Event Description

Mardi Gras Brazil Carnaval Conference 2026

Mardi gras Casa Samba will be sponsoring the inaugural New Orleans Mardi Gras Brazil Carnaval conference. Five days of training will lead up to the grand finale: the Endymion Parade in New Orleans. Join us and become a part of this historic event. This is a priceless opportunity to participate in the largest parade in New Orleans. While watching the parade is enjoyable, being in the parade is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Along with this lifetime experience you will be helping to restart the NORDC and Casa Samba Community children's program called the samba kids www.sambakids. The program has been around for more than 20 years, with the proceeds from the registration for this Carnaval conference in 2006. Casa Samba will be able to build our children's program back up to doing the festivals and performances around the city representing Youth involved in Afro-Brazilian culture.

Mardi Gras Brazil Conference 2026 Description

The Conference will be from February 9 through February 14 The hours will be from Tuesday through Friday we will have two rehearsal sessions per day from 10 AM to 10:00 AM will be the first session, then from  2 PM to  5 p.m. will be the second session. There will be two (2) mandatory day rehearsals on Thursday, and Friday. On Friday the costumes will be distributed to the percussion band (Bateria). We will have a dress rehearsal everyone including all individual animal sections. also, give out instructions on where we will be meeting and the things you will need in the things that you will not be able to bring to the parade. 

Mardi Gras Brazil Carnaval Conference 2026 Schedule

Monday-February 9th at 10 AM to 5 PM
Monday 10 AM to 5 PM registration and check-in
Receive credentials, Conference information handouts, Costume inspection, and drummer-level auditions for positions of the distribution of samba instruments. 

Thursday-February 12th, at 10 AM to 5 PM  Mandatory rehearsal
Thursday, from 10 AM to 5 PM. mandatory rehearsal session   Mandatory rehearsal session. This rehearsal section is mandatory for everyone registered for the conference. This will be an all-day section for everyone to rehearse together as a group, under the direction of Mestre Curtis Pierre and his Directors. The rehearsal will be from 10 AM to 5 PM there will be a 30-minute break between the 2 rehearsal sessions.

Tuesday-February 10th at 10 AM to 5 PM
Tuesday 10 AM to 5 PM rehearsal session The rehearsal section is for everyone. The first session of individual sectionals samba Tamborim section, a Samba percussion section, a Repequie and Caixa section, and a Surdo section. Dancers will divided into three groups Samba Dancer section A, B, and C. C Will represent the animal section which divided into six groups

 The second half of rehearsal everyone will rehearse together

Friday-February 13th from 10 AM to 5 PM. Mandatory rehearsal
Friday 10 AM to 5 PM mandatory rehearsal Final 2-hour rehearsal. After the rehearsal, we will have a Casa Samba and Endymion briefing on procedures and policies involving the parade. After the rehearsal, we will have Costume distribution and information on the meeting location for the parade. Credentials and Our location within the Endymion Parade will be announced at the final rehearsal.

Wednesday-February 11th, from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Wednesday, 10 AM to 5 PM  rehearsal session This rehearsal section is mandatory for everyone registered for the conference. This will be an all-day section for everyone to rehearse together as a group, under the direction of Mestre Curtis Pierre and his Directors. The rehearsal will be from 10 AM to 5 PM There will be a 30-minute break between the 2 rehearsal sessions.

Saturday -February 14th is the Endymion Parade
 Meet at the 800 Race St. The annunciation center for 10 AM. Everyone will load on the bus to go to the designated parade location for the Endymion Parade. We will report to the line-up on Saturday:2:30 PM, Located at Marconi drive and city Park Drive at New Orleans City Park. As a parade unit we required to  meet 2 1/2 hours before the starting time of the parade, 5:00 pm. Our position within the Endymion Parade will be announced at the final rehearsal.

Mardi Gras Brazil Carnaval Conference 2026 will have two Night Concerts

Monday Night Concert 

Mestre Curtis handmade Ancestral Percussion String Orchestra Mestre Curtis Presents an EPIC Night of Percussion. A special Night of Percussion, Mestre Curts and his Sun Bomani showcase the New Orleans percussionist. In a way that has never been seen before, featuring some of the best Percussion performing artists on the upper level in this city. You will be able to take photos and videos, . He will be playing some traditional Afro Brazilian rhythms on the  various string instrument. There will also be a percussion display of Mestre Curtis’s handmade string percussion instruments. Instruments that he has created, both from traditional materials and natural materials found in his surroundings.

*All attendees must be 18+. if not accompanied adult. Casa Samba Conference Nametag is required. No guests.

Tuesday Night Concert

Tuesday Night, Bomani Pierre and Jason Marsalis, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Mestre Curtis Pierre Presents An evening with Master Drummers of New Orleans

The Young Master drummer of New Orleans, Jason Marsalis Bomani Pierre. The master artists will present comparisons and similarities of the Afro-Brazilian rhythms to the rhythms of New Orleans Jazz and brass band drumming. Special guest Big Chief Honey Banister. Don’t miss this cultural update performance and a great jam session after the performance.

*All attendees must be 18+. if not accompanied adult. Casa Samba Conference Nametag is required. No guests.

Wednesday – Night Samba Warm up 7 p,m. to 9 p.m.

Wednesday Night, February 11, extra practice for anyone(not mandatory), only if.  necessary – Special Class – Group sessions, private class, last-minute costume adjustments, instrument repair, and other last-minute preparation for both dancers and musicians

*All attendees must be 18+. if not accompanied adult. Casa Samba Conference Nametag is required. No guests.

Thursday Night for last minute preparation

Thursday Night – Special Class – Group sessions, private class, last-minute costume adjustments, instrument repair, and other last-minute preparation for both dancers and musicians

Performers lecture/Demo workshops and Speakers

James Andrews

One of New Orleans Premier trumpeters World-renowned touring artist and master performer and artists will speak on how the brass band culture has evolved in his lifetime.

Big Chief Shaka

Zulu

Zulu has lectured on the history and culture of the New Orleans Black Masking Indian tradition. He also owns an African Drum and Dance Arts Company and is working on a stage production called Voices of Congo Square. Born in 1969 in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, Zulu grew up in the performing arts company Free Spirit, founded by his father Zohar Israel. Zulu’s father carved a drum for him when he was four years old, and he was initiated into his community’s drum society at age 13.

Big Chief Irving “Honey”Banister

* Background
Honey’s mother, Big Queen Ledell Banister, is also a member of the Creole Wild West tribe, and she got Honey involved when he was six years old. His father, Irving Banister Sr., was a guitarist who played with artists like Danny White, Eddie Bo, and Allen Toussaint. * Band
Honey is the frontman of the Grammy-nominated Mardi Gras Indian funk band Cha Wa. The band has released three albums, including Funk n Feathers (2016), Spyboy (2018), and My People (2021). Spyboy was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2018, and My People was nominated in 2021. Performance style
Honey is known for wearing traditional Mardi Gras Indian clothing, including intricately designed headdresses, during performances