Wednesdays with Rapha
Two progressive Samba classes designed to help you build strong foundations and grow from them.
Start from the beginning with Beginner 1, or take the next step with Beginner 2 as you develop more vocabulary, coordination and confidence.
New to Samba? This is where your journey starts.
BEGINNER 1 SAMBA
18:30–19:45
With Rapha
📍 Proto Studio
Beginner 1
If you're completely new, start here. If you already have some Samba foundations, keep scrolling to discover Beginner 2 ↓
Your Samba foundations start here.
Beginner 1 is designed for dancers who are completely new to Samba or still building their foundations.
You don't need previous Samba or dance experience. We start from the beginning and take the time to understand the mechanics behind the movement.
You'll learn the fundamental Samba no pé step and gradually develop the coordination, rhythm and body awareness needed to feel more comfortable in your dancing.
We’ll work on:
Samba no pé fundamentals
Understanding weight transfers
Basic hip movement and mobility
Coordination between the upper and lower body
Rhythm and timing
Essential Samba vocabulary
Simple combinations
Building confidence through repetition
The goal isn't to rush through the basics. It's to build a foundation that will support everything you learn next.
Why train with Rapha?
Rapha loves breaking movement down and helping dancers understand how and why it works.
Her approach is detailed and technical while remaining accessible to beginners. Rather than expecting you to simply copy a movement, she'll give you different tools and explanations to help your body understand it.
Samba requires coordination that can feel unfamiliar at first — and that's completely normal. This class gives you the time, repetition and guidance to build it progressively.
Ready for more?
Beginner 2 follows immediately after Beginner 1 and takes these foundations further with more vocabulary, combinations and technical development.
BEGINNER 2 SAMBA
19:45–21:00
With Rapha
📍 Proto Studio
Beginner 2
Build on your foundations.
Beginner 2 is the bridge between learning the fundamentals of Samba and becoming a more independent, confident dancer.
Once you understand the basic Samba no pé movement, there's still a lot to develop: coordination, fluidity, vocabulary, transitions, musicality and control.
This class gives you the repetition you need to make your foundations stronger while gradually introducing more complexity.
We’ll work on:
Refining your Samba no pé
Expanding your Samba vocabulary
Coordination and body movement
Hip mobility and technique
Transitions between movements
Longer combinations
Rhythm and musicality
Developing fluidity and confidence
Why Beginner 2 matters
Learning the basic step is only the beginning.
Strong dancers spend time repeating, refining and becoming comfortable with their foundations before adding more complexity. Beginner 2 gives you that essential training space.
There is no need to rush through levels. In fact, repeating Beginner 2 can be incredibly valuable as your technique, coordination and understanding continue to evolve.
The stronger your foundations become, the more freedom you'll have later in your Samba.
Why train with Rapha?
Rapha's teaching focuses heavily on understanding movement rather than simply memorizing it.
She pays close attention to the details that can completely change how Samba feels in your body — weight transfer, coordination, hip mobility, posture, timing and movement quality.
At Beginner 2, she'll help you identify what is already working, what still needs development and how to progressively add more layers to your dancing.
Beginner 1 + Beginner 2
For dancers who want extra training, taking both classes can be a great way to double down on your foundations.
Beginner 1 gives you focused repetition of the essentials, while Beginner 2 builds on them with additional vocabulary and complexity.
Beginner 1 builds the foundation.
Beginner 2 builds your Samba from it.
