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.