Inspired by the famous escola de samba parade associations of Rio de Janeiro, Samba New York’s professional performance company brings the joy and energy of Brazilian Carnaval to events of all kinds, public and private. We have performed at many of NYC’s most prestigious venues — from the Nokia Theatre in Times Square to Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater — and can put together the optimal show for your next event!

Our regular, Friday evening Open Rehearsal at Chelsea Studios in Manhattan features a samba dance practice session led by top instructor Danielle Lima, accompanied by the exhilarating live drumming of our Bateria. This event is a unique opportunity to experience the vibrant Rio Carnaval culture in the heart of New York City. Dedicated participants may be eligible to perform with Samba New York! in the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade and other events.

But Samba New York! doesn’t stop there! We also offer a cultural immersion trip to Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval, guided by Samba New York’s founder and Director, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D., who has over 15 years of experience as an ethnomusicologist and percussionist in Brazil.

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Samba New York! Live at the Nokia Theater

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Samba New York! on the CBS Early Show

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Bahia Groove

Bateria No Caminho

Vem Dançar

Bateria Show

February 2010

Have you ever wanted to experience Carnaval in Brazil, but didn’t know how? Now, here’s your chance!

Travel with Samba New York! to the international capital of samba — Rio de Janeiro — during that City’s world famous Carnaval and experience the vibrant culture of Brazil’s most characteristic music and dance in its original context.

Samba New York! offers an immersion into Rio’s samba scene. You will visit samba schools in their preparation for Carnaval, take a special samba workshop with a master Brazilian percussionist, visit a factory that manufactures drums for the big festivities, and much more. Samba New York! will also take you to witness an unforgettable night of the Grupo Especial (top level) Samba School Parades in the Sambadrome during Carnaval.

Your guide, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D., is the founder and director of Samba New York! and has over 15 years of experience in Brazil as an ethnomusicologist and percussionist. He has been researching and performing with Rio’s samba schools since 1999 and has paraded in the Baterias (percussion sections) of such renowned escolas as Mocidade, Salgueiro, and Imperatriz for Carnaval. Whether you’re a professional musician or dancer, or just a fan of Brazilian music, if you love samba and want to experience Carnaval in Rio, this is the trip for you!

Trip Dates:

Arrive in Rio Tuesday, February 9

Depart Rio Thursday, February 18

Included in Trip Fee:

• Shared accommodations in the beach neighborhood of Copacabana or Ipanema
• Visits to three samba school rehearsals (entrance fees included)
• A samba drumming workshop with a master Brazilian percussionist (instructor TBA)
• Visit to Artcelsior Instrument Factory
• Ticket for 1 Night of the Grupo Especial Samba School Parades in the Sambadrome during Carnaval

Note: Participants who are interested in samba dance may be able to take a dance workshop as a separate activity not included in the Trip Fee.

Trip Fee: US$1,500.00

US$750.00 Deposit due by November 15, 2009

US$750.00 Balance Due by December 15, 2009

*Save US$100.00 off the total Trip Fee if you submit a US$700.00 Deposit by September 15, 2009! The US$700.00 Balance is due by December 15, 2009.

The Trip Fee is due in its entirety by December 15, 2009. The Trip Fee (including both the deposit and balance payments) is 100% nonrefundable, except in the event that Samba New York! cancels the trip, in which case all participants will be refunded in full any amount of the Trip Fee they may have paid.

Not Included in Trip Fee:

• Airfare
• Passport and visa fees
• Transportation to and from the airports
• Transportation in Brazil
• Meals
• Additional workshops or lessons
• Any other activities (including activities marked as “optional” below)

For more information, or to join the trip, contact Philip Galinsky.

Preliminary Schedule (subject to change):

Tues. 2/9:

Arrive in Rio and settle into accommodations. Visit Christ Statue in afternoon (optional); visit samba school at night (TBA).

Wed. 2/10:

Samba drumming workshop in afternoon; visit samba school at night (TBA).

Thurs. 2/11:

Visit Artcelsior Instrument Factory in afternoon (option to buy instruments); visit samba school at night (TBA).

Fri. 2/12:

Free day; at night go to Parade of the Children’s Samba Schools in the Sambadrome (optional).

Sat. 2/13:

Free day; at night visit neighborhood of Lapa to see shows (optional).

Sun. 2/14:

Free day; at night go to Parade of the 1st Division (Grupo Especial) Samba Schools in the Sambadrome (optional).

Mon. 2/15:

Free day; at night go to Parade of the 1st Division (Grupo Especial) Samba Schools in the Sambadrome.

Tues. 2/16:

Follow blocos (street Carnaval groups) during the day (optional); free night.

Wed. 2/17:

Ash Wednesday; parade results party in afternoon.

Thurs. 2/18:

Departure day.

The group has sold out the acclaimed Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and appeared at such other prestigious venues as The Brooklyn Museum for First Saturday, New York Botanical Garden, Prospect Park Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Sounds of Brazil, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Copacabana, and Sushi Samba. Samba New York’s clients have included Bloomberg, Pepsi Co., Starbucks, Kraft Foods, and Enterprise Rent-a-Car.

Our professional performance company comprises a top-of-the-line roster of samba drummers and dancers; singers; guitarists; players of the cavaquinho, the characteristic small Brazilian guitar; the acrobatic performers of capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art-dance; horn players; and whatever other type of performer may be required.

Our repertoire focuses on samba while also incorporating various other styles of Brazilian music and dance. Whether your event calls for an intimate bossa nova trio or a full-blown Carnaval extravaganza, Samba New York! will custom create the optimal show just for you!

Please contact us to discuss performance options. You’ll be glad you decided to go with Samba New York! We look forward to inspiring your guests out of their routine with the uplifting rhythms of Brazil!

Instructor, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D.
Director, Samba New York!

Mondays, June 7, 14, 21, 28; July 12 & 19
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Funkadelic Studios
335 West 35th Street
between 8th & 9th Avenues
Third Floor, Studio 8
New York City

Fee (in cash): Only $60 for all 6 sessions (if paid in full on June 7)
or $20 per individual class

*All levels
*Please bring your own instruments and ear plugs
*Some instruments for sale or available to borrow by request
*The $60 Course Fee is due in full at the first class

After a successful first edition, Samba New York! will be continuing this unique workshop designed to train students and professional musicians alike in the art of Brazilian samba percussion. Referring to the special rhythmic feel of samba from Rio de Janeiro, Suíngue Carioca is an immersion experience — a six-week intensive course that will provide you with the essential tools to be able to perform with the Samba New York! Bateria at some of NYC’s most exciting events! The class will cover foundational instrumental techniques of the samba school bateria (percussion section); the typical samba-enredo song form; and the core repertoire of our Bateria, featuring the styles of various samba schools from Rio as well as Samba New York’s own style.

The agenda for the June / July workshop is as follows:

• 6/7: Bateria Warm-Up and 2010 breaks (Cubango Samba School style)
• 6/14: Bateria Warm-Up (Samba New York! style)
• 6/21: Introduction to Mocidade Samba School style
• 6/28: Bateria Warm-Up and breaks (Mocidade)
• 7/12: Bateria Warm-Up and breaks, continued (Mocidade)
• 7/19: Review of all 3 samba school styles

Since the arrangements are challenging and the course is cumulative, all participants are highly encouraged to commit to the entire series. Although all levels are welcome, the pace of the sessions will be intermediate to advanced. Beginning students are recommended to set up one private lesson with Philip Galinsky as a supplement to the weekly class. We look forward to playing samba with you!

Advanced registration is required:
To sign up, email us with your name, phone number, your instrument, and any experience with samba percussion. Please specify which sessions you will be attending. The course fee and any individual class fees are nonrefundable. Credits will not be granted for missed classes.

For further information, contact us.

with Philip Galinsky, Ph.D.
February 9 – 18

Samba New York’s Director, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D., leads a cultural immersion trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during Carnaval. The goal of the trip is to provide enthusiasts of Brazilian music and dance a unique opportunity to explore Rio’s rich samba culture first hand. The group will visit several samba schools in rehearsal, have a workshop with a master Brazilian percussionist, experience a night of top-level Samba School Parades in the Sambadrome during Carnaval, and much more!

The trip is open to musicians and non-musicians alike. Samba New York! will do its best to open doors for experienced drummers who wish to play in samba school rehearsals or in blocos (street Carnaval groups). Prospective participants interested in this possibility are highly encouraged to attend Samba New York’s Open Rehearsal and to take private lessons with Philip Galinsky prior to the trip. In addition, we may be able to schedule a special samba dance workshop as a separate activity.

For detailed information about our Samba Study Trip: Rio 2010, read more about it. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you in Rio!