Samba and Carnival Information

The Best of Brazilian Samba Music - Batucada, Samba Enredo, Pagode

admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:18:07 +0000

There are many different styles of samba music and sometimes it is hard to know which kind you are looking for. You may know the sound of samba you like but don’t know the name of the style making it very difficult to find the samba music you want. Here are four diffferent styles of samba music. Each eaqually as good and perfect if you are in search of brazilian samba music to use while practicing your samba steps.

I do recommend the Batucada Brasileira CD if you are specifically looking for samba music to use for those who are learning how to dance samba. This samba cd is upbeat, with only percussion and string instruments. I actually use this samba CD in my samba class and my students love it.

The first style of samba music is samba batucada. It is generally mostly percussion, very organic in feel, and speaks to your heart without words.

The second style is samba enredo, the songs samba schools play during carnaval. Samba enredos alwyas have a singer who tells the story of the samba school or the theme the samba school has chosen for the year.

Third is a mix of samba batucada and ultra modern dance music. Not so much a style as it is a mix

The fourth style is of samba music is Pagode (paw-goh-gee), slower style of samba but not like bossa nova. It has a nice samba rhythm and much more danced to by couples. in Brazil you can find this style of samba played often at back yard parties and can easily be pulled of by three people playing the tan-tan, qavaquinho, and padeiro.

Batucada Brasileira CD in action!

Technorati Tags: Batucada, samba dance, samba enredos, samba music

How to Dance Samba - Brazilian Samba DVD

admin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:21:52 +0000

If you’ve always wanted to learn the authentic Brazilian samba step, I’ve got a surprise for you! You can now learn how to dance samba at home with two of the most amazing samba DVDs. Not only will you lear samba quickly, you will soon look like a native sensual Brazilian and be ready for carnaval! These worthwhile DVDs are the real thing and the best Brazilian Samba DVDs on the market. I personally watch them before my performances for inspiration, warming up, to freshen up my samba step. Instructor, Quenia, is a gorgeous Brazilian dancer who lives in the US and teaches classes in New York. Watch the trailers below and start learning how to dance samba today!

Technorati Tags: brazilian samba, how to dance samba, samba dvd, samba step, Samba Video

Brazilian Carnaval Video - Rio de Janeiro

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:05:54 +0000

Technorati Tags: brasil, Brazil, Carnaval, Carnival, mangueira, parade, rio, Samba, travel

Introduction to Brazilian Samba Schools at Carnival

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:06:29 +0000

Samba Schools in Rio de Janeiro, are not so much schools as they are neighborhood organizations. Each school or escola de samba, works all year to create, plan and practice for their parade showing, competition and celebration called Carnaval.

Rio de Janeiro has over 100 samba schools, but only the top 12 schools belong in the “Special” group. This group is world renounced for their incredible parades, costumes, and over the top magnificence. Each of these samba schools has over on thousand participants during the carnival parade.

During Brazilian carnival, Samba Schools have their turn at presenting their parade and much complete it in about one hour to one hour and 20 minutes. Everyone in the school’s parade must know the school’s theme song (samba de enredo) by heart and sing it the entire time. If you are planning to be a part of the parade, don’t worry, you will be given the lyrics way in advanced. If you don’t speak Portuguese you just pretend you know what you are singing, dance your bunda off and smile.

Each School has a theme for the year around which the costumes are designed. The parades always begin with the directors in the front and a starter group of choreographed performers. The parade also has a Queen of the band (bateria), the bateria which consists of several hundred drummers, mestre sala & porta bandeira (flag bearer), floats, and is divided in 24 - 32 themed sections called allas. All on which the parading school is judged.

The Carnaval parade takes place in a special street arena called the Sabodoromo or Sambadrome. The Sambadrome is outfitted with rows of seats and has several private viewing rooms as well. The Sambadrome is host to 6 major parades with between 8 to 14 schools competing. The top schools have over 4,000 participants. This means that the entire 6 parades presents tens of thousands participants. It is no wonder that the parades go on for days. Once the judges have placed their scores and the winner is announced, the entire process of planning for the next year’s carnaval beings again.

Technorati Tags: Carnaval, rio de janeiro carnival, samba schools

Empress of Carnival: “The Samba Schools Get Ready”

admin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:25:31 +0000

Scene from the documentary “Empress of Carnival”, which shows the 9-month preparation of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba-school for the carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro. This scene shows the preparation of several samba-schools for the upcoming parade. More information at www.imperatrizdocarnaval.com.br

Duration : 0:3:15

Technorati Tags: Carnival, imperatriz, parade, rio, Samba

How to Dance Brazilian Samba - Basic Steps

admin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:25:30 +0000

There are different styles of Brazilian samba depending on where you are in the country, or your personal preference. Here are two basic samba videos, each are excellent in showing you the basic Brazilian samba steps. The video on the left is samba in the axe style (pronounce ah-shay) more typical in north Brazil, particularty the state of Bahia. Carol Styley shows you how it’s done.

The second video on the right is more the style danced in Rio de Janeiro at bars and backyard parties, particulary with Pagode music. Pagode is a slower style of samba. Here Carlinhos Araujo will show you how a very easy to follow basic samba step.

You can practice both styles and eventually break out in your own unique way of expressing your samba moves. Just remember to relax and not think too much about the step, just let your body roll into it. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: axe, pagode, Samba, samba step, Samba Video

Portela Samba School 2008 Enredo (theme song)

admin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:25:28 +0000

Every year each of the samba schools Brazil participating in Caranval, must have a new theme song or samba enredo, which every member of the school must know by heart. Here is an example of a theme song everyone in the samba school must sing the entire 85 minutes of their part in the carnaval parade, the 2008 carnaval theme song (samba enredo) of Portela, one of the top samba schools in Rio de Janeiro. The name of the song is “Reconstruindo a natureza, recriando a vida: O sonho vira realidade” which means “Reconstructing nature, recreating life: The dream turns into reality”.

Play the music above and sing along. Just sing like you’re at carnaval!

Lyrics for Portela’s Samba Enredo 2008: (2x) Eu sou a água, sou a terra, sou o ar Sou Portela Um sonho real, um grito de alerta A Natureza que encanta a Passarela Segue os passos do Criador Vai minha Águia guerreira Leva esta mensagem de amor De Oswaldo Cruz e Madureira Água, fonte eterna da vida Terra, templo da evolução O homem surgiu, brincou de criar, Descobriu tanta riqueza É preciso progredir sem destruir Viver em comunhão com a Natureza (2x) É o Rio que corre a caminho do mar A flor que se abre na primavera Do ventre a esperança que vem renovar O sonho de uma nova era É hora de darmos as mãos Lutarmos pro mundo mudar O líder de cada nação Precisa parar pra pensar A palavra é união Pra reconstruir o nosso lar (Fala Brasil) Brasil teu verde é o símbolo da vida Renova a tua energia Meu coração é o meu país O sol vai brilhar e anunciar Um futuro mais feliz Duration : 0:5:31

Technorati Tags: 2008, Batucada, Brazil, Brazilian, Carnaval, Carnival, parade, Portela, rio, Samba, samba enredo