Like Argentine Tango, Gafieira is danced in either open embrace, where lead and follow connect at arm's length, or close embrace, where the lead and follow connect chest-to-chest.
Passo basico Passo basico ("
Basic step"), sometimes called Quadrado ("square") or Quadradinho ("little square"), is a simple beginner's step with rhythm "quick-quick-slow, quick-quick-slow" over a 4 beat measure (1&2, 3&4). While "Quadrado" is sometimes translated as "
box step", is not really a box step; its footprint is rather similar to the "Basic movement" of the international ballroom
Samba syllabus: there is no side step typical of the box step. The lateral movements on
one and
two and on
five and
six are almost in place (or sometimes on
one moving the left foot slightly forward and on
five moving the right foot slightly backward). Often only a half of the
passo basico is used, e.g., as part of other, more complicated step patterns or as an entry in the dance.
Saída Lateral The Saída Lateral or Saída ao lado (both literally mean "exit to side", "lateral exit", sometimes translated as "right
cross body lead") step is used to enter or exit many other more elaborate Gafieira steps. To execute the figure, start with the first 5 footsteps of the
Passo Basico, with the leader's 5th step taken slightly backwards, slightly parting from the follower. The leader's 6th (slow, right foot) step is forward left across the standing foot outside the partner. The follower's 6th step is backward sideways, crossing the left foot behind. In descriptions of more complicated patterns, "Saída ao Lado" often refers to only the last three described steps. ==Syllabus==