The London School of Samba

The London School of School of Samba is a Brazilian Carnival Arts organisation based in Waterloo, London. Since 1984, we have offered entertaining and energetic weekly drumming and dancing classes to all comers, where we are proud to provide Samba dance classes in London, Samba drumming, costume making, and Samba Performances.

Samba dance and drumming performance

From Strictly Come Dancing to the streets of Notting Hill, the London School of Samba performs on stage, public events and on screen in London, the UK, Europe and around the world. We are especially proud to be annual participants in the Notting Hill Carnival, the largest street party in Europe since our inception in 1984. We are proud to be the offical Samba band for the London New Years Day parade.
We have been featured in many magazines, papers and TV shows, and we were recently included in the Brazilian news coverage for Notting Hill Carnival 2023.

London School of Samba linked to Mocidade in Rio

In 1985, founding members of the school wrote to the award-winning Grupo Especial (Premier League) Samba School, Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, to become our madrinha (godmother) school. After agreeing to be our madrihna, Mocidade officially recognized the London School of Samba in 1989 at the Third Annual European Encountro, the largest samba gathering in Europe. Today, Mocidade remains the godmother school of the London School of Samba, and in homage to Mocidade, the school uses their drum patterns and sings their most classic songs.

We offer high quality, fun and open access training and workshops:

Samba dance classes in London and beyond
Samba drumming classes in London
Costume design and making
Notting Hill Carnival parade
History of traditional Brazilian carnival arts

Opportunities for artistic and personal development:

Facilitate personal artistic development
Advance artistic development in order to perform at LSS events
Offer the chance to perform and participate at the world-renowned Notting Hill Carnival with an established Samba School
Provide the opportunity to volunteer and to learn about and contribute to the running of the school

Entertainment:

Carnivals and festivals
Nightclubs and Weddings
Community and charity events
Schools and educational centres

London School of Samba Charitable Objectives

The London School of Samba is committed to advancing education for public benefit through the promotion of the arts – with particular but not exclusive reference to Samba music, dance, costume making and the culture and tradition of Afro-Brazilian Carnival. We dedicate time with students in traditional costume making ,a recent project, delivered by our in house designer Fee, oversaw a Baiana underskirt making workshop as part of a Work Experience Programme with Newham College.