Dance Workshops

Come along to our regular dance workshops and learn a variety of Brasilian dance steps and techniques, including 'samba no pe' - fast-stepping samba! All ages and abilities are welcome and no experience is necessary, just a passion for dance and samba. Participation in our classes and performances are open to both men and women so come along to a session to try it out, or come every week and join as a member and perform on parade with the School.

Dance Instructors

Brighton School of Samba offers Afro-Brasilian dance classes led by some of the UK's finest samba dance teachers and performers. Our roster of teachers include:

		Cassandra Tomaz With a mix of Brazilian, Spanish, English and German nationalities, Cassandra spent spent many years experimenting and training in a variety of different dance styles, and now specialises in Brazilian dance - Samba, Afro and Maracatu. She has performed with various Brazilian artists including Claudio kron do Brazil, Estrella de Norte, Maracatu nao E, Niteroi Sambaschool and Danca Kaito in Brazil and returns regularly to Brasil to continue her training and technique.
		Marta Scott Marta's professionalism in teaching and performing spans twenty years, with choreography and performance roles across Brasil, Europe, the Middle-East and the USA (including Broadway and Las Vegas) and paraded at Rio Carnival with 'Salgueiro' and 'Tradicao' as Passista. Her enthusiasm and easy-going nature allows dancers to immediately feel comfortable and transfers her passion for samba and Brasilian culture to her students. Most recently, Marta choreographed Kemptown Carnival in Brighton (2006) and is now a regular dance instructor at London School of Samba.
		Mariana Pinho Mariana is an expert in Maracatu, Samba reggae, Coco and Samba. Highly trained in Brasil, Mariana has also performed internationally in Germany, Greece and Algeria. In Brasil she has performed as Float Highlight with GRES Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, Caprichosos de Pilares and Porto da Pedra. In the UK she has worked for the BBC and performed at Glastonbury. She returns to Brasil at least once a year to keep current on the latest dance steps and music.
		Samara Reis Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Samara grew up in Sao Paulo. Early training in Brasilian partner dancing has informed a personal aproach to samba, with a focus on elegance and good posture. A celebrated Passista, Samara gained her expertise performing with Sao Paulo's Vai-Vai Samba School, and in 2003 was voted the Rainha da Bateria of the London School of Samba. Currently based in London she is working with several bands, teaching and performing all over England and Europe.