Exploratory Visit to Rio de Janeiro in October 2004

	Samba Zona Sul rehearsing at Thomas Tallis School.

The Samba Connection international exchange between secondary school children from A2 Arts College in Greenwich, London, and a corresponding school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is set to take place between September and October 2006. The Rio group will arrive and take part in the Thames Festival in the middle of September and the London group will travel to Brazil during autumn half term with a few extra days on either side to make a total of 10 days.

The dates were chosen to co-ordinate with the various commitment of partnering groups. Carnivals, Festivals, School term dates and public holidays (UK and Brazil)

A 15 day exploratory visit to Rio de Janeiro in October 2004 was carried out by Maf'j Alvarez and Henrique Da Silva and coincided exactly with the dates set for the actual exchange in October 2006**. This afforded us the unique opportunity of being able to offer a much more realistic idea of the kinds of activities available to the children one year from that time. Building a strong working relationship with community leaders in two of Rio's samba schools was the main focus of the visit.

The Rio Samba calendar goes through many different phases in getting ready for Carnival, and although preparations go on all year round  - October is seen as the best time to visit and become involved in the Samba Schools. During this time Children are still at school; the carnival Theme, Costumes, Enredo (theme song) and dances are now in advanced developmental phase and are being finalised and transmitted to the samba participants. By December most of this has already been done and the children break up from School – already gearing up for Carnival in February.

Jon Nicholls, Arts College Manager at Thomas Tallis School, is keen for the children taking part in the exchange to get a rounded cultural experience of Rio de Janeiro. By active first hand participation in sports, arts, musical, religious and other seasonal cultural events in Rio alongside their participation in the actual Carnival preparations of two of the most prestigious Samba Schools in Rio – Estacio de Sa and Manguiera - the children will get a real flavour and spirit of Samba, Rio and Brazil.

To be able to deliver an authentic and bespoke exchange such as the one most desired by all partners it was important to be able to build up a strong network of supporting partners and contacts in Rio de Janeiro. This process could only effectively be done whilst in Rio and by attending all proposed events. The success of the exchange in 2006 will count also in large part on the advance logistical preparations, risk assessment, health and safety considerations, contingency and other assurances made available prior to the visit.

**Henrique Da Silva of Paraiso School of Samba also travelled to Rio for one week of the visit to assist in making initial contacts and paving the way for more in-depth exploration.

Areas covered on visit