Learn to Dance
Join us at our regular samba dance workshops and learn a variety of Brasilian dance steps and techniques, as well as choreography and routines for our forthcoming performances.
Come along to a session to try it out – then perform on parade with the School!
Dance Roles
A samba school’s dancers can perform a variety of different roles on parade, and men and women are equally important and equally welcome. A samba school’s dance groups have costumes and routines to include all ages and body shapes – from graceful, bell-skirted ‘baianas’ to sequinned-bikini fast-stepping passistas, muses, male ‘escorts’, ‘amazonas’ and more!
Read about all the different dance roles at a samba school >
Our Samba Dance Classes
All ages and abilities are welcome and no experience is necessary - just a passion for dance and samba. We offer beginner/improver sessions for those with little or no previous experience, and sessions for improvers and those who are ready to progress to the next level. If you have some experience but are unsure of which level you are at, come along to any session and chat with any of our dance leads for guidance.
Alysia-Lara Ayonrinde
Dance Director
Alysia is a Dance Director and Rainha de Bateria (2025–2026) for Brighton School of Samba, bringing energy, rhythm and joy to every performance. A passionate samba dancer with Brazilian heritage, she loves the power of samba to bring people together in celebration, creativity and community.
Alysia leads the BSS Passistas, supporting and developing dancers in performance, confidence and authentic samba expression. She has performed across the UK and internationally, sharing the vibrant spirit of Brazilian carnival through dynamic choreography and expressive movement.
As an international Passista, she has performed in Rio Carnival with three samba schools and had the honour of performing for President Lula. Known for her infectious enthusiasm and strong stage presence, she inspires dancers of all levels to grow in confidence, musicality and performance.
Winnie Apollo-Schubert
Dance Director
Winnie brings focus on Samba’s basic skills and technique with lots of energy and passion to inspire dancers to celebrate Samba with fun and joy.
She has performed in Official Brighton Pride multiple times with Brighton School of Samba, Marta Scott Dance Co. & Beleza School of Samba, as well as at two Notting Hill Carnivals with Império Samba School (London) and twice at Rio Carnaval with Unidos de Bangu & Unidos do Viradouro as well as with Unidos da Tijuca as Porta-Bandeira.
