Lambada

Lambada is a Brazilian dance and the associated music style that emerged in the Amazon region of Brazil during the early 1980s. It developed as a fusion of Afro-Brazilian rhythms such as carimbó and maxixe, along with other regional styles. The dance is performed by couples in a close hold, often with a circle or line formation, and it is known for its fluid hip movements and a sinuous, inviting walk-like step sequence. The music is upbeat and rhythmic, typically featuring guitar-driven melodies and percussion that emphasize a tropical, danceable tempo.

The dance gained international prominence in 1989 when the French-Brazilian group Kaoma released the global hit "Lambada." The song helped spark a worldwide fascination with the dance and contributed to a late-1980s wave of Latin-influenced pop music. The melody of Kaoma’s recording drew on a Bolivian track by the group Los Kjarkas, "Llorando se fue," prompting legal disputes over copyright and leading to settlements.

In terms of style, Lambada is characterized by a short, gliding step pattern, rapid hip action, and coordinated partner turns, often performed with the music’s strong syncopation. While the original craze subsided in the 1990s, Lambada remains a notable example of a dance form that achieved global reach in a brief period and influenced subsequent Latin and Caribbean dance scenes, including connections to the spread of zouk-inspired styles in the Americas and Europe.