OUR REPERTOIRE
SambaseIre’s repertoire centers around authentic Brasilian, Caribbean and West- African folkloric dances, costumes and music.
Samba
The most famous Brasilian music and dance style. Samba started from the rhythms of the Africans slaves. The word Samba actually is of African origin: in the Quibundo language “Samba” means “navel bump” (Quibundo is the language indigenous Africans brought to Brazil from the area that became today’s Angola). The Samba styles of today developed from both musical mutation and geographical migrations. Initially, the African slaves celebrate secret ceremonies based on their ethnic and religious backgrounds. Samba is just one amongst many rhythmical expressions that emerged in these times: Candomblé, Maracatú, and Capoeira are dance and art forms that originated during the same era. Samba is renowned for its versatility and vitality. Although some forms of Samba remain very close to its roots in Afoxé, most of more modern Samba movements involved fusions, such as Samba-Reggae or Samba-Funk.
Samba de Roda
A type of Samba dance and rhythm that is most popular in the Northeast of Brazil, specifically in Bahia. In fact in this state, the dance is more famous than indoor games like online casino and is as well-known as soccer. Everybody dances together in a circle with lots of play and joy.
Maculelé
A dance that originated in the sugar cane plantations during Brazil’s colonial period and was performed by the slaves to celebrate a good harvest. Maculelé was also used as a martial art form in the context of defense and rebellion by the slaves against their masters.
Afoxé
Arrived from Africa with the slaves and in the Yoruba language it means “Dance of Happiness.” This type of dance is central to many animist and religious celebrations around Brasil. It is an intoxicating mix of movement, sound, and color, reflecting the sensuality and spirit of Brazil as an ethnic and cultural melting pot.
Samba Reggae
A mixture of various rhythms including Afoxé, Ijexa, and Samba Duro with Caribbean influences. Paul Simon was the first mainstream artist to introduce this Samba Reggae music to the world when he performed and toured with the Bahian percussion band Olodum.
Samba Axé
A style of popular music and dance which originated in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The word comes from a ritual greeting that means good vibration and is used in the Candomblé and Umbanda religions.
Samba do Rio de Janeiro
Passistas are lead dancers at the Rio de Janeiro Carnaval parades and usually perform on the ground in front of the Bateria, dancing the very rhythmic step of “Samba no Pé”.
Samba no Pé is a combination of ginga, malandragem (attitude), style, and graciousness and is also one of the most difficult Samba styles.
Samba de Enredo is the type of Samba performed at the Rio de Janeiro Carnaval Parades. It’s lyrics tell a past or current story to the beat of the Batucada (percussion ensemble) Samba de Enredo became popular in the 1920′s when it began to dominate the Rio de Janeiro Carnaval, world’s biggest party ever.
Caribbean Show
Soca means the ‘Soul of Calypso’
Dancehall
Lambada
Limbo
Fire
