What is this Wales Samba all about, huh? Let me tell ya, it ain’t somethin’ us old folks in the village used to do. Sounds fancy, like somethin’ from them big cities.
I heard tell it’s got some kinda music, this “Samba” thing. They say it’s got a beat, ya know, like when you’re tappin’ your feet to a good ol’ fiddle tune. But this here Samba, it’s different. They use all sorts of drums and things, not just fiddles and guitars. Them city folks always gotta be different, don’t they? This music, it’s all about rhythm, they say. It’s got “patterns” and “melodies”. Sounds complicated if you ask me. I like a good simple tune, somethin’ you can hum along to while you’re churnin’ butter.
And then there’s the dancin’! Now, I like a good jig at a barn dance, but this Samba dancin’ sounds like a whole different animal. They got these fancy names for the steps, like “Voltas” and “Bota Fogos”. Sounds like somethin’ you’d shout out when you’re tryin’ to get the cows back in the pasture! They even got somethin’ called a “Samba Strut”. I bet that’s somethin’ to see! All them city folk struttin’ around like peacocks. There’s also talk of “side steps” and “kicks”, which makes me wonder if they’re dancin’ or fightin’!
- Samba Steps:Voltas, Bota Fogos, Strut, Side steps, and Kicks. They say it’s got three steps for every two beats of the music. That don’t make no sense to me. How can ya have more steps than beats? City folks and their crazy ways! They call it “long quick, short quick.” Sounds like they’re in a hurry to get somewhere.
- Samba Music:It’s got a beat that’s different from our village music. They use drums and other thumpin’ things. The music is in 2/4 time but the dancing uses three steps, whatever that means.
They say this Samba, it ain’t just about movin’ your feet. It’s about “technique” and “timing”. Sounds like hard work to me. When I dance, I just move however the music tells me to. I ain’t got no time for all that fancy footwork. But them city folks, they like to make things complicated, always gotta be learnin’ somethin’ new.
I heard tell there’s folks teachin’ this Samba dancin’ now. You can go to a class and learn all them fancy steps. They’ll teach ya the “basics” and then move on to the “advanced” stuff. Sounds like school all over again, and I thought I was done with schoolin’ when I left the one-room schoolhouse back in the day! They start with a “warmup”, which I guess is like stretchin’ before you go out to the fields. Then they teach ya “signals”, which sounds like secret handshakes to me.
So, what’s the big deal with this Wales Samba? Well, I guess it’s just another way for folks to have fun and express themselves. It might not be my cup of tea, but if them city folks wanna prance around to some drum music, well, that’s their business. Me, I’ll stick to my good ol’ fiddle tunes and square dancin’. At least that’s somethin’ I understand.
But I gotta say, all this talk of steps and beats and rhythms, it does make you think. Maybe there’s more to dancin’ than just stompin’ your feet. Maybe them city folks are onto somethin’ with their Samba. But still, I reckon a good old fashioned jig is hard to beat. You can jump, you can twirl, and you don’t need no fancy steps or signals. Just good music and a good partner.
Maybe someday I’ll give this Samba a try. Maybe I’ll even learn them fancy steps. But don’t hold your breath. I’m an old dog, and it’s hard to learn new tricks. And besides, I’d probably just end up trippin’ over my own two feet and laughin’ myself silly. But hey, that’s part of the fun, ain’t it? Even if you don’t know what you’re doin’, as long as you’re havin’ a good time, that’s all that matters. And that, I reckon, is somethin’ that folks in the city and folks in the village can both agree on.
So, whether it’s Samba or square dancin’, jig or waltz, just get out there and move your feet! That’s what I say. Don’t worry about lookin’ silly, just enjoy yourself. Life’s too short to be standin’ still.
