Performers

This is a partial list of performers for the event.  This will be updated as groups are added.

The Carnaval Artist (carnavalesca) for the event, Doris de Hilster does not perform herself, but her costumes are a very important part of the performance.

Dóris de Hilster, a Brazilian and native of Rio de Janeiro, is a natural-born clothes and costume designer. Dóris’ clothes and costumes have been featured and seen all over the world including a 2011 Honda commercial, the 2010 Rose Parade, the Latin Grammys, Dancing with the Stars (2 times), in the Rio Sambadrome in Brazil in the year 2000, and in front of celebrities including all the Fondas at Bridget Fonda’s wedding, and Carl Lewis’ 45 birthday party to name a few. Doris was honored in 2006 by a national tour of carnaval arts at the Fowler Museum at UCLA.

This lover of all things fashion first displayed her talent for clothes in a small store in Copacabana Beach in Rio. Her ability to spot the trends and what would be hot and what would not, attracted the attention of the owner who relied on Doris to make major purchase decisions. In 1989, Doris married American David de Hilster and moved to Los Angeles. There In 1992, Doris opened the doors to her first store and her first label: Samba Collection. First located in an artist loft in Long Beach, she soon moved her store to the main street in the heart of downtown where her fashions were recognized by many appreciative customers. She then moved her store to the Long Beach Mall. During this same time In 1995, she entered the world of the internet where her talent went worldwide. Today, Doris has hundreds of clients around the world from over 30 countries  and counts as her friends, Brazilian carnavalescos from Rio and from Sao Paulo.

Being a clothes designer, it was a natural for Doris to start making costumes for the samba group SambaLa’ Samba School started by her husband. Soon, it was apparent that her talent for design easily made the transition to the colorful costumes of Brazilian Carnaval.

Doris' costumes were also displayed on the biggest samba stage of them all: Rio's famous Sambadrome during Carnaval 2000. Her mestre-sala porta-bandeira (ballroom master and flag-bearer) costume were on display for over 20 million Brazilians to see.

A voice from god, Renni is from Bahia and does not come out for just any ocassion. Luckily, she has agreed to be part of this great Carnaval event and lend her voice, power, and composing skills to this year's event. She was chosen this year to compose the 2011 about SambaLa and the Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles joining forces.

Renni Flores native of Bahia, Brazil. Bahia is considered the soul and heart beat of Brazil. Renni started singing at the age of 5, and in the early 80s she became the first woman in Bahia to sing with the group Bloco Afro Ilê Aiye in carnaval. She has the full rich sound needed to sing alone with drums of northeast Brazil. From there she performed at various festivals and directed her own folkloric dance company Bahia Magia, one of Brazil’s leading groups. Working with the state government, they toured worldwide.

"... And Moraes' singing, as always, was a virtual definition of the passion that is an implicit part of Brazilian music." ~ Don Heckman - Los Angeles Times

The unique Brazilian singer and lyricist Kátia Moraes began her career in Rio de Janeiro in the 80's with her energetic band "O Espirito da Coisa" . Since then she has performed and/or recorded with top Brazilian acts like Sergio Mendes, Airto Moreira, Oscar Castro-Neves, Rita Lee, Sandy and Junior, Banda Cheiro de Amor, and also with George Duke, Latin Grammy nominee Alex Acuña and Justo Almario's Tolú, Grammy nominee "Latin Project", and Chill artist Praful, saxaphonist from Netherlands.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1990, she started lending her voice to films and television for dubbing and "Voice-overs" while performing with The Rio Thing, Midnight Drums, 22-piece Orchestra Feijoada Completa, Sol & Mar, Viver Brasil Dance Company, Folk Ballet of Brasil, Badaue, Man and Machine, and many more.

In 1996, she released her first CD "Ten Feet and the Sun" in the U.S. with Brasil Nuts band. In 1999 she released "Ginga" with Sambaguru, and in 2003 "Live" by Kufala Records. Her 4th CD with Sambaguru is called "Navegar ao Sol" by Moondo Records. In 2009 Sambaguru released "Tribo" that was on the Preliminary Nominating Ballot for the Grammy 2009.

They say that the heartbeat of samba is the bateria or percussion unit. For SambaLa it is no different. Samba is infectious and has attracted many talented musicians to SambaLa.

The SambaLa bateria is lead by Mestre Rodney D'Assis, Brazilian born-percussionist and musician. He has written and arranged the breaks for this year's Brazilian Street Carnaval.

Other notable members of the sambaLa bateria include head-repinique Jesse Kitten (original member of SambaLa), the bahiana rhythm director Pedro Ha, long-time member and contributor to the bateria and its health Geoff Hunter (who has more samba instruments than anyone we know!), Ali Lexa (rehearsal director).

A native of Salvador Bahia, Mestre Amen Santo is a recognized Mestre de Capoeira, master drummer, and is the Artistic Director of the Brasil Brasil Cultural Center. He began his artistic career under the guidance of Mestre Waldemar and Mestre Avila in Liberdade, Bahia, Brazil. His was mentored as a performer by Negão de Doni (percussion) and Emilia Biancardi (dance) and toured internationally as a member of Brazil’s historic premiere folk ensemble Viva Bahia.

In 1989, he founded the Brasil Brasil Cultural Center that serves as the home base for a professional touring ensemble (the Ballet Folclòrico do Brasil) and the internationally renown  and longest standing capoeira school in Southern California, Capoeira Batuque. Santo helped bring capoeira to a worldwide audience through his performance and choreography in feature films including “Only the Strong” and “Kickboxer IV.” Santo has used dance and music as platform for promoting intercultural interchange, and valorization of Latin American diversity and the African Diaspora. He has also been honored in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and as a pioneer by the World Sokeship Council.

For 10 years, Mariano Silva has served as the Contra Mestre of Santa Barbara’s very active and dynamic Capoeira Batuque. For those not already in the know about this popular form of Brazilian dance, that means Silva is the professionally accredited leader of a school for this hybrid art form, which combines dance, martial arts, and music. Born in Bahia, Brazil, Silva made his way to Santa Barbara in 2000 and has been spreading the word about capoeira ever since. For evidence of his success, look no further than the next Solstice Parade, in which Silva will lead a group of more than 100 drummers, 35 samba dancers, and more than 100 capoeiristas. They’re instantly recognizable, prowling across State Street with deep, slinky and rhythmic side and back steps that are only interrupted for the occasional acrobatic cartwheeling kick. All of this bubbling energy proceeds to the beat of the drums and the incessant twanging of the berimbau, the Brazilian stringed instrument that stands at the core of the capoeira experience.

The objective of this program provides a comprehensive school-based project, designed to offer at-risk students creative alternatives to drug use and gang involvement through Brazilian Cultural Performing Arts.

The goal is to build self-esteem and community cohesion by meeting two basic needs of an individual: to love and be loved and to feel worthwhile to themselves and to others.
Our emphasis is to enhance awareness of African Diaspora and the evolution of music in Latin America. The cultural diversity component of this program makes it a “must have” for students in a global society. Intercultural L.A. Samba Kids features an open enrollment policy providing instruments and uniforms at no cost. Curriculum guidelines and educational materials are also developed to support continuing of education.

Rainha da Bateria, Jonia McClenney brings her dance troupe to preform at the Brazilian Day in LA and the 14th Annual Brazilian Street Carnaval. Raiz Brazil is our more theatrical and more technical approach to the Brazilian rhythms like Samba, Axe, Frevo, Maracatu, Brazilian Hip Hop, Caboclinho, Xaxado, Samba Reggae, Carioca Funk (funk from Rio de Janeiro), while maintaining the authenticity of each form of dance. Founder Jonia Dorta McClenney was born in Pernambuco, Brazil, and she began Brazilian folk dances such as Pastoril, Frevo, Xaxado and Forro when she was just four years old. By age 9, she studied Jazz and then Hip-Hop. With a scholarship to study ballet, she graduated at the 6th Level at age 19 from London's Royal Academy of Dance Program in Sao Paulo. Jonia has always had a passion and fascination for dance and went on to graduate from the University of Sao Paulo with a Bachelor's in physical education and dance.

Ana Carla Laidley was born and raised and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ana was exposed to the art and culture of Samba in early infancy/childhood because her father, Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro, was a very famous musician of the most traditional Samba School, Estacao Primeira de Mangueira. Ana’s mother was one of the first Passistas (Samba dancers) who performed with several renowned artists and performing groups in Brazil and internationally.

Ana’s debut in the Samba School’s parade happened when she was 5 year old and she paraded for over 20 years. Once she immigrated to USA, Ana is teaching Samba by integrating traditional and contemporary Samba styles. Ana’s class provides a space to people to develop their knowledge and understanding of the Brazilian culture as well as reconnect with their body, mind, and soul!
Over 5 years, Ana is studying varieties of the Samba from the 50’s to the present and its roots: Jongo. Ana has created the group SambaNMotion and has choreographed several numbers that reflect her understanding and passion for the Samba de Malandro, Gafieira, and her respect to the varieties of style and movements of this Unique form of dance: SAMBA!

Ana has taught in several Brazilian Events and has performed with different dance groups and Brazilian organizations. She has planned trips to Brazil to help her students to experience the Samba and Brazilian Culture and she had promoted several Brazilian events to promote and divulge the Brazilian Culture outside Brazil.

Ana is teaching at the Brasil Brasil Cultural Center in Los Angeles for 7 years and she had developed several workshops (Samba, Sweat and Chicken Soup for the Soul).

Ana also is teaching at Casa de Cultura in Berkeley once a month where she is developing several projects that include workshops, performances and advanced training for Samba dancers. Ana is also developing a Samba training adapted for children called: Samba Lele!