Paraiso School of Samba

Paraiso was founded to create a Samba School in London presenting real Rio samba and Rio carnival. Our main focus is to parade in Notting Hill Carnival, which we do every year with around 300 revellers in spectacular costumes. During the rest of the year our musicians and dancers are busy with workshops, gigs, educational projects, and other events.

Our president and carnavalesco (designer), is Henrique da Silva, from the Rio samba school Mangueira. In Paraiso he leads the team which produced the costumes and parade that won both best band on the road and best samba band at Notting Hill Carnival 2005. Our mestre de bateria is Mestre Esteves, who is bandleader of Estácio de Sá, the birthplace of samba in Rio de Janeiro. Our principal bateria director here in London is Damian Manning.