Dive into the rhythms, history, and energy of Samba Reggae and Samba Afro with one of Bahia’s most respected percussionists and educators.
All levels welcome!
Drums provided!
$25
Questions? 503.901.3023
Our premiere summer show is HERE and it is FREE. 🎉
On August 15th, Bloco Alegria takes the stage at Sellwood Park for the Portland Summer Free for All — two full sets of live Brazilian music from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
We are bringing everything: singers, dancers, and our full bateria laying down the heartbeat of Rio de Janeiro carnival
Bring your crew! Bring your family! Bring your blanket! Bring your dancing shoes! This is the one you don't want to miss.
Join us under the open sky at The Beaverton Night Market — one of Portland's favorite free, family-friendly summer celebrations — for a 30-minute set of live Brazilian samba percussion and dance.
Bloco Alegria brings the energy of Rio de Janeiro carnival straight to the streets of Beaverton, with thundering drums, vibrant costumes, and dancing that you simply cannot stand still for.
This will be Bloco Alegria's 6th time leading the Lewis Pride Parade. We’ll bring high-energy samba drumming and dancing as kids, families, and neighbors parade through the Woodstock neighborhood and back to the school for games, food, and drag! 🎶🎉🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜
From Rio to the Rose City, we’re lighting up the night at Portland Winter Light Festival!
Join Bloco Alegria for two performances!
7:30 pm at the World Trade Center
9:30 pm at Pioneer Courthouse Square
Free and family friendly and overflowing with joy! Bundle up and come prepared to dance and enjoy the night lights!
Join us for the Portland Democratic Socialists of America holiday party! This is a fundraiser that benefits Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice. The BrazilTones will open the night followed by two full sets from Bloco Alegria. $10 suggested donation. RSVP at the link below!
6:00 - 6:30 pm The BrazilTones
6:30 - 8:00 pm Bloco Alegria
Sometimes you need a samba band to make the party the best it can be! While this show isn’t open for everyone, everyone could consider hiring Bloco Alegria for their next event! Interested in a samba experience like no other? Please contact us about bookings!
Yep, it’s time for Carnaval in October at Barrel Room! Experience the vibrant sights and sounds of Brazil right here in Portland! Bloco Alegria brings together live samba drumming, dazzling dancers, and infectious rhythms and songs for a true carnival celebration. Bring your squad and dance like it’s Rio right here in PDX!
8pm: Doors
8:30pm: Samba dance lesson for all levels!
9pm: Live samba with dancers (two 45 minute sets)
Special guest DJ Brother Charlie spinning late into the night.
$18 Advance/$20 Door
There’s no better place to enjoy a summer night in Portland than the zoo’s beautifully forested grounds. Take a stroll or spread out a blanket in the amphitheater and enjoy the sounds of samba!
Gather friends, bring the family or take a date and come together for wildlife this summer at ZooNights!
Every ticket purchased helps the Oregon Zoo protect endangered species at home and around the world.
We’re bringing samba to the Portland Blues Experience on Sunday, July 6, 2025! The event runs from 10am to 10pm at Director Park in downtown Portland. This all-day celebration of live music and dance is free and open to the public, powered by community donations and local sponsorships.
The event features a full 12-hour lineup of live bands, dance lessons, food vendors, craft booths, and family-friendly fun — all centered around a real outdoor dance floor and shaded VIP seating.
Full Schedule for Sunday, July 6
10:00 AM – Webfoot Brass Band (Welcome Set)
10:30 AM – Gospel Dance Class
11:00 AM – LaRhonda Steele’s Gospel Hour
12:00 PM – Zydeco Dance Lesson
12:30 PM – Swamp Thang
1:30 PM – Blues Dance Lesson
2:00 PM – Ms Vee & a Badass Band feat. Chance Hayden
3:00 PM – Swing Dance Lesson
3:30 PM – Reggie Houston’s Hot 5
4:30 PM – Salsa Dance Lesson
5:00 PM – Bobby Torres Ensemble
6:00 PM – West Coast Swing Dance Lesson
6:30 PM – The Norman Sylvester Band
8:00 PM – Bloco Alegria
8:30 PM – Jujuba
Bloco Alegria will once again march to the beat in celebration of pride with samba percussion and dance in the Lewis Community Pride Parade!
The parade starts at the Lewis Elementary School at 4401 SE Evergreen Street in the Woodstock neighborhood in Portland.
This school parade was started by a student in 2021 and continues today. It is always a lot of fun, with drumming, dancing, students, parents and community members, costumes and more!
Join us in the celebration!
Bloco Alegria performs at Clark College’s Brazilian Carnival!
We’re bringing samba to Portland’s party with a purpose! The TASTE Gala offers fellowship, inspiration and a curated lineup of Oregon’s rich and diverse food, wine, artists and equity heroes.
The event raises money for three amazing organizations: Adelante Mujeres, APANO, and ELSO, Inc.
The event runs from 5pm to 11pm. Bloco Alegria performs just before dinner at 6:45pm.
Come join us and support some great causes!
The 4th annual Portland All Souls River Procession will be 5pm Saturday, November 2nd, 2024.
The procession is held by the Willamette River and passes under the St Johns Bridge in North Portland, Oregon. Most of the procession’s route is along paved paths at the west end of Cathedral Park, but the pre-procession orientation, restrooms, and after party are located directly next to the Cathedral Park boat ramp parking lot at Green Anchors, 8940 N Bradford Street.
5:00pm: Event starts
5:30pm: Opening ceremony at Green Anchors pavilion
6:00pm: Procession to the river with Bloco Alegria
6:30pm: Ritual at the river
7:15pm: Procession back to Green Anchors with final Bloco Alegria performance
We’re bringing the rhythms of Brazil to help celebrate two decades of incredible coffee, community, and connection. Spend the afternoon sipping on your favorite brews, enjoying lively entertainment, and mingling with great company in the heart of Portland’s Central Eastside. Celebrate 20 Years of Coffee and Community: Celebrate with Nossa Familia.
There is something for everyone and the event is free! Whether you’re a longtime friend or a newcomer, celebrate 20 years of Nossa Familia and toast to many more to come.
We’re performing at Millennium Plaza Park at 1:00 pm! The festival will come alive with the rhythms, melodies, and movements of talented performers from a variety of cultural backgrounds. From live music to dance, and interactive performances, we look forward to celebrating the diversity and creativity of our community.
Sometimes you need a samba band to make the party the best it can be! While this show isn’t open for everyone, everyone could consider hiring Bloco Alegria for their next event! Interested in a samba experience like no other? Please contact us about bookings!
Bloco Alegria is honored to perform at a private event at Aurora City Park! We’ll have a full bateria with singers and dancers at this show. Interested in booking Bloco Alegria for your next event for a samba experience like no other? Please contact us about bookings!
We're opening for Portugal. The Man this July! We’ll kick the night off with 30 minutes of the most sensational samba your soul has ever seen. Hope to see you there!
Celebrate the 4th of July once again at the Portland Waterfront with some blues and samba! Or as they like to call us, a samba explosion! We play twice in one day.
Samba at the Festival Gate
10am - 11:15am
Samba at the Front Porch Stage
1:55pm - 2:30pm
Check out our profile and other artists performing this year!
Bloco Alegria will once again march to the beat in celebration of pride with samba percussion and dance in the Lewis Community Pride Parade!
The parade starts at the Lewis Elementary School at 4401 SE Evergreen Street in the Woodstock neighborhood in Portland.
This school parade was started by a student in 2021 and continues today. It is always a lot of fun, with drumming, dancing, students, parents and community members, costumes and more!
Join us in the celebration!
Bloco Alegria is honored to perform at a private event at the Portland Art Museum! We’ll have a full bateria with dancers at this show. Interested in booking Bloco Alegria for your next event for a samba experience like no other? Please contact us about bookings!
On Friday, March 1, Bloco Alegria joins DJ HM and DJ Charlie for a Bahia to Mombasa dance party at Akadi PDX!
Get your fill of Samba, MPB, Reggaeton, Dancehall, Kizomba, Afrobeat, Brazilian drinks and African food!
The full Bloco Alegria bateria will include singers and dancers for a one of a kind show.
$20 General Admission
Join Bloco at the 9th Annual Portland Winter Light Festival to celebrate the artistry of light with some hot samba rhythms!
See us at:
World Trade Center at 8:00pm where we are kicking off the dance party.
and/or
Pioneer Courthouse Square at 9:00pm where we follow the spectacular fire show.
Free and family friendly!
Bloco Alegria joins local superstar Jimmie Herrod in a one-of-a-kind musical event. Both a VIP Fundraiser and a thrilling public concert that showcases Portland Columbia Symphony’s commitment to friendly and accessible orchestral entertainment – this event balances outstanding musical experiences with a lack of pretension and lots of flair! You won’t want to miss it!
For more information see: The PCSO Spectacular at The Reser
To buy tickets: https://secure.thereser.org/772/773
A free celebration of South American food, music and culture!
Saturday, September 30th
12 - 4pm
sponsored by Peruvian Pride PDX
Come dance with Bloco Alegria at 3pm
Music! Dance! Art! River! Food! Drinks!
We will light up Green Anchors in the St Johns neighborhood from 5-9 pm with music, dancing, food, and drinks!
Food cart and bar in this creative space on the river. Parking is in the Cathedral Park parking lot next to Green Anchors.
All outdoors!
Sliding scale $5-$20
See you there!
6th Annual Brazilian Independence Day Festival at the Portland Mercado
A public event by Batucada Beats
Free Event!
Sunday, September 10th
From noon to 5 pm
Bloco Alegria at 4 pm
Come dance with us to samba and other Brazilian beats - celebrating Brazil with music, dance, art, food, snacks, culture, and much more. Enjoy summer while it lasts!
This is an amazing opportunity to learn directly from the experts, renowned for their performances at the iconic Rio Carnaval. Don't miss these events for a unique and unforgettable experience.
Don't miss this one-of-a-kind event featuring the acclaimed samba dancer, Alex Coutinho! director of the samba dancers wing at GRES Paraíso do Tuiuti & choreographer of the Rio Carnaval samba queen contest.
Day 1: Saturday, Sep. 9, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Day 2: Sunday, Sep. 10, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Reserve your spot! For more information and to register:
sambanationalleague.org/u-s-samba-tour-2023
Day 1: Saturday, Sep. 9, 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Day 2: Sunday, Sep. 10, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Reserve your spot! For more information and to register for Early-Bird pricing through August 23rd go to:
sambanationalleague.org/u-s-samba-tour-2023
* Intermediate/Advanced level players assumed to have prior experience and ability to play their instrument comfortably at 125-130 bpm or more
Less experience? New to Samba? Want to try a new instrument?
A survey of the instruments of the Samba School bateria:
$35
For more info and to reserve your spot contact us at:
blocoalegria.org/contact-us
* Some instruments will be provided if you don't have one. Please bring 'em if you've got 'em!
Choose from: Surdo, Caixa, Repenique, Repique Mor, Tamborim, Chocalho, Pagode instruments, and more!
Reserve your spot! Scheduling begins August 14. To schedule contact us at:
blocoalegria.org/contact-us
Serrinha Raiz
Serrinha Raiz is an acclaimed Brazilian percussionist who has directed renowned Samba Schools from Rio de Janeiro. Besides his career as Samba School Director, Serrinha has performed with important Samba musicians, including: Jorge Aragão, Monarco, Almir Guineto, and Luiz Carlos da Vila. Recognized as one of the best percussionists in the world, he is endorsed by Contemporanea Musical Instruments.
Markinhos
Markinhos began his career in the samba world at 7 years old at “Aprendizes do Salgueiro”, a junior samba school from G.R.E.S. Academicos do Salgueiro. Inspired by his father, the acclaimed Mestre Marcão, he debuted in the samba elite group in 2007, at 13 years old. Five years later, he became a director at Salgueiro. In 2019 he joined Mangueira as director of “ganzas” - the first director not originally from the Mangueira community. He is currently a director at Paraiso do Tuiuti. Throughout his career, Markinhos has been awarded several times as best chocalho section and is known for revolutionizing the way that the chocalho is played in samba baterias.
Kleyton Macedo
With over 30 years of experience in Rio Carnival parades, Kleyton Macedo has performed in top samba schools, such as: Imperatiz Leopoldinense, Sao Clemente, and Salgueiro. As a professional drummer, he has traveled all over the world playing samba. In addition to being a musician, he is also the music producer for Batuque Digital as well as several Rio de Janeiro blocos.
Waguinho do Repique
Waguinho do Repique is a director at G.R.E.S. Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel and one of the top samba players in Brazil. Son of Mestre Cosme, Waguinho is responsible for the introduction of Repique Mor at Unidos da Tijuca and Salgueiro and has been part of important samba schools, such as: Grande Rio, União da Ilha, Porto da Pedra, Vila Isabel, Imperatriz, Portela, and Salgueiro.
Thalita Santos
Thalita Santos is the director of “tamborim” at G.R.E.S Unidos de Vila Isabel, one of the most traditional samba schools from Rio de Janeiro. Graduated in Music at Villa Lobos Music School, Thalita has been teaching music for over 17 years and, more recently, created the first tamborim school 100% online, where she teaches tamborim to students all over the globe.
