Pop hit in Brazilian music style of 1963 by Eydie Gorme. Cliff Richard covered it in 1966.

I was at a dance when he caught my eye

Standin' all alone lookin' sad and shy

We began to dance, swaying' to and fro

And soon I knew I'd never let him go

Blame it on the bossa nova with its magic spell

Blame it on the bossa nova that he did so well

Oh, it all began with just one little dance

But then it ended up a big romance

Blame it on the bossa nova

The dance of love

(Now was it the moon?)

No, no, the bossa nova

(Or the stars above?)

No, no, the bossa nova

(Now was it the tune?)

Yeah, yeah, the bossa nova

(The dance of love)

[Instrumental organ]

Now I'm glad to say I'm his bride to be

And we're gonna raise a family

And when our kids ask how it came about

I'm gonna say to them without a doubt

Blame it on the bossa nova with its magic spell

Blame it on the bossa nova that he did so well

Oh, it all began with just one little dance

But then it ended up a big romance

Blame it on the bossa nova

The dance of love

(Now was it the moon?)

No, no, the bossa nova

(Or the stars above?)

No, no, the bossa nova

(Now was it the tune? )

Yeah, yeah, the bossa nova

(The dance of love)

(Now was it the moon?)

No, no, the bossa nova

(Or the stars above ?)

No, no, the bossa nova


The choreography of the Bossa Nova has a much greater variety than an average dance party. A challenge so...

Dance steps:

Left foot to left, close with the right, left to left side, tap right;
Right to right, left close, right to side, left kicks to the left and place back;
Right from the rear cross over left, left to left, swing right to right
And crosses behind over left leg, left foot to left, right past along left at front side.

(Step into a square:)
Left to left, right close, left straight forward(with weight), (-1 count rest);
Right to right, left add, right backwards (with weight);
Left to left, right add, left to left (with weight!)
Turn a quarter turn to the right while crossing in the right foot behind the left in the new direction, put than the left next to it, and the right forward in that same new direction.

 

Video: as it may look ...
(We searched preferably brief and clear movies without much show, spectacle and competition.
Better suggestions are welcome.)


(Two steps forward lock:)
Left foot forward, right behind left crossed adding, left again to front;
Same with the right forward, left crossing in, right forward.

(Mambo pass:)
Left forward (with weight), fall back on the right (with weight) add left close.
Same with right backwards, back on the left and right close.

Left forward, turn on left 180 degrees (to right, clockwise) and stand on the right (which remained on the spot), and left again a step in the new direction. And simultaneous turning again 180 degrees counterclockwise (to the left) on the left foot.
Step forward with right, all steps now going in the same direction, but meanwhile now you turn around (so you step backwards), add left, and continue to step on in the same direction.

The pace slows: starting with right you put four steps in the new dance direction (a quarter to the left in relation to the previous starting position). And then everything starts all over again from the start position...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzCvCzdN5iE