Story of a Kiwi samba school
Batucada is the traditional samba music played by large percussion groups in Brazil’s carnival parades. Wellington Batucada looks to emulate this tradition and brings Brazilian samba music and dance to Kiwi audiences.
Introduction
Wellington Batucada is a community-based percussion group which brings the flamboyant world of samba from Brazil to Wellington. Batucada is a Brazilian word used to describe the syncopated, African-influenced samba music played by a large percussion group (bateria) as part of a street parade or carnival.
Wellington Batucada wins Arts & Culture category at Wellington Community Awards 2019
Originally formed by Darryn Sigley and Steve Templer in November 2001 to perform in the Cuba Street Carnival, Wellington Batucada endeavors to replicate the authentic samba sound playing a variety of Brazilian rhythms including samba batucada, afoxé, samba reggae, samba funk and many others. We have been blessed through visits by several superb Brazilian and non-Brazilian samba teachers who laid the foundations for our music.
New rhythms and musical fusions are being explored and developed to reflect the wider cultural influences here in New Zealand, and to create a form of live dance music that’s uniquely ours. Check out photos and video from some of our events in the gallery and blog pages.
We are an all-inclusive group – anyone can join regardless of experience or ability, and we provide authentic Brazilian instruments for those who do not have their own.
Currently Wellington Batucada has around 130 members, with 40-50 members regularly coming to our weekly rehearsals. We are in demand to play at many parades, festivals and events, including CubaDupa, the Cuba Street Carnival, Wellington Rugby Sevens, Newtown Fair, Wellington and Johnsonville Christmas parades, and in 2011 the Rugby World Cup Festival of Carnivale.
Our vision
- Continue the growth of Wellington Batucada, the samba percussion group dedicated to creating community through the learning and sharing of samba.
- Provide expertise, instruments and opportunities for anyone, regardless of experience, to learn and share percussion music.
- Take our music to the street and stage so that musicians can experience performing, and New Zealand audiences can experience the sound of samba.
- Contribute to the arts and cultural scene in Wellington and inject it with sound, colour, and energy!