Mayombe Masai Workshop Weekender

Name: Mayombe Masai Workshop Weekender
Start: 2025-08-15T18:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-08-16T15:30:00-06:00
Location: Bella Diva World Dance

Schedule

Fri, 15 Aug, 2025 at 06:00 pm to Sat, 16 Aug, 2025 at 03:30 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

Bella Diva World Dance | Glendale, CO

Escola de Samba Denver is thrilled to welcome back master artist and instructor Mayombe Masai back to Denver for a weekshop weekender! We will be hosting 3 different workshop opportunities:
Afro-Brazilian Dance, Samba de Malandro, & Passista Styling.
Each workshop is $45.00 OR only $100 if you sign up for all 3!
Afro-Brazilian Dance FRI 8/15 6PM

In this class students will develop and improve their knowledge about ancestry of samba, an Afro-Brazilian dance and explore its history, art and culture. Mayombe brings life and expression to each movement and makes us understand the “SAMBA BODY”, building each person's body awareness during the process. This workshop prioritizes the fundamentals to strengthen your vocabulary and thus also your improvisation, musicality, performance & finally how the history of the Orixás live on in modern Samba steps and movements.
"Samba de Malandro" SAT 8/16 12PM
Samba de Malandro (male styling) is characterized by smooth and swaggering samba footwork often accompanied by a suit jacket and fedora. The "Malandro" persona is the wiseguy, a rogue, always trying to evade the law and woo the ladies. The Malandro has over time become significant to Brazilian national identity as a folk hero, or rather an anti-hero. A Malandro lives by 'malandragem', a lifestyle of hustling, sidestepping the law, & craftiness. However, Maladragem has also come to be be characterized in the Brazilian popular imagination as a tool for individual justice.
Malandro in Rio also has an association with Zé Pelintra which refers to a ‘spiritual entity’ associated with Umbanda and Candomblé (Afro-Brazilian religions). It seems that there are slightly different interpretations of this spirit/deity depending on what region of Brazil you are in, but in Rio there is a very strong association between Zé Pilantra and Malandros, so in its dance representation there is also this connection to the Afro-Brazilian dance tradition.

"Passista Styling" SAT 8/16 2PM
This is an intermediate/advanced performance level class based on the Passista culture of Rio Carnaval and focuses on both Passista show and Passista "ala" style. This class is all about the essence of Passista Samba performance, fast footwork, short choreography combinations, desafilando (parading) and resistência (Samba fitness).

This workshop will also focus heavily on musicality, dancing with essence and feeling as well as understanding Samba and Carnaval culture. We also work on developing your own individual Samba “jeito” (way/vibe) in freestyle as well as working as a team in performances.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Hailing from Rio de Janiero, Mayombe Masai, an iconic name in the world of samba, has emerged as one of the most influential samba no pé teachers, bringing a unique approach deeply rooted in Afro-Brazilian ancestry and history. With over two decades of experience and dedication, Mayombe transforms the art of dance into a journey of self-discovery and connection with cultural roots.
His teaching method goes beyond technique. Mayombe integrates the musicality of the orixás and historical knowledge into his classes, providing a rich and comprehensive learning experience. He believes that samba no pé is more than a dance – it is an expression of identity, resilience, and celebration of Afro-Brazilian culture.
Through his dedication and passion, Mayombe has influenced not only his generation but also future ones, inspiring dancers and samba enthusiasts worldwide. His classes are a true immersion into ancestral culture, where every movement tells a story and every rhythm evokes memories of a vibrant and resilient past.
Mayombe Masai is recognized for his commitment to preserving and transmitting the traditions of samba, while also promoting a contemporary reinterpretation that engages with new generations. His work as a teacher invites each student to discover their own essence through dance, honoring their roots and celebrating their identity.
Mayombe Masai – the master who dances with the past, present, and future of samba no pé.