BLOCO STORIES

 I am a professional samba dancer and lover of samba and Brazilian music and culture. I recently moved to Miami, and found Miamibloco in my search for a like-minded community of musicians and artists. Finding Miamibloco was beyond my wildest hopes after relocation – I found an incredible community and family, many of whom are now some of my closest friends in my new home!

On a professional level, as a professional and experienced samba dancer, Miamibloco has opened up a whole new depth of knowledge of the culture and music of samba. It has provided not only percussion instruction, but numerous events and performance opportunities to improve my craft with a group of inspiring and amazing artists. On a personal level, Miamibloco fosters a unique community of people bringing a deep and infectious sense of family and community to the city of Miami. Words do not suffice to describe the impact that Miamibloco has had on me as a dancer and as a newcomer to a new city. I am so grateful for this organization and to SuOm and Brian for their dedication to its growth and authenticity!

— Michelle Huebel, professional samba dancer

Miamibloco is making me fall in love with Miami again! After being here for over a decade I was losing some of my spark of connection to the city, especially after experiencing so many other "transplant" friends eventually move away. I loved that everyone came to the Academy from such different paths, and how the connections with each other grew organically over time. It meant a lot too to be invited to hang out and even play for a bit with the Bateria on a couple of Monday nights after we had been through a few weeks of classes -- and how all of the members I met on those nights were sooo kind and encouraging to me when I told them I was in the academy, wanting to hear about who I was and to introduce me to other members based on what instruments I was interested in. The bloco community is like a supercharged friendship-creator; we all show up together for the purpose of making music, but it is able to become a lot more very quickly! (And as someone who usually is activity- or service-based anyway in how I make friends, rather than being a natural "social butterfly," it removed some of the usual anxiety that can surround interacting with new people.)

  • - Bateria Academy student

I’m a Miami native working in marketing and program coordination at Books & Books and the Books & Books Literary Foundation. After moving back home 3.5 years ago, I was searching for a deeper sense of healing and community with this city that raised me. Seeing Miamibloco at the King Mango Strut reignited a long-held dream of playing percussion and moving in rhythm with collective joy. I took a workshop, was welcomed with open arms, and doubled down by joining the Winter Academy to learn samba, its culture, and its people, in hopes of joining the Bateria Saideira. Since then, I have joined, and my spirit has been lifted by an intergenerational, deeply joyful community—Somos Miami, bro.

— Alyssa Expósito

Miamibloco and the Bateria Academy have woven a quilt of healing for my mind, heart, and spirit. Through the rhythmic embrace of music and ancestral beats, I’ve found a sanctuary of connection…In a world where these spaces and experiences often seem out of reach, or are scarce and unaffordable, MiamiBloco has opened its doors wide! They have cultivated a community that is inclusive and transcends economic barriers. They have made music education and collaboration accessible to people from all walks of life.

— Bateria Academy Student Fall 2024

Although the term “community” is thrown around quite a bit, I have found a depth of community in Miamibloco that I simply have not felt anywhere else. From the very first workshop on these instruments I had never touched, the welcome and blind faith that every single one of us could learn and be part of creating such a joyful sound, was palpable. Such a true multi-generational gathering of souls that support each other in sound and then, in life, is unique.  It has brought great joy and even purpose to my life in retirement, a tricky time when many folks are looking around asking – now what?  Miamibloco!  That’s what.

— Maria Llorca, Retired Marketing Executive

Miamibloco was a hidden gem I stumbled upon on a Monday night at Magic 13 Brewing Co.

A happy place where rhythm, dance, singing, discipline, and camaraderie blend with BOGO drinks and BBQ. With a great stage and a spacious dancefloor for all the percussionists players to play. It made Mondays a day to look forward to. Great vibez all around from the staff to the players and just onlookers and semi-participators when it came to clapping or shouting lol the music gets to ya. Can't wait for the next season to begin!

— Monday nights Bateria Saideira Rehearsal attendee, Spring 2025

The opportunity to attend the Bateria Academy was a blessing. I’ve attended Miami Blocos shows for the past few years, and have not found many other places in this city that bring me the same pure feeling of elation. The first time I attended one of the Bateria’s rehearsals was actually an accident. I was at the time attending weekly meetups of a queer soccer group. I remember hearing the drums from the park, and begging folks to follow the sound  and investigate with me after practice. I was overjoyed to stumble upon the rehearsal at Magic 13. I am an educator, artist, and dancer, and have always wanted to learn about percussion. Music and movement have always been a huge part of my life, and feeling the energy from such a large Bateria moved something in me. I was so incredibly grateful when suOm informed me of the opportunity to attend the Bateria Academy with a scholarship, because otherwise, I could not have afforded it. ( Abridged)

— Nina Osorio, Bateria Academy student

Music has always been a space to unite, create community, and heal. The Bateria Academy Is a phenomenal space to remind our community of the unique cultural space in the 305. I feel not only my skills at music have grown but also my sense of pride for my community seeing other locals from other parts of the world uniting under the power of music. Thank you!

— Bateria Academy Student Fall 2024

My name is Catalina, I am 44 years old, born in Colombia and in Miami since 1999. I studied graphic design and electronic intermedia at New World School of the Arts, and I work as a registrar for a renowned art collection.  

Ever since I can remember I have loved dancing, singing and performing. My family even called me “The dancing diaper” when I was a baby. I was constantly a part of the dance and music projects and events at my school.

I have always been interested in cultural exchanges and connections.  That is my favorite aspect of Miami. I remember seeing Miamibloco at a Grassroots Festival in Key Biscayne a long time ago, and noticed that some of the drummers were friends of mine.  I started going to their performances and rehearsals and enjoyed it so much that I knew I wanted to be a part of this community.  Suom invited me to join the dancers and I think that was the perfect fit for me.  I love being able to express myself freely and move to the energy of the drums. Miambloco has become an important creative outlet in my life, a safe space to share music, friendship and culture. 

Miamibloco is my family that keeps growing.

— Catalina Roca, Miamibloco passista

COMMUNITY IMPACT

At Miamibloco, ensemble music is more than performance: it’s a language of connection. Rooted in Afro-Brazilian rhythm and shaped by Miami’s vibrant mix of cultures, our programs bring together people of different professions, music backgrounds, and generations to learn, grow, and celebrate through rhythm. Participants gain musical skills, confidence, and purpose while building authentic bonds that transcend background and experience.
Each rehearsal and performance transforms individual energy into collective joy, where Intergenerational collaboration and cultural exchange create a stronger, more united community. Through this shared rhythm, we’re nurturing a Miami where care, creativity, and community move together in harmony.

MIAMIBLOCO IS

A creative safe space for professional, amateur, and curious people of all ages. A bold invitation to help create a shared identity that’s uniquely Miami... with Brazilian roots and 305 flair.

A BOLD DREAM

Miamibloco is led by a master percussion educator ( Brian) and an urban planner and artist (suOm), a duo that reflects the true spirit of samba in Brazil: culture shaped in the streets, by and for the people. Samba is, at its essence, a social movement that invites people to invest in their community, take pride in their history, and actively help to build a living sense of belonging through powerful, collective rhythm various scales: from the backyard party to several thousand people a few times per year.

In Miami, this vision of true community through music is a bold, high-value commitment: weaving together the lessons of samba popular culture with the rhythms of Brazil and the African diaspora that have long pulsed through our city, and turning them into an experience of joy, pride, and shared future for everyone who steps into the bloco

“I’m still learning to play the drums, but what I’ve learned about myself on this journey is already worth more than anything” - Barbara

Learning to play samba with Miamibloco has taught me so much about myself.

I first stumbled upon the nonprofit in 2022, when I attended one of their community workshops that welcomed anyone to participate, including people with no previous music or drumming experience, like me. I immediately fell in love with it. I’m originally from Brazil, and playing those drums and rhythms made me feel an instant, deep connection to my culture. It felt even more important coming out of the pandemic years, when we all felt so alone and isolated.

I took classes and was involved for about a year, but when it came time to audition to join the band, I didn’t have the courage to do it. I found excuses. I told myself I was living too far and was too busy, but the truth is, I was scared. I was too scared to fail.

I only really understood this two years later, when I decided to try taking classes again. This time, I took the audition and passed. But that was just the beginning.

I picked up the caixa, a kind of snare drum. Learning to play it was not easy. I struggled with the technique and the speed. Every week, I had to fight off the thoughts of giving up. It was scary and frustrating. I didn’t want to mess up the sound or disappoint the musicians I was playing next to.

But I was lucky to be surrounded by amazing, talented people who were so generous with their knowledge. The good thing is that if you are consistent with your practice, you do get better. Eventually, I started to get it right.

What I ultimately found was one of the most incredible communities I’ve ever been a part of. It’s hard to find words to describe the feeling of playing drums with more than 80 people, all working together to make one coherent sound. The joy and love that come from that experience stay in my body for days.

I feel connected to my culture and supported by a diverse group of people who are always ready to show up for one another. I’m still learning to play the drums, but what I’ve learned about myself on this journey is already worth more than anything.