Every Sunday evening the London School of Samba (LSS) holds public Dance and Percussion workshops at Waterloo Action Centre.

Start the year out by learning to dance samba and play the drums!

DANCE SAMBA from 6pm-7:30pm
Samba is both a type of music and dance originating from the rhythms and traditions brought to Brazil by African slaves. It encompasses a range of styles, from the fast samba (batucada) played and danced in the Rio Carnival, to the funkier samba reggae favoured in Salvador and North Eastern Brazil. The main focus of dance at LSS is samba no pe, the practise of the samba step. However dancers also learn samba reggae and other steps.

PERCUSSION from 7:30pm-9:30pm
In drumming workshops, participants are each taught to play one percussion instrument. The 'mestre' (teacher) will teach a basic rhythm for each instrument, which together will form a 'batucada' beat. The Mestre will also teach 'breaks', a new beat which is introduced into the regular beat for a couple of bars, and which are signalled by a whistle and a gesture. The level depends on the experience of the participants, from absolute beginners to the advanced. In case of mixed ability classes, the more difficult drums can be given to the more experienced.