In the world of Rio de Janeiro’sCarnaval, you can tell which samba school bateria is playing just by sound alone. Several factors go into this but a crucial element of that signature sound is how the bateria tunes its drums. I met with my teacher Junior Sampaio, bateria director at Portela, inside the iconic blue and white quadra to explore the historical evolution of bateria tuning and get a live demonstration of how surdos are tuned today. The Evolution of Samba Tuning: From Flames to Pitch Precision Historically, bateria instruments were tuned over open flames to tighten goat skin heads before rehearsals and parades. As Junior Sampaio explains, tuning was far less standardized in earlier decades, with each ritmista maintaining their...
🎒 Samba, Strategy, and Security: Why I Do What I Do People have called me fearless. I'm not. My approach is measured, often disorganized, but always driven. Pretty sure I'm blind to some of the social conventions that can restrict others, but the term "fearless" doesn't fit. When I am in the middle of a bateria recording, I am intensely aware of my presence. I am a foreign, white, female (FWF), and I know I'm often in the way. The ritmistas are there to play, enjoy camaraderie, and rehearse to win Carnaval—a matter of great pride. I am the extra person there, attempting to capture the brilliance for you guys to see.When I first came to Rio and was playing...
It's always a shock to come back to Rio, but this year's shock was bigger than in the past. I arrived to a city in shock from overwhelming government sanctioned violence (operation) concentrated in Zona Leopoldina leaving everyone on edge and in mourning. I have a lot of thoughts and a lot to learn about what exactly happened and I'll write more about this later as I feel it is important for folks outside of Brazil to understand the daily lives of sambistas in this city. But I want to try to get a better handle on it before I go spouting off about things that I don't fully understand. Most ensaios were canceled due to the operation so there weren't...
Fall is here in Portland and I'm feeling anxious about going to Rio. The samba schools are going full bore and I can't wait to get there but it is always a LOT to make it happen and navigate 2 cultures. I'm leaving my community here for my adopted community in Rio. Join me on this trip by subscribing to my the YouTube channel and get some behind-the-scenes peeks into what it takes to create these videos on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/cw/gosamba/posts #carnaval2026 #riodejaneirotravel #travelrio
Samba School themes for Carnaval 2026 Here is a quick guide to the themes (enredos) for the top 12 Rio de Janeiro samba schools that will parade in the Grupo Especial during the 2026 Carnival. Estação Primeira de Mangueira: “Mestre Sacacá do Encanto Tucuju – o Guardião da Amazônia Negra” Mangueira will celebrate the ancestral wisdom of the Amazon rainforest and honor the spiritual power of Mestre Sacacá. This revered curandeiro (healer) from Pará is known for his deep, traditional knowledge of medicinal herbs and roots. The enredo emphasizes the importance of preserving the forest's ecological and spiritual heritage, valuing the often-overlooked Afro-Indigenous cultures, and recognizing Mestre Sacacá as a guardian of the region's cultural heart. Acadêmicos de Niterói: “Do Alto...
