Casa Samba was founded in 1987 by Curtis Pierre, Bill Lennon, Chuk and Carolyn Barber. On July 21, 1993, Mayor Sidney Bartholomew proclaimed Casa Samba as the first samba school in New Orleans, one the premier cities of Carnival in the world . The group is directed by  Curtis Pierre, and Brazilian master drummer, Jorge "Alabe" Bezerra. 

Mission

Our mission is to present audiences with an authentic Brazilian Carnival and folk arts experience. Casa Samba does this through weekly open rehearsals and frequent school and university workshops. Additionally, we maintain  a center that works to educate the New Orleans community and the Gulf South region of the rich cultural traditions of Brazil and the similarities which bridge Carnival in Brazil with Mardi Gras in New Orleans emphasizing that importance of their African tradition and influences.

Vision:

Casa Samba's vision is to train children and adults in New Orleans and throughout the Gulf South into aspiring practitioners of  Brazilian traditional music,  dance and cultural arts.

Casa Samba's performances combine traditional music, vocals, theater, dance and drumming to capture the spirit of Carnival in Brazil, Afro-Brazilian traditions and history. We showcase our performances at major hotels, festivals, conventions and special events and through our annual participation in several Mardi Gras parades and coronations . (such as Endymion and Zulu balls) and at the New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival. Appropriately enough, Casa Samba first emerged in 1986 during the Mardi Gras season. Click here for more..........

PARADES* 10-15 minute 6-16 people

1.)Convention Parades for opening , closing or dinner sessions
2.)Parades that assists with moving conventioneers from one location to the another
3.)Energize the convention participants with a  surprise parade  during long conference  sessions
4.)Outdoor mini parades Meet and Greet- Perform at the entrance of an event as conventioneers arrive.
 Recommended for : Parades, private parties, coronation and  other balls, floor shows, dinners, award ceremonies, opening or closing  acts, main acts,  etc

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Parade Performance Requirements:  Dressing rooms, parking, refreshments and/or catering needed)

PERFORMANCES* (6-25 people)- 15, 30, & 45 minute show periods.

1.)Parade Performance ( Parade in, perform in specified or multi-locations, parade out)- 15- 20 minutes Dance
2.)Performance  percussion, vocals and dancers only-
3.)Musical  stage performance- music only; plays popular & contemporary Brazilian music-6-10 piece band 
4.)Theatrical  performances- integrates all the above styles of performances.

*Performance Requirements:  ( Dressing rooms, staging (30' x 25'), sound and lighting , parking, refreshments and/or catering needed)

Recommended for : Special events, private parties, coronations and  other balls, floor shows, dinners, award ceremonies, opening or closing  acts, main acts, festivals, etc.

PORTFOLIO

Just as "second line is to New Orleans, so is samba to Brazil." Our performances presents audiences with a folkloric show that includes the sounds of the Amazon; Candomblé, a cultural representation of African spiritual dances of the Orixas; Maculele (a stick dance); Capoeira,, an Afro-Brazilian martial arts form, and other folkloric dances. The show culminates with a finale that start people moving to the infectious samba beat to re-create the fantastic feel of Carnival in Brazil. All costumes, songs, and dance performances are authentically faithful to Brazilian tradition. For the past twenty years Casa Samba has been presenting traditional music, dance and cultural arts from Brazil New Orleans and the Gulf South . Here are a few samples of the places and events we have performed at: