About Cidade Brilhante - Brighton School of Samba

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The traditional Samba Schools of Brasil can be defined as social and cultural groups that meet regularly with the purpose of learning, creating and performing Brasilian samba dance, music, and costume. Some schools have been established for more than 80 years, and each school's annual focus is the Carnival, held over four days in February.

The legendary excesses of the Rio Carnival have come to symbolize Brasil as much as the Favelas where it was born. For many inhabitants of these communities, where hardship and exclusion is rife, the Samba School is a rare symbol of unified passion and pride. A school on parade can be a shining light of achievement, co-operation, and social cohesion in an otherwise harsh world.

The Brighton School of Samba (BSS) was formed in May 2007 as a non-profit organisation. Created in the traditional structure of the Rio Samba Schools, Cidade Brilhante is committed to community values and an inclusive policy. The School brings a taste of the vibrant Rio Carnival to the streets of Brighton for members, audiences and the wider community. Our first performance at the Winter Solstice 'Burning the Clocks' in December 2007 saw over 40 performers represent the School on parade, witnessed and experienced by a crowd of several thousand people.

Brighton School of Samba is the city's first Samba School and runs regular open bateria and dance workshops, welcoming participants from all ages, backgrounds and abilities. For more information about how you can learn, perform and partake in the spirit of Cidade Brilhante, visit our bateria and dance workshop pages, or find out other ways you can get involved with our activities.

The Brighton School of Samba regularly invites a variety of local and international samba professionals and luminaries to attend or lead special workshops for both bateria and dance. In 2007 BSS hosted a workshop led by Jonas d'Oliveira, Mestre of Rio's top samba school - G.R.E.S. Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel. In 2008 BSS ran a workshop led by Rob Mair and a tamborim technique session led by Karen Brownlie. During 2009 and 2010, Mestre Fred Turuka from London School of Samba ran a number of workshops with the BSS bateria. In 2011, we were again joined by Mestre Fred, developing on previous sessions with him and he is now a regular visiting Mestre to BSS. In 2012, we will again be inviting a number of samba professionals to run technique sessions, each of whom is arguably the best in the UK on their instrument. These special workshops introduce new skills and different techniques and are a valuable source of members' skills development.