SAMBA SCHOOL 2022
WELCOME
We offer a fun range of Samba drumming and dance workshops for all groups and all ages such as primary & secondary schools, corporate team building days, weddings, community events and more. We tailor our workshops to suit your capabilities as we bring you step by step through our workshop, please contact us to organise yours. Our community group,
Batuque do Barco (BDB Samba) will be starting
very soon.
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Not only do we offer workshops, we also offer live Samba drumming and dance performances for your events. We have performed at different types of events such as carnivals, corporate events, community days, festivals, birthdays, weddings and more. Our drumming groups can vary in size ranging from a four/six piece professional band to a full community group. Contact us to find out more.
ABOUT US
Based in Wiltshire, Batuque do Barco first came about just before the pandemic of March 2020 when the director - Michael Grant - wanted to set up his own Samba School & Business after spending 18 years in the field learning from some of the best percussionists from both the UK and Brazil. Batuque do Barco’s name comes from an ambition of wanting to live on a narrowboat and the passion that Michael has for the UK canals. The name Batuque do Barco translates as Boat Drumming. Both of these themes and ideas were important as this helped create one project, one passion and one goal.
ABOUT THE LOGO
The logo of Batuque do Barco took inspiration from the Kennet and Avon canal and the director’s passion for narrowboats. The name of the group translates as Boat Drumming. The idea behind this was about taking Rio Samba and slowing it down to create a more relaxed speed and style, so that the finer details of playing can be savoured. The shape of the logo represents the shape of the boat. The diamond folk art is a common feature on many narrowboats in and around the UK, this features in our logo as a homage to the canal boat culture and has contributed to the final look of this new business/band. The rope is also an important feature because this is what was traditionally used in Brazil to both bind the drums together, and to use as a strap to hold the drums during rehearsals and performances alike. It’s also a fundamental material/tool of most/all narrowboats.
MICHAEL GRANT
From a young age, Michael has been a keen musician and has had a passion for inspiring people to play music. From the age of 12 Michael began learning piano and went on to earn his degree in Music majoring in performance and composition where he later wrote his first commissioned music for The Houses of Parliament (YouTube link)
Alongside this, Michael has been the main assistant director for over 17 years for Jamma de Samba where he has been able to hone in his skills as a workshop leader for Samba drumming. Schools, Corporate Events, Carnivals & Festivals are just some of the settings Michael has been able to excel in.
In May 2019, Michael performed with Afon Sistema (a maracatu band) in Bordeaux and helped to successfully win the Europa 2019 Encontro de Maracatu against other competing countries in Europe. Armed with his years of knowledge, teachings and understandings, Michael is enthusiastic about sharing that knowledge/passion with the rest of the community.
