A ballroom dance of Brazilian origin, popularized in western Europe and America in the early 1940s.  Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance in 2/4 time but there are three steps to every bar, making the Samba feel like a 3/4 timed dance.  It is characterized by simple forward and backward steps and tilting, rocking body movements. Couples, in ballroom position, dance in place or around the floor but partners may separate to execute variant steps.