CLASS DESCRIPTIONS  

Our Samba Beginners course teaches you Brazilian Samba from the ground up. You will learn the technique for the Samba basic step including the foundation footwork and hip movement. We also work on arm placement, basic body movement and simple transitions. We teach and break down the timing and movements in fine detail to ensure that everyone in class learns at a comfortable pace.

Ideal for absolute beginners (no dance experience required) or beginner level Samba students who want to refresh their basic skills.

Our level 2 Samba Improvers course focuses on improving your Samba basic technique and building your foundation movements. We build on Samba no pé Sapateado technique, hip isolations, basic travel, simple caminhadas (walks) and transition steps. The course also incorporates technique work to help you with weight placement, control of your movements and smooth transitions.

Ideal as the next step after completing at least 1 term of Samba Beginners or those who have a basic knowledge of Samba and want to brush up on skills.

Our level 3 Samba Intermediate course is focused on building your Samba no pé technique and overall skills. We introduce Samba rotation technique and expand on your repertoire of footwork transitions and body movement. We continue to work on hips and arms and increase Samba speed and fitness. We also work on incorporating more “gingado” (vibe / swing) in your Samba so that you can dance with more feeling.

Ideal as the next step up from Samba Improvers and prepares dancers for the Advanced Samba course.

Our level 4A Samba Advanced course is designed to level up your skills. In this course we introduce the advanced technique required for fast Samba no pé and building resistencia (endurance) at faster speeds. We refine and expand on Samba variations, hips, arms, footwork transitions, caminhadas (walks) and body movement. We also work on freestyle and vibe in your Samba styling.

This course is the essential next step up from Samba Intermediate and must be completed before attending any of the Drills classes.

Samba Drills level 4B is the first of our regular training classes. This class focuses heavily on refining the technique required for advanced level Samba dancers. We work on speed technique and endurance as well as refining transitions, body movement and caminhadas with short combos designed to drill the Passista fundamentals. The class also includes musicality focus and freestyle work.

Dancers should complete the Samba Advanced Course before attending this class. Drills level 4 is also an ideal class to do alongside the Samba Advanced Course or other Drills level classes.

Samba Drills level 5 is an on-going training class focused on refining and maintaining Samba technique and fitness. From Samba no pé, hips, arms, footwork and caminhadas, the class involves a range of drills, exercises and short combos designed to improve your overall Passista Samba technique and personal style in your dancing.

Ideal as a regular training class. Dancers must be familiar and comfortable with the pace and movements in Drills level 4 before attending this class.

Aligned with the authentic “Projetos” (classes) at the Samba schools in Rio and affectionately referred to as “Samba bootcamp”, this key training class for Passista technique and performance teaches you to dance like a Passista both in a show and ala format. Based on the world-famous technique of Carlinhos Salgueiro (King of Samba), Projeto involves a disciplined method of training, drills and exercises designed to refine Passista technique and styling and build endurance. Musicality, personality and confidence are also essential skills we focus on in Projeto. This class will also help expand your understanding of Carnaval culture.

Projeto is an essential preparation class for dancing / parading in Rio Carnaval or performing Samba. Ideal alongside Passista class (level 6) or Drills classes.

A performance level class based on the Passista style of Rio Carnaval, focusing on both Passista show and Passista ala performance. This class involves short choreographies, styling, desfilando (parading) and drills for technique and endurance. Musicality, dancing with meaning and feeling and understanding Samba culture are all important skills that are taught in this class. We also work on developing your own individual Samba “jeito” in freestyle and learning to working together in group performances or ala.

This class moves at a fast pace and requires a solid foundation of Passista technique. Completing at least 1 term of Projeto (level 5or Samba Drills level 5 is essential for attending this class.

Our Funk Beginners level 1 course is designed to teach you the fundamental technique and movements required for dancing Brazilian Funk. In this course you will learn the correct technique for executing the signature booty, hip and body movements used in Funk as well basic Funk footwork. The course also focuses on understanding the rhythm and vibe of Brazilian Funk and culture.

Ideal for absolute beginners or anyone wanting to learn the fundamentals of Brazilian Funk. No experience in dancing Funk or Brazilian dance necessary.

Our Funk Intermediate level 2 course is the next step up from the Funk Beginners course. This course focuses on building and refining Brazilian Funk technique and body movement. We expand the range of Funk footwork and body movement and work on incorporating more swag and musicality in your dancing. With Funk Carioca (Rio) as the foundation, the class also includes various Funk styles from across Brazil.

Having completed the Funk Beginners Course or a basic foundation of Brazilian Funk movement is required to attend this course.

Funk Open is a power packed class focusing on performance style Brazilian Funk with new routines each week. Each class will include a warm-up drilling Funk technique then focus on learning a short choreography which will incorporate the latest and most authentic Brazilian Funk movements and elements of commercial dance. The routines each week are designed to level up your Funk movement and bring out the power and confidence in your dancing.

Open level class. Intermediate level dance experience is ideal.

This class is essential for understanding the roots of Brazilian dance. We include various Afrocentric dance genres including Afro Brazilian, Samba de Roda, Samba Reggae, Axé, Afro movement from the diaspora (Africa, the Caribbean) and more. Not only will Roots class take your understanding of Brazilian dance to a new level, this class is the game-changer in having more vibe, meaning and feeling in your dancing as well as expanding your range of body movement which is the foundation of all Brazilian dance (Samba, Funk, Afro etc).

Ideal for Samba dancers who want to level up and have more authenticity and feeling in their movements as well as anyone wanting to learn Afrocentric and folkloric dance movement. Open class. Suitable for all levels including beginners.

Urban Fusion is an exciting class featuring the popular styles of “Danças Urbanas” (Urban dances) from Brazil and around the world. Fusing the movements of Urban dances such as Hip Hop, Brazilian Funk, House, JFH, Afro Urban and more, this class will inspire you with short choreos and fresh body movement to expand your dance range each week. Urban Fusion class is sure to take your swag, movement and dancing style to the next level.

Open level class. Intermediate level dance experience is ideal.