SambaLeza Dancers of SambaLá

They say the drums call the audience, and the dancers keep them there. One of the groups performing at this year's Brazilian Street Carnaval is the SambaLeza Dancers from SambaLa.

Director Valeria Ruggieri joined SambaLá over 9 years ago when Doris, the SambaLá director gave her a crash course in samba and sent her off with the SambaLá performers group to Seoul Korea for a show for 100,000 people for Kia Motor's world-wide launching of the "Rio" Car. She was the most photographed dancer in the group and from that day on, she was hooked on Samba. Since then, she has worked her way up in the ranks and has danced on Jay Leno and Nickelodeon with Will Smith and even helped one of the contestants and appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" (see the video here).

She has worked her way from dancer, to princesa da bateria, rainha da bateria, and now madrinha da bateria. She teaches advanced samba dance and is creating special choreographies for the Street Carnaval. She also is an event planner and owner of Rio Bela Productions, and is vice-president of SambaLá Samba School, a non-profit organization.

Choreography and Parade Participants

The SambaLeza dancers in the parade and stages shows include Valeria Ruggieri, Madrinha da Bateria (Godmother), Samba Instructor, Choreographer, Jonia McClenney, Rainha da Bateria (Queen), Gina Amato, Primeira Princesa (First Princess), Former Queen and Samba Instructor, Marcia Klay, Former Queen. IAlso included in the parade are porta-bandeira Maija Hunter, head baiana Nilse Wilson and our own King Momo "Bear".

SambaLa Bateria

They say that the heartbeat of samba is the bateria or percussion unit. For SambaLa it is no different. Samba is infectious and has attracted many talented musicians to SambaLa.

This year's bateria is lead by Mestre Rodney D'Assis, Brazilian born-percussionist and musician. He has written and arranged the breaks for this year's Brazilian Street Carnaval.

Other notable members of the sambaLa bateria include head-repinique Jesse Kitten (original member of SambaLa), the bahiana rhythm director Pedro Ha, long-time member and contributor to the bateria and its health Geoff Hunter (who has more samba instruments than anyone we know!), Ali Lexa (rehearsal director).

Renni Flores

A voice from god, Renni is from Bahia and does not come out for just any ocassion. Luckily, she has agreed to be part of this great Carnaval event and lend her voice, power, and composing skills to this year's event. She was chosen this year to compose the 2010 theme song about children.

Renni Flores native of Bahia, Brazil. Bahia is considered the soul and heart beat of Brazil. Renni started singing at the age of 5, and in the early 80s she became the first woman in Bahia to sing with the group Bloco Afro Ilê Aiye in carnaval. She has the full rich sound needed to sing alone with drums of northeast Brazil. From there she performed at various festivals and directed her own folkloric dance company Bahia Magia, one of Brazil’s leading groups. Working with the state government, they toured worldwide.

Click here to visit her website.

Made in Bahia

Made in Bahia is a dynamic duo of brothers that have joined together to bring a mix of Samba, Samba Reggae and other energy filled Afro Brazilian Music to America. Nei Rios and Fabio Assis come from Salvador Bahia the heart of Brazilian music and culture. Nei Rios, former singer of Samba Reggae creator Olodum, has performed with the likes of Jimmy Cliff, Julian Marley and many other note worthy artists. Fabio Assis is the former lead singer of Badaue a popular Los Angeles Afro Brazilian band that has won World Music Awards from local Los Angeles magazines. Made in Bahia is currently performing in Los Angeles and surrounding areas bringing compelling and unique rhythms to various Brazilian and World Music themed shows.

Visit their website

Pagode with Cupim

Pagode is an extremely popular form of club samba that allows for couple dancing. Based in Huntington Beach, this Brazilian based band has performed in clubs in and around California entertaining Brazilians and gringos alike with their special brand of Brazilian beats. They compose much of their own music but like to play the "popular" music that makes everyone dance.

Samba 4 U Bloco

Diane Yakimovics leads the Carnaval bloco Samba 4 U as one of the groups donating their time and energies to the Brazilian Street Carnaval Trio-Electrico Parade.

The Samba 4 U bloco will be participating in the Trio-Electrico parade during the Brazilian Street Carnaval and will have a special T-Shirt for the event. You don't have to be a samba dancer or a dancer at all to participate! If you want to have a lot of fun, be with great people, and enjoy the energy of Brazil, then all you have to do is get your T-Shirt and join the party!

Raiz Brazil Dance Troupe

Rainha da Bateria, Jonia McClenney brings her dance troupe to preform at the 13th Annual Brazilian Street Carnaval.

Raiz Brazil is our more theatrical and more technical approach to the Brazilian rhythms like Samba, Axe, Frevo, Maracatu, Brazilian Hip Hop, Caboclinho, Xaxado, Samba Reggae, Carioca Funk (funk from Rio de Janeiro), while maintaining the authenticity of each form of dance. Founder Jonia Dorta McClenney was born in Pernambuco, Brazil, and she began Brazilian folk dances such as Pastoril, Frevo, Xaxado and Forro when she was just four years old. By age 9, she studied Jazz and then Hip-Hop. With a scholarship to study ballet, she graduated at the 6th Level at age 19 from London's Royal Academy of Dance Program in Sao Paulo. Jonia has always had a passion and fascination for dance and went on to graduate from the University of Sao Paulo with a Bachelor's in

Capeoria Centro Sul with Gui

Centro Sul Capoeira
Long-time friends with SambaLa, Mestre Gui and Centro-Sul will be performing their skills of the Brazilian Martical art Capoeira at the fundraiser.

They recently have moved to Huntington Beach to a new location where everyone is invited to learn this incredible body-fitness activity and join in with a great group of people!

www.centrosul.org

Intercultural L.A. Samba Kids

The objectives of this corporation shall be to provide a comprehensive school-based program designed to offer at-risk students creative alternatives to drug use and gang involvement through Brazilian cultural performing arts.

This program will be offered after school. The major goal is to build self-pride, school pride, and community pride within each pupil by meeting to two basic needs of an individual: to love and be loved and to feel worthwhile to themselves and to others.

Enhance awareness of African Diaspora and the evolution of music in Latin America. The cultural diversity component of this program makes it a “must have” for students in a global society. Intercultural L.A. Samba Kids features an open enrollment policy with no tryouts, no body size requirements, no specific grade level status, no ethnicity emphasis, and no uniform or instrument costs. Curriculum guidelines and educational materials are also developed to support continuing of education.

Zouk-Lambada Show, Class and Contest!

President David de Hilster will be giving two bottles of cachaca to the best Zouk-Lambada dancers in the traditional lambada contest with this new twist!

Zouk-Lambada and or sometimes simply Zouk, started in Brazil as a fresh new approach to the old Lambada dance of the 80′s. Dancers found a new expression to the sexy steps of Lambada with the sensual and unique Zouk music that comes from the Caribbeans, Cape Verde and Angola!

Zouk, which means party in creole can be either very slow or fast paced and is combined with Lambada steps. The dance is unique in both its sexy hip movements and the girls being led in flowy intricate head movements. Zouk-Lambada combines both the sexy and sensual Lambada steps with the beats of the Caribbean and Angola's Zouk Music .

Zouk Lambada came all the way from Bahia, Brazil and and is now filling dance-floors across the world!

About Shani
Shani was born in Israel where she started studying dance and has trained in Ballet, modern, Jazz, Samba and Salsa. In 2006 she traveled to brazil where she saw Zouk-lambada for the first time, this instantly started her passion for zouk . She trained in the U.S and abroad with Mari Hodges , Pablo Schmoller and Leon Gordin.Shani is currently teaching in Los Angeles and has brought many great teachers to teach workshops in Los Angeles including Pablo Schmoller (BA) ,Mary Hodges (BA), Leon Gordin (ISRAEL) and Rich aka Scottish Guy (BA). She is passionate about introducing Zouk-Lambada to Los Angeles.

Pablo Gomes from Buenos Aires and is one of Argentina's Top dancers and teachers. He has trained with Gilson Damasco and has tought in congeresses all over the world! Pablo is now here in Los angeles to teach workshops with Shani and help spread Lambada-Zouk to the U.S.

TMA Music

TMA is not only a group or band. We are individuals who come together to create music for our listeners to appreciate and relate with us. Our mission is to create music that changes lives for the better through positivity, uplift, and a good cause. TMA is also a Talent/Modeling Agency always looking for young talent that can spark the eyes of those watching. Our genre goes unsaid because we feel we can make any kind of music to any kind of instrumental. We thrive on stepping out of the box to achieve what we know is out of our element. TMA: The Main Attraction consists of 4 young, talented artists who live, breathe, and eat music everyday of their lives. The four artists are as follows: Miss Amani: Born and bred out of Hawaii, this half puerto rican half hawaiian goddess has it all, Adam Arceneaux, PRO, and cLAy.

Visit their website at: www.TMAmusic.TV