ARTICLES ON DANCECENTRAL

What is Lambada?

Lambada

This dance form is an example of a partnered dance. In classes a choreographed sequence is generally taught, but in practice it is an improvised dance. (Editor).

"Lambada is a partnered Latin dance that has a slow-quick-quick rhythm, danced to a 1---3-4 beat. It incorporates elements of other Latin dances such as Merengue, Samba, Rumbo and Maxixe. It is distinguished from other forms of Latin dance through the wave-like motion of the dancers’ bodies, which gives the dance its name: Lambada is a Portuguese word referring to the wave-like motion of a whip. When dancing Lambada, the dancers’ hips are closely positioned and create a fast-paced swaying action from side-to-side. Its association with ‘dirty dancing’ is fiercely protested by professional Lambada dancers, who insist that the moves are graceful and should not have any sleazy overtones.

This Latin dance is thought to have originated in Brazil in the 1980’s from the Lambada music performed by Brazilian pop bands such as Kaoma. The 1990 movie ‘Lambada’ then ensured its world-wide fame. Lambada music then began to disappear in the early 1990’s and dancers were forced to practice to alternative musical genres. Zouk music, from West Africa and the French Caribbean, has become the most common music genre today and Zouk-Lambada is now a widespread adaptation of the Lambada of the 1980’s." Nichola Manning"

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