2018 "A Night In Rio" Show at Zach Theater

Watch our full 2019 “A Night In Rio” show at the Zach Theater!

A Night In Rio is a celebration of the joy and music of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, one of the largest parties on the planet. Act 1 is based on a traditional street rehearsal, where samba school communities gather to learn the year's song, dance, and practice drum rhythms and breaks. During Act 2, the buzz builds as Carnaval approaches and Austin Samba explores music and dance from throughout the country of Brazil that can be found in the bars and streets of Rio. The show concludes with Act 3, when Austin Samba dons their fancy Carnaval costumes and performs the classic enredo “Aquarela Brasileira,” by Martinho da Vila.

Austin Samba Featured on KLRU Collective

Once a year, Samba schools flood the streets of Rio de Janeiro with heart-pounding music and dazzling costumes. Fortunately, Austinites don’t need a vacation to experience the pure joy of Brazilian culture since we have the Austin Samba School. This group of over 100 volunteers, from all walks of life, spreads the alegria of authentic Brazilian drumming and dance to our community. The Austin Samba School holds free classes once a week, and the intense practice pays off when they perform a large-scale, themed production at Austin’s own Carnival Brasileiro.