The language of the dancefloor
Infectious toe-tapping sounds are impossible to ignore – swot up on essential phrases before making your entrance on the dancefloor
Portuguese
Tenho samba no pé — I'm a natural at samba (literally 'I've got samba in my feet')
Você quer dançar? — want to dance?
Vamo dançar! — let's dance!
Onde é o clube? — where's the club?
Mostra-me os teus passos de dança! — show me your moves!
Spanish
Paso a paso — Step by step
Quiero bailar contigo — I want to dance with you
Cabeceo — a man's invitation to a woman to dance. His desired partner will either nod to accept, or turn her head and ignore
Siente el ritmo! — Feel the beat!
Baila! — Dance!
El/la tanguero/a — one who dances/sings the tango
Bailar hasta que salga el sol — to dance the night away (literally 'to dance until the sun comes up')
¿Dónde podemos bailar la salsa? — where can we dance the salsa?
¿Qué haces esta noche? — what are you up to tonight?
Published in the September 2017 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)