samba de gafieira ('dancehall samba') is a subgenre of samba that, even more so than the rest, is geared almost exclusively toward dancing - first arriving in the 1940s, it derives its name from the immensely popular working-class nightclubs in which it evolved, called gafieiras.

samba de gafieira is a partner dance that incorporates steps from earlier brazilian styles such as maxixe and choro in addition to adding influences from argentine tango and north american big band styles - mostly in the intertwined leg movements of the former and the 'swing' musical techniques of the latter.