How to Dance Samba Voltas: Travelling, Circular and Spot

footwork hip action latin samba technique

The short answer: there are three main groups of Samba Voltas. Travelling Voltas move down the room, Circular Voltas follow the inside of a circle, and Spot Voltas turn on the spot. All three are counted 1-a-2-a-3-a-4, with the back steps on the quick "a" counts. Build them in layers: a tight Latin cross with your feet on two train tracks, then the hip action, then rib cage motion with your shoulder weight settling into the hip.

What are the three types of Samba Voltas?

Voltas are one of the most important steps in Samba. There's no routine you would ever dance without them. The three main groups are Travelling Voltas, which move down the room and can curve and start to turn, Circular Voltas, where the foot moves around the inside of a circle, and Spot Voltas, which stay on the spot. In the video I show you the errors people make in all three and how professionals dance them.

What is a Latin cross in a Samba Volta?

The Latin cross is the toe of the back foot in line with the heel of the front foot. It must happen straight away, every time the moving foot crosses in front. As my coach used to tell me, there should be no daylight between your thighs: the back knee and front knee connect, and that's what lets your hip action work later on. Then think of two train tracks. The moving foot travels on one track and the back foot stays on its own track, so it never comes in front.

Why do Samba Voltas feel so fast?

When Voltas feel out of balance and out of control, people think the speed is the problem. The music isn't too fast. You're too slow with the right technique, executed at the right time. The back steps are only a quarter of a beat, so they need to be quick and on the ball of the foot. Using your hips, rib cage and shoulder weight to project your body weight into each step is what lets you conquer the speed.

How do you build a better Samba Volta?

In the video I build the Volta from the feet up, from beginner to pro:

Feet: start with the moving foot to the side, pointed on the inside of the toe, with the hip up and the other knee flexed. Cross into a Latin cross straight away, with no daylight between the thighs.
Two train tracks: keep a tight base. The moving foot stays on its own track and the back foot stays on the other, even in Travelling Voltas.
Hip action: let the hips start the movement and the foot respond. Contract the hips to move the foot, rotate them to pull the body into the next step (going left, they rotate rightward), then extend on the bounce. Contract, rotate, extend.
Rib cage motion: as the hip rotates and extends, the rib cage moves towards the direction you're travelling. Keep it controlled. There is such a thing as too wiggly.
Shoulder weight: as you contract, settle the shoulder weight into the contracted hip, like a sponge, so you stay down rather than rising up. The shoulder weight also helps the hips rotate.
Timing: 1-a-2-a-3-a-4. Each back step is on an "a", a quarter of a beat on the ball of the foot, which leaves three quarters of a beat for each crossing step and a whole beat for the last step into the next movement.

Common mistakes

Twisting the feet and letting the back foot come in front, which creates a zigzag and stops you using your body rhythm.
Crossing too wide, so the movement gets big and loses its shape.
Leaving daylight between the thighs instead of connecting the knees in the Latin cross.
Starting the movement with the foot instead of the hip action and settling.
Rising up through the shoulders instead of settling the shoulder weight into the hip.

Try this in your next practice

Stand on the spot and bounce, then add hip and rib, hip and rib, and feel how your body weight wants to project into the step. Then dance four Travelling Voltas with the feet only, checking the Latin cross and your two train tracks. When that feels solid, add the hip action, then the rib cage and shoulder weight, one layer at a time.

Frequently asked questions

How fast is Samba music?

WDSF competition rules set Samba at 50 to 52 bars a minute.

How do you count a Samba Volta?

1-a-2-a-3-a-4. The back steps are on the "a" counts, a quarter of a beat, so they're very fast and on the ball of the foot only.

Do Spot Voltas use the same hip and rib action?

Yes, but smaller. The tighter you turn, the less of the hip and rib action you show. The contraction and extension are still there.

What should I check first if my Voltas feel off balance?

Your feet. If you have problems with balance, coordination or the speed of the movement, check your Latin cross and your two train tracks straight away.

Is this lesson suitable for beginners?

Yes. It starts with the feet and builds up to the hip action and rib cage motion, so you can use it from the first time you learn Voltas right up to the top.

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Vaughan Liddicoat is a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia, an accredited coach and the founder of Ballroom Mastery. He has a passion for dance and wants to help you become the best dancer you can be and have an amazing time doing it.

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