Where Samba Lives!!!

Casa do Samba Bateria

  2010 Brazilian Nites Carnaval!!!

Background History:

Casa do Samba in portuguese means: " Where Samba lives ". Brazil is known worldwide as the home of Samba. Samba is the most popular of the Brazilian music styles known universally as the music from the famous Brazilian Carnaval.

Here in California, Casa do Samba strives to preserve Samba and its incredible energy, alive in the hearts of its lovers as well as in the hearts of the Brasileiros, Brazilians living away from home.

Casa do Samba is something very unique, and the directors and musicians are recognized as pioneers in this activity outside of Brazil, especially for already having a long history of public performances through the first Samba school of Los Angeles, Mila Samba School. The school was founded in 1989 by Luiz Ferreira, father of Israel Ferreira who along with his wife founded and direct Casa do Samba.

MILA, known to the Brazilians as Mocidade Independente de Los Angeles, was recognized as the heart of the LA Samba community for many years.There started the tradition of the Friday night Samba at the popular "Cafe Danssa".The founder Luizinho Ferreira is Israel’s father was a local incon, known within the Brazilian music community for having brought many popular Brazilian Musicians to LA to perform and work at MILA.

Artists like Beth Carvalho the “Madrinha” or “Godmother” of the school, members of pagode goups Fundo de Quintal, So Preto, Claudinho Smile cavaquinista of Salgueiro Samba School in Rio, along with many other well-known singers and percussionists from the most popular Samba schools of Rio all of whom shared the stage with the school on many occasions.

Unfortunately few days prior to the 2007 Carnaval, the Ferreira family received the devastating news that Cafe Danssa would be closing its doors to the community.

The occurance left the Brazilian Samba Community without a home and a place to celebrate Carnaval.

Everyone agreed that such a legacy, something so important to the Brazilian community couldn’t just seize to exist. The emotion resulting from knowing that there would be no more Friday Night Samba, a tradition of more than 20 years served as an inspiration opening new horizons and possibilities.

Casa do Samba opened its heart to the community late 2007 and continues to be the example of the authentic Rio Culture of Carnaval.

The name Casa do Samba has a very important meaning, it is the insurance that Samba, the music that is the foundation of what makes up Brazilian Culture will always have a home.

Casa do Samba is where Samba lives!

A place where we can always find the original Samba. Samba from the Carnaval Carioca, The Rio de Janeiro Carnaval.

We celebrate with traditional costumes and sing Sambas de Enredo, the music of the Carnaval which tells of the history of the Brazilian People.

Our Samba school Bateria directed by founder Israel Ferreira and Mestre de Bateria Rodney Dassis, is recognized today as the best bateria of Los Angeles!

Our goal as a school of Brazilian Cultural Arts, is to offer music and art education through our classes, workshops and drum rehearsals. Through this we unite our strengths with those of our community making sure that the Brazilian Culture and History remains alive here in California!

We also hope promote diversity and integration of our Culture in the United States by inviting anyone from any cultural background to come out and learn about our music and arts.

Come and Samba with us!