3a4, which is the traditional beat value of 3/4, 1/4, 3/4, 1/4, 3/4, 1/4, 1. Obviously, different beat values can be used. A popular version of the volta has been included in the revised technique. It uses 1 3/4 beats for the first step, 3/4 for the 2nd step, 1 3/4 for the 3rd step, then the normal 1/4 and 3/4 values for the remaining steps.

People use different rhythms because they feel good. Sometimes, though, it's important to remember that the BASIC rhythm of any dance is there because that's how the music is written. It's difficult to express the music properly while dancing to it if we stray from the basic rhythm in which that music was written.

Samba has the basic sound of 1a2a, 1a2a built into it. In the basic action, we would straighten the legs slightly on the last 'a' of the preceding bar of music. The stepping foot would arrive in position on the first half of the 1st beat of the new bar. The legs would flex slightly during the 3rd 1/4 of that 1st beat. During the 4th 1/4 of that first beat, the legs would straighten slightly again. And, if another weight change is danced, it would occur at this point. (Although it would be a 'part weight' step) For the next step, the legs would already be in the 'straightened' position. Weight would be placed onto the foot during the 1st half of the 2nd beat of music, and the knees would then flex during the 3rd 1/4 of that beat. This leaves the 4th 1/4 of the 2nd beat for straightening the knees in preparation for the next weight change.

Keeping in mind that the 1st 'a' count is from the preceding beat of music, we could count Samba as (a) 1 & a 2 & a. Overall, then, this gives 3 counts for each beat of music. At times, this would involve 2 weight changes. In other cases, it would involve just one weight change.

When whole and half beat values are used for steps, counting in slows and quicks makes sense. Normally, bounce isn't used with this type of count due to the lack of the 'a' count.

Basically, though, we should all keep in mind the main reason for dancing - to have fun!

Phillip

------------------