Brazilian Samba Batucada
Community Workshop - 8 Summer Sessions
Join us for an 8-week course on the exciting rhythms of samba — Rio de Janeiro style!
Participants will learn to play the core instruments that make up a bateria: surdo, caixa, repinique, tamborim, and chocalho. They’ll explore the fundamentals of samba rhythm, call-and-response patterns, transitions, breaks and more — discovering how each part interlocks to create samba’s signature swing.
Tuesdays, 6 - 8pm
Rotary Centre for the Arts - Salloum Room
June 30
July 7
July 14
July 21
August 4
August 11
August 18
August 25
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Space is limited so secure your spot early!
$120 (8-class Early Bird pass) — price until June 5
$160 (8-class Regular pass) — price from June 5
*Inclusive Pricing Available:
In a spirit of openness and accessibility, we invite everyone to choose the ticket price that best suits their situation through our inclusive pricing model.
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About Negin Bahrami
For over two decades, Negin Bahrami has been deeply immersed in the vibrant rhythms of Brazilian samba batucada drumming. What began as a spark of curiosity grew into a lifelong passion. Today, she continues to share her knowledge and love for the music, spreading its traditions, energy, joy, and sense of community.
Negin’s journey began in 2002 when she was first introduced to Brazilian percussion by Rick Lazar, a renowned percussionist and founder of Toronto’s world music group Samba Squad. Captivated by its dynamic energy and infectious rhythms, she soon became an integral member, performing with the group across Ontario and Quebec. Highlights included sharing the stage with artist Jesse Cook and performing at the Muhtadi International Drumming Festival in Tobago.
In 2004, Negin decided to go straight to the roots of samba and experienced her first Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Captivated by the city’s vibrant music and culture, she witnessed the power and beauty of samba at its source and fell deeply in love with the art form. Upon returning to Toronto, she helped shape the city’s growing samba community by co-founding Batucada Carioca with Brazilian master percussionist and sambista Maninho Costa. Together they built one of Toronto’s leading samba groups, dedicated to authentic Brazilian batucada. The group quickly became a cornerstone of the city’s arts scene, uniting a diverse community of percussionists through a shared love of rhythm. Some of Batucada Carioca’s greatest achievements are opening for internationally acclaimed Brazilian artist Carlinhos Brown in 2009 and superstar Ivete Sangalo in 2010. In 2022, they were honoured to perform in Toronto as guests with Monobloco, one of Rio de Janeiro’s most prominent samba-fusion ensembles.
Negin has spent a great deal of time in Rio de Janeiro diving into the heart of samba culture, dedicating countless hours to rehearsals with street blocos as well as top-tier samba schools such as Acadêmicos do Grande Rio and União da Ilha do Governador. She actively participated in different stages of preparation, from lively street rehearsals and intense technical practices to full-scale run-throughs that capture the spirit and precision of Rio’s world-famous Carnival. Her dedication and passion ultimately led her to the pinnacle of her samba journey when she was personally selected by Mestre Odilon, one of the most respected samba masters of all time, to parade with Bateria da Grande Rio. Marching in the legendary Sambódromo during Carnival, Negin experienced the ultimate honour for any sambista.
In 2013, Negin realized a creative initiative she had spent a year developing — Encontro de Baterias. The project brought together Toronto’s four samba groups for the first time: Escola de Samba de Toronto, Samba Squad, Batucada Carioca, and Samba Elégua. Over 100 drummers were united in one large bateria attempting to recreate the sound and energy of the samba school rehearsals in Rio. Encontro de Baterias was a resounding success and a powerful example of music as a community-driven art form, celebrating collaboration and shared passion.
Now based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Negin continues to celebrate and share the essence of samba batucada drumming. For her, it’s not just music — it’s a rhythm that shapes her identity and fuels her connection to culture and community. She remains dedicated to sharing its spirit and traditions by bringing people together through the music she loves.
Encontro de Baterias