about us
merging the cultures of carnival in Brasil with New Orleans mardi gras .
The acronym C.A.S.A. means Cosmopolitan Amigo Samba Association all about spreading Brasilian culture through all walks of life.
a brief history
Casa Samba was founded in 1987 by Mestre 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 Mestre Curtis Pierre, and Brasilian master drummer, Jorge "Alabe" Bezerra.
Casa Samba's performances combine traditional music, vocals, theater, dance and drumming to capture the spirit of Carnival in Brasil, Afro- Brasilian 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 Mardi Gras.
mission
Our Mission - Our mission is to present audiences with an authentic Brasilian 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 Brasil and the similarities which bridge Carnival in Brasil with Mardi Gras in New Orleans emphasizing that importance of their African tradition and influences.
forging ahead
Vision - Casa Samba's vision is to train children and adults in New Orleans and throughout the Gulf South into aspiring practitioners of Brasilian traditional music, dance and cultural arts. Mestre Curtis Pierre, has studied over the past 30 years, to gain the knowledge and expertise on Brasilian music and dance. Now with the aid of Casa Samba, he would like to give back to the community through offering classes and workshops on the Brasilian music, dance and culture. For the past 32 years he has with hands on work within his community with hundreds children. Not only as a performer but, he is roll model, mentor, big brother and as a farther figure to many of his neighborhood children. Casa Samba and Medtre Curtis has performed for over 1,00,000 children the metropolitan New Orleans school systems and surrounding parish schools, exposing children to Brasilian culture, music and traditions.
Being a native of New Orleans and knowing the problems that kids face today, Mestre Curtis has adopted the same philosophy of the samba schools in Brasil in taking a social responsibility for safeguarding our children and providing them with creative and challenging opportunities and experiences other than what is found in the streets. It is our desire to provide a venue for getting the community, specifically children and young adults interested in music and dance and providing them with a place to participate in supervised and structured activities like Residences, after school, and during the summer months.
Who IS CASA SAMBA
Mestre Curtis Pierre founder and director of Casa Samba established in 1987.He has studied exclusively with master Brasilian folkloric and percussionist, Mestre Jorge Alabe from Rio de Janeiro in self supported residency endeavor for over 15 years. In the past five years, he has also studied with master percussionist Marcio Peters from the world famous Brasilian Samba School, Ile Aye in Salvador Bahia.
view profilecurtis pierre
founder and Director of Casa Samba
Master drummer Jorge Alabê grew up in Rio de Janeiro immersed in the rich musical culture of Brazil, becoming a master in samba percussion as well as in the Afro-Brazilian religious tradition of candomblé. He is an “Alabê” connected with the oldest candomblé house established in Brazil, Casa Branca; the title of “Alabê” means that he has obtained the highest level in drumming and leading of rituals in the candomblé religion and signifies deep experience and authority
view profileMaster Brazilian drummer jorge alabe
Afro Brazilian folkloric director and cultural advisor
Carol has been the Afro Brasilian Dance instructor for Casa Samba for over 23 years and has hosted many workshops at all the major universities located in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. She is currently an adjunct instructor of Brasilian Dance at Tulane University as a credited course now in her 11th year .
Carolyn Barber-Pierre
co-founding of Casa Samba&
He has been leading samba drum class since he was 9 years old. Currently, Junior at Southern University and alumni of the war in Eastern high school band. He has been a personal student of Jorge Alabe from the age 4 till now and Marcio Peeter of ILE IAYE for the past 7 years. He has performed both in New Orleans and Brazil with the group Ile Aiye in Bahia and participated in the rehearsals at the samba schools Beja-Flor and Salgueiro in Rio de Janeiro.
view profileBomani pierre
director of percussion(Bateria)&
other key members of Casa Samba
Our supporting team
Paul Guerra operations manager, costume creator and designer and drummer
Master Wood crafts and Furniture designer has been a drummer for Casa Samba over 14 years. He builds special tools and apparatuses for all our various costume designs. He has devoted a part of his busy life in order to assist in maintaining proper operations and functions of Casa Samba. He leads the kids stilt walking program for Casa Samba Saturday class teaching the kids how to balance their life through learning to walk on stilts
20 year membership
Deidra Alexander
Casa Samba Professor of Dance
Deidra Alexander, begin dancing with Casa Samba at the young age of 19’ in the year of 2000. She was introduced through senior samba dancers that were apart of the group Casa Samba, of New Orleans. She mastered the art of samba dance and was recruited to begin performing with the group professionally. Over the years she has received training and taught African, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Ballet, and Samba. Facilitated the promotion of physical fitness and healthy life choices through dance training and has used this training to teach our afro-brazilian/ samba choreography. Deidra has been teaching dance professionally for over 20’years with an Overall 18 years of experience with the group Casa Samba.
Traisha Ware
Assistant Dance Professor team
Trisha Rowan begin dancing with Casa Samba at the young age of 15 in 1999. She was introduced to the group through a youth summer program hosted at Alcee Fortier High School by the City of New Orleans. She mastered the art of samba dance and was recruited to begin performing with the group professionally. Over the years she has received some African dance training and has used this training to teach our afro-brazilian choreography. 19 years experience.
19 year membership
Tyrone Henry
Production and Sound Manager/Drummer
Tyrone Henry also known as brotha TEE handles all of our production and sound needs As well as drum repairs Is also supplier of Casa Samba's Favorite drink Bessap Breeze.
14 year membership
Connie Corrol
Costume Production Manager/Drummer
Connie is one of the original members of Casa Samba. She oversees the designs and costume making procedures for Carnaval. Along with Paul she is the one that controls the construction and the making of our costumes. She is also a drummer in Casa Samba.
28 year membership
Cliff Taylor
Drummer
Mr. Taylor has been a great asset to the group all 28 years. He's also a regular drum set Player in a couple of bands around the city
28 year membership
Herman Halphen
Casa Samba lead drum instructor
A member of Casa Samba for over 20 years. He assist in casa samba dance drum arrangements, development and facilitating the Samba drum classes. Herman has over 26 years of experience in marching band and Samba drumming, a personal student of Curtis Pierre since he was 15 years old
20 year membership
Patricia Wilmotte
Apprentice Dance Manager choreography/assitant
Patricia from Belgium one of our new international apprentice Dance student Has been dancing professional In her country for over 8 years.
2 year membership
Rhonda Broussard
Dancer/grant writing assistance
Rhonda Broussard has been a member of casa samba for 3 years. She has been instrumental by donating her special skills to help Casa Samba in grant writing
3 year membership
Alvin Watts
Costume Assistant/Stilt Walker/Drummer
Alvin has been in the group for over 20 years and assists in our regularly schedule Saturday kids programs. He also assistant production of customs and designs for Casa Samba
22 year membership
© 2018 CASA SAMBA INC & Curtis Pierre