Originally this was a dance where the man and woman stayed apart, but later changed so that they danced together to a two beat rhythm. This is was stage where Lambada was born - really taking off in the early eighties.

It is possible that the Lambada music originated in Northern Brazil, in Belem, during the 70's, as a result of influences from the Salsa, Merengue and Reggae music that could be heard on the Guyanese and French Guiana Radio.

This new mix of music and style of dance moved a little further south incorporating influences Maxixe in Salvador before reaching and staying in Porto Seguro, Bahia. Bahia is Brazil's most musically creative state and while the dance grew in popularity, it's spread world wide began when French music producers who visited Bahia in 1988 to search for new forms of music. The French took the music back to Europe and with a new band called Kaoma, made Lambada the number one hit worldwide.

During this time, as Lambada was being introduced to the rest of the world, it was danced with the steps from side to side. But In many films and promotions, as a result of the lack of skilled dancers and influences from Salsa, Merengue and Rock, steps were improvised and switched to forward and back.

Today the dance itself can be found in quite a few countries around the world, including Argentina, Australia, England, Israel, France, Germany, Japan, Mallorca, Martinique and Spain.