Nottingham Samba Collective (formerly the Nottingham School of Samba) is a community-focused not-for-profit samba band (bateria) bringing the sound and energy of this traditional Brazilian music to Nottingham and beyond.
We are a collective of people of all ages and backgrounds coming together in a spirit of friendship and solidarity with a focus on expressing ourselves through the irrepressible rhythms of Latin-American music. It’s about learning and developing our craft but most of all, it’s about having fun!
What is Samba?
Samba is a Brazilian music genre and dance style, with its roots in Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions, particularly those of Angola and The Congo. Although there are various forms of samba in Brazil, the popular rhythms originate from African drumming and the African structures of polyrhythm that are performed by the different instruments of the bateria (samba band).
Samba is recognised around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival. Considered one of the most popular Brazilian cultural expressions, the samba has become an icon of Brazilian national identity.
Today, infectious samba rhythms can be heard playing live across the globe with baterias and schools of samba having been established in thousands of towns and cities on every continent. Often performed at carnivals, celebrations and parties, it is as popular today as ever and we defy anyone with a sense of rhythm not to be tapping their feet or dancing at the joyous sound of a bateria in full swing!
A samba band typically consists of Tamborims, Snare Drums (Caixa), Agogo Bells, Surdos, Ganzás / Chocalho (shakers), Cuíca, Timbal, and the Repinique (or ‘Hep‘).
