Category Archives: Dance

Beginners drumming and dance courses 2025

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Come and learn samba with us!

Wellington Batucada at Newtown Fair 2025 - photo by Gerry Keating

We’re now taking bookings for our 2025 beginners’ drumming and dance classes, which begin at the end of this month!

The Sunday afternoon classes for both drummers and dancers will run for 6 weeks, 1pm – 3pm.

Drummers: Your classes begin on Sunday 27 July and run until Sunday 7 September.
There is no class on Sunday 10 August for drummers.

Dancers: Your classes begin a week later on Sunday 3 August and also run until Sunday 7 September.

The cost is $135 for the course, with a special price of $75 for Batucada members who are keen to learn to dance, learn a new instrument, or refresh their skills.

Drumming classes will take place at the Cook Islands Society Hall, 220 Hanson St, Newtown.

Dance classes will take place at Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown.

Booking your spot on the 2025 course

We’ve made it super-easy for you to register and pay for a beginners’ course.

DRUMMERS REGISTER HERE: Beginners’ drumming registration form

DANCERS REGISTER HERE: Beginners’ dance registration form

Wellington Batucada members please register using the links in Batmail or the Join page (requires member login).

Spaces on our beginners’ courses are always in high demand, and numbers are limited, so please make sure you are able to attend all of the sessions before signing up. Get in quick so you don’t miss out.

We’ll be in touch with more info once you’ve registered. If possible, please pay for your spot on the course at the same time as registering. Thanks!

More info about the courses can be found on our Join page

Wellington Batucada at Newtown Fair 2025 - photo by Chris McKeown

Beginners dance and drumming course 2024

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We’re back! Come and join us!

Wellington Batucada CubaDupa 2024 team photo

After a year’s break for beginners’ dance classes, we’re back with a bang – and so are our annual beginners’ drum classes. We’d love you to join us!

The Sunday afternoon classes will run for 6 weeks, from 21 July to 25 August 2024, at 1pm – 3pm.

The cost is $135 for the course, with a special price of $75 for Batucada members who are keen to learn to dance, learn a new instrument, or refresh their skills.

Drumming classes will take place at the Cook Islands Society Hall, 220 Hanson St, Newtown.

Dance classes will take place at Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown.

Booking your spot on the 2024 course

We’ve made it super-easy for you to register and pay for a beginners’ course.

DRUMMERS REGISTER HERE: Batucada beginners’ drumming registration form

DANCERS REGISTER HERE: Batucada beginners’ dance registration form

Spaces on our beginners’ courses are usually in high demand, and numbers are limited, so please make sure you are able to attend all of the sessions before signing up.

We already have over 150 people on our “Expressions of interest” spreadsheet this year, including those who’ve been waiting two years to come to our dance classes – so we know demand is going to be super-high for 2024. Get in quick so you don’t miss out!

We’ll be in touch with more info once you’ve registered. If you can pay for your spot on the course as soon as possible, that would be great. Thanks!

More info about the courses can be found on our Join page

Beginners dance and drumming course 2022

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We know heaps of you have already expressed an interest… so come and join us!

Batucada Beginners' Workshops 2022Come and learn to drum and dance alongside members of Wellington Batucada. Sign up for the 2022 Beginners classes now!

The Sunday afternoon classes will run for 6 weeks, from 24 July to 28 August 2022, 1pm – 3pm.

The cost is $120 for the course. There’s also a special price of $60 for Batucada members who are keen to learn a new instrument or refresh your skills.

Drumming classes will take place at the Cook Islands Society Hall, 220 Hanson St, Newtown.

Dance classes will take place at Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown (note new venue to accommodate more dancers).

Booking your spot on the 2022 course

UPDATE 06/07/22: The 2022 drumming beginners’ course is now FULLY SUBSCRIBED

However, as not everyone who registered has paid yet, there may be a small number of places that become available in the next couple of weeks. Please contact us at wellingtonbatucada@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the waiting list for places on the drumming beginners’ course.

There are a few places still available on the dance course

Dancers please fill in the Beginners’ Dance registration form to register.

Once you’ve completed the form, please pay $120 via internet banking to:

Wellington Batucada
38-9012-0348830-00
Reference “Your Name” and “Beginners”

If you have already registered but not yet paid, please make your payment as soon as possible, as we will be releasing any unpaid-for places on the course to people on our waiting list.

More info on our Join page

Beginners dance and drumming course 2021

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We know you’ve been waiting a long time for this… so come and join us!

Beginners dance and drumming course 2021Come and learn to drum and dance alongside members of Wellington Batucada. Sign up for the 2021 Beginners workshops now!

The Sunday afternoon workshops will run for 6 weeks, from 9 May to 13 June 2021, 1pm – 3pm.

The cost is $120 for the course. There’s also a special price of $25 for Batucada members who are keen to learn a new instrument or refresh your skills.

Drumming Workshops will take place at Cook Islands Society Hall, 220 Hanson St, Newtown (see map).

Dance Workshops will take place at the Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre. NOTE THIS IS A CHANGE OF VENUE to accommodate more dancers. For the 6 June session, we will meet at Wellington Pipe Band Hall, Corner of Hanson St, Newtown (see map).

Booking your spot on the 2021 course

To sign up, please fill in this form.

Once you’ve completed the form, please pay $120 via internet banking to:

Wellington Batucada
38-9012-0348830-00
Reference “Your Name” and “Beginners”

We may need to limit numbers this year, so please sign up ASAP to ensure a spot!

More info here

Marking International Dance Day 2020

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Dance Day as memories, rather than action

It’s the last day of level 4 lockdown in New Zealand, and we should have been dancing in celebration of International Dance Day. All around the world, populations are sheltering in place as COVID-19 rages on.

So instead of dancing together today, let’s take an in-depth look at dance in Wellington Batucada, and what it means to us…

Wellington Batucada dancers share their thoughts (and their moves!) on International Dance Day 2020. Video by Tom S Etuata.

Beginners dance and drumming course 2019

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Come and join us!

Beginners dance and drumming course 2019Come and learn to drum and dance alongside members of Wellington Batucada. Sign up for the Beginners courses now for 2019.

Dates have been confirmed for 3 x two-hour workshops to be run every second Sunday for both Dancers and Drummers on the following dates: 11th & 25th August and 8 September.

Dancers will be in the Pipe Band Hall and the Drummers up at the Cook Island Society Hall. On the alternate Sunday beginners will be invited to visit band practice and watch.

Cost of workshops to beginners will be $60 for all 3 x two-hour sessions, to be paid up front. There’s also a special price of $25 for current Batucada members.

Sign up here!

Batucada beginners’ dance course starts 5 August 2018

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Who’d like a piece of the Samba action?

Arawhetu and Hillary lead the dancers at Newtown Fair 2018 - photo by Paul Taylor

Our next Batucada beginners’ dance course begins 5 August 2018.

You will get to dance alongside members of Wellington Batucada while our Dance Directors teach choreography from our Samba repertoire. No dance experience required and everyone is welcome (all genders).

The cost for the beginners’ course is $80 for 6 weeks. Or you can pay $20 per individual session.

Dance course dates

Venue: Thistle Hall, 293 Cuba St, Te Aro Wellington.

Our beginners’ dance classes will be held every Sunday for 6 weeks, in two 3-week blocks. Classes run from 1pm to 3pm as follows:

Week Date Time Venue
Week 1 Sunday 5 August 1-3pm Thistle Hall
Week 2 Sunday 12 August 1-3pm Thistle Hall
Week 3 Sunday 19 August 1-3pm Thistle Hall
NO CLASS Sunday 26 August NO CLASS
Week 4 Sunday 2 September 1-3pm Thistle Hall
Week 5 Sunday 9 September 1-3pm Thistle Hall
Week 6 Sunday 16 September 1-3pm Thistle Hall

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Batucada beginners’ dance course starts 27 August 2017

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Learn to dance samba with Wellington Batucada!

Newtown Fair 2016

Our next Batucada beginners’ dance course begins 27 August 2017.

Dance course dates

Our beginners’ dance classes will be held every Sunday for 6 weeks from 2pm to 4pm as follows:

Week Date Time Venue
Week 1 Sunday 27 August 2-4pm Thistle Hall
Week 2 Sunday 3 September 2-4pm Thistle Hall
Week 3 Sunday 10 September 2-4pm Thistle Hall
NO CLASS Sunday 17 September The band will be away at the Hastings Blossom Festival
Week 4 Sunday 24 September 2-4pm Whitireia Performing Arts Centre – Studio 1 on Level 2
Week 5 Sunday 1 October 2-4pm Whitireia Performing Arts Centre – Studio 1 on Level 2
Week 6 Sunday 8 October 2-4pm Whitireia Performing Arts Centre – Studio 1 on Level 2

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Batucada beginners dance workshops coming soon!

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Time to get your groove on for summer

Batucada dancers performing at the Newtown Fair, 2016 - photo by Paul Taylor

Batucada dancers performing at the Newtown Fair, 2016 – photo by Paul Taylor

Join the Wellington Batucada this summer and dance your heart out at the CubaDupa festival!

A six week block of samba workshops designed to get you festival ready*.

Level – beginner to intermediate samba, previous dance experience a bonus but not essential.

Dates for the 2017 summer workshops are as follows:

Date Venue Address
Sunday 29 January 2017 Toi Poneke 61-69 Able Smith Street
Mon 6 February (Waitangi weekend) Thistle Hall 293 Cuba St
Sunday 12 February Thistle Hall 293 Cuba St
Sunday 19 February Thistle Hall 293 Cuba St
Sunday 26 February Thistle Hall 293 Cuba St
Saturday 4 March Te Whaea (Drama 3) 11 Hutchison Rd

Time: 2.00pm – 3.45pm
Cost: $60 for the block of six classes or $15 casual rate per class

* Participation in CupaDupa and other festivals is encouraged but you’re free attend the dance workshops without performing. Please note the dates, as most are on Sundays with the exception of Monday 6 February and Saturday 4 March.

Bring – Drink bottle, soft shoes/sneakers and exercise wear or loose clothing.

For more information please contact: wellingtonbatucada@gmail.com or call us on 027 253 7288.

CubaDupa Day 1 - dancers and band onstage - photo by Alan Shuker

CubaDupa Day 1 – dancers and band onstage – photo by Alan Shuker

Long weekend dance workshops with Josiane Santos

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22-24 October 2016 (Labour Weekend) – come and join us!

Wellington Batucada is excited to introduce this series of dance workshops to the capital.

Teacher Josiane Santos is an exuberant force, igniting her classes with the warmth and passion she holds for her culture. The talented Brazilian has danced and performed since her childhood, and from 2002 began researching Brazilian Folk Dances as choreographic material for the production of her dance shows.

Josi has taught Afro-Dance and Samba de Gafieira workshops since 2009, and has produced and directed shows seen across Brazil, USA and Sweden. She currently resides in Byron Bay, Australia where she co-founded the Brazilian Bay Company with her partner, promoting Brazilian culture and performing arts within the community. Their inclusive and empowering approach brings joy and a great sense of achievement to those participating.

More info about the weekend’s activities can be found on our Dance workshops with Josiane Santos page.

Cost is $120 for the full three days, or payable on a per workshop basis if you prefer.

This weekend has been set up in lieu of Sambanui and is open to all samba groups in New Zealand and the wider dance community.

The workshops will take place in Wellington over 22-24 October 2016 (Labour Weekend)

Feel free to rock on up to any of the workshops and register in person. You can come to one, all or some of the workshops over the long weekend – you choose!