Samba Adventure 2025
Want to learn samba drumming in Rio from the Mestres of your favorite baterias?
Imagine learning samba in the quadras of Rio's most storied Samba Schools?
Imagine walking down the Avenida in the Sambódromo!
Mestre Renan Gohan and Courtney Danley of Go Samba are leading a limited number of drummers on a one of a kind trip to experience samba at its source. Come inside the bateria with us!
This trip is not for beginner drummers. It designed for the experienced percussionist and samba drummers who want to learn authentic samba from the best teachers and players in Rio de Janeiro! If you have played percussion but just not Brazilian percussion you should be fine. Questions about this please reach out!
- Learn the real way samba is played in workshops with samba school bateria Mestres and Directors at Rio's most famous samba schools.
- Drum factory tours such as King or IVSOM.
- Visit Cidade do Samba where the carnaval parade floats are constructed
- Visit the Sambódromo where the official parades occur.
- Relax on the Rio's most famous beaches.
- and more...
Your lodging is located a short walk to the beach and surrounded by Rio's best bars, restaurants and night life.
What are people saying about last year's trip?
"There’s really nothing else like it. Courtney and Renan’s unique connection to samba in the states and to the samba schools in Rio give you a completely insider view of the schools."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. Other people from our Bateria have gone to Rio, but no one has had an experience like the one you and Renan delivered. Five stars!"
"This trip was 11/10!!! So incredible!!! Thanks Courtney and Renan :)))"
"If you are interested in a real education that goes deeper than say, CBC, into the culture, history, and working of the Samba schools especially the Bateria, this is the trip for you. [...] This is a well curated trip for those who are ready to dive deeper into the workings of some of the large and small samba schools. Renan really provided and supported this effort well. I really appreciate his efforts and interest in cultivating this connection and comprehension. What a great team!"
To see photos and videos of last year's trip click here.
Dates:
The housing is booked from November 23rd to December 6th. With workshop and full programing beginning Monday November 24th to Friday December 5th. There will be one day off each week for self guided sightseeing and go to the beach etc.
Partial duration trips are not possible at this time.
If you would like to arrive earlier or stay longer after the trip you will need to make those arrangements. Julia Kasid is available to help you with travel planning (a planning fee may apply). See her contact info below.
Cost and Discounts:
$3,199.00 for two weeks shared hotel room. Contact courtney@gosamba.net for pricing if you want your own room.
You receive a coupon code for $30 off for attending a Zoom info session!
You can receive another $30 off coupon code for answering ALL the questions correctly the Zoom Info Quiz! You can only try ONCE!
You can receive a $20 discount for paying with Venmo, check or cash.
Adding up all discounts could save you $80!
Payment plans are available. Talk to Courtney courtney@gosamba.net 503-309-0220
Secure my spot today!
Click here to get on our email list and learn about upcoming informational Zoom calls!
Once the trip fills up we will start a waitlist.
Payment includes:
Lodging - check-in Sunday November 23rd to check-out the morning of Saturday December 6th.
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will have your own bed but share a room with another sambista on the tour.
If you would like your own room that is available for an additional fee. Get in touch.
Workshops and full programing with the best Mestres and directors
Transport to samba school quadras that are far away. Quadras that are safely reached by the metro or Uber are not included.
VIP tickets to the Cidade do Samba Mini desfiles Nov. 28 30th.
Translation Portuguese to English for organized workshops
Instruments provided for workshops
Trip t-shirt
Zoom call with your fellow travelers ahead of departure.
Group WhatsApp to chat with other travelers ahead of time.
Drum Factory visits such as King or IVSOM
Payment does not included:
Flight to Rio from your city
Brazilian Tourist Visa
Ride to or from airport to lodging when you arrive (we can help arrange this)
Food is not included.
Trip insurance
Health insurance
SIM card, check with your carrier about an international phone plan.
Vaccinations
Translation for day to day interactions, personal experience, private lessons arranged by the student etc.
Lodging:
Your hotel is located in Copacabana a short walk to the famous Copacabana beach and near a metro station. It is also surrounded by Rio's best bars, restaurants and night life.
All lodging is shared room with two single beds with one other person of the same sex. Accommodations can be made for gender non-conforming individuals. The earlier you sign up the better chance of being matched with a roommate. If you have a travel buddy, spouse, partner arrangements can be made to put you together in the same room. A limited number of single rooms are available for an additional fee. Please reach out for details.
Space is limited! Get in touch today!
Click here to join our email list.
Email directly: Courtney@gosamba.net
Call: 503-309-0220
Once the trip fills up we will start a waitlist.
Tips for travelers:
Travel health insurance
Yellow fever vaccination
International phone plan
Vegans/Dietary restrictions. Happy Cow App can help you find Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants in Rio de Janeiro.
Passport
Brazilian Travel Visa is required at this time.
Duolingo and sign up for Dica do dia email service
Bring extras of your prescriptions
The sun is strong wear sunscreen
Wear bug spray readily available in pharmacies
Take photocopies of your passport
Bring an old phone if you have one
I wouldn't fly Aero Mexico
Note:
This trip is not suitable for unaccompanied minors.
Non percussionist/drummers and beginners.
If you are in active substance addiction this trip is not right for you.
If you are acting in any way disrespectful to our Brazilian friends and teachers, your fellow travelers or yourself, you will be asked to excuse yourself from the rest of the trip.
Renan and I will do our best to keep you safe and happy but please know that Samba and samba schools are very loud and chaotic environments. Some nights we will be staying out very late into the night. Confetti cannons, fireworks, going off at unexpected moments is normal. Rio de Janeiro is very very hot and humid and can be a dangerous and violent city. Common sense is a must. If you disregard your personal safety you are disregarding everyone's personal safety.
You will be asked to sign a liability release form.
About us:
Courtney Danley
Ritmista Imperatriz Leopoldinense Escola de Samba
Secretary Percussive Arts Society Oregon Chapter
Owner Go Samba LLC
Executive Director Portland Samba LLC
Sound designer and Co-Host The Brazilian Beat Podcast
Courtney has spent 3 carnaval seasons playing in samba schools and Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. It was the honor of her life to play with Mestre Lolo's bateria at Imperatriz Leopoldinense for the past 3 seasons winning carnaval in 2023 and coming in runner up in 2024.
Courtney's passion in life is to bridge the worlds of samba communities in the US to samba communities in Rio de Janeiro. Fostering tighter connections, understanding and cultural exchange between the countries. She does this through her podcast, The Brazilian Beat, YouTube channel Go Samba, Instrument import store GoSamba.net. Courtney brings Brazilian teachers to Portland to teach the group she co-founded, Portland Samba, and has also learned Portuguese and spends lots of time in Brazil.
503-309-0220
courtney@gosamba.net
Mestre Renan Gohan
Local on-the-ground expert in samba and connections to inside the baterias.
Renan started in samba at the age of 13 with Barriga, a bloco in Cidade Alta, the neighborhood where he was raised. At 15 he became part of the bateria and has played in baterias ever since. He began at Imperatriz Leopodinense in 2006 as a percussionist on caixa. In 2008 he moved to third surdo, and in 2009 he was invited to be a bateria director for the third surdo. He stayed at Imperatriz until 2011.
In 2013 he was invited to be bateria director at Porto da Pedra, in 2014 he was bateria director at União da Ilha, in 2015 he was a bateria director at Grande Rio, where he stayed until 2018. In 2016 he returned to Imperatriz as a percussionist and in 2020 he returned to bateria director, where he is until today.
He is currently the Mestre at Flamanguaça, he is also the bateria mestre at Bloco Urubuzada since 2014.
He has been part of Batuque Digital performing group since 2013.
He has also been a bateria director at Rocinha, Renascer de Jacarepaguá, Unidos do Bangu, São Clemente and Flamanguaca.
He has also paraded as a percussionist in Unidos da Tijuca, São Clemente, Estácio de Sá, Portela, and Viradouro among many others.
Renan says:
Imperatriz and samba have given me many good things, in addition to life experience, I have been fortunate to visit many countries in South America, Europe and to several states in Brazil. These were all important moments in my life. I love Carnival and I want to be able to learn more and more and pass on a little of what I learned to other people.
Links:
Julia Kasid
Julia Kasid started dancing Samba in 2014. With many visits to Brazil under her belt, Julia has paraded twice in Rio: as an International Passista with Porta da Pedra and with the local Passistas of Estacio de Sá. She recently served as the Passista Director of Austin Samba for 1.5 years and enjoys learning the drumming alongside it. Professionally, she has coordinated trips to Brazil for over 8 years and is the owner of her own travel agency, Travallure https://travallure.
Julia is helping with booking all hotels and lodging.
julia@travallure.com
512-920-0471