Samba no Pé: Afro-Brazilian Samba Dance

Photo credit: Heather O’Steen Photography.

Samba is one of Brazil’s most recognized dance styles, full of energy and charisma!

EducArte offers regular classes to teach students the fundamentals of samba dance technique and groove, including footwork, body isolations, and hip work. Classes also build repertoire and prepare students to perform with our bateria, or samba percussion ensemble, if they choose to.

We welcome all levels, from beginners to advanced, semi-professionals, and dance instructors.

Summer 2026

Take our Summer Samba Challenge to tone your body, build and polish your samba dance technique, and experience other dances of Brazil!

This summer, EducArte is offering weekly 2-hour fitness and Brazilian dance classes in Rockville on Tuesdays from June 23 to July 14. The classes are taught by our experienced Brazilian dance instructors: Mariana Triginelli, Luy Cortes, Kate Spanos, and Pablo Regis.

See the full program description.

Time and Location

Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at The JaM Space (12009 Nebel St, Rockville, MD)

Registration

Full session ($25 per class)
Drop-in ($35 per class)

Summer Samba Challenge 2026 (Tuesdays)

Price range: $35.00 through $100.00
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Fall 2026

We offer two weekly classes with our experienced instructors, Mariana Triginelli and Luy Cortes.

Fall 2026 class schedules and registration will be posted soon.

Time and Location

Tuesdays, 7:30-9 p.m. at The JaM Space (12009 Nebel St, Rockville, MD)

Thursdays, 7:30-9 p.m. in Downtown Silver Spring

Registration

Full session tuition ($20 per class)
Monthly package ($20 per class)
Drop-in ($25 per class)

A 15% discount is automatically applied at checkout when you register for a semester or monthly package for both classes.

About our instructors

Mariana Triginelli

Mariana was born and raised in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and has been immersed in samba since the age of six.

Her love for samba and Brazilian Carnival runs deep, fueling her lifelong passion for dance. Over the years, she has refined her skills through workshops with renowned samba instructors, including Natalia Moreno and Preta Nascimento.

Mariana brings her vibrant energy and cultural pride to every class, making samba not just a dance, but an exciting and transformative experience for her students.

Find her on Instagram at @maribythesea.

Luy Cortes

Luy Cortes is a dynamic Brazilian samba performer, choreographer, and instructor with more than fifteen years of professional experience. Luy has graced stages and celebrations across the world, performing at hundreds of weddings, corporate galas, cultural festivals, parades, Carnival events, and community celebrations. As the founder and director of Samba Passion, Luy has created, staged, and taught choreographies for dancers of all levels, from beginners discovering samba’s rhythms to seasoned performers refining their stage presence. She has also taught at prestigious institutions, including the University of Maryland, College Park, and has brought her knowledge to numerous dance studios.

On the world stage, Luy has paraded at the legendary Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí in Rio de Janeiro with the renowned samba school Em Cima Da Hora. Her commitment to excellence drives her to return to Rio annually, where she continues to deepen her training with samba masters such as Alex Coutinho, Carlinhos do Salgueiro, and others, ensuring her teaching remains rooted in authentic Brazilian tradition.