Class Description:

Samba do Mar Humboldt and Samba da Alegria invite you to participate in the 40th ANNIVERSARY of The Humboldt Samba Parade at the North Country Fair!

This year, parade dancers will explore the beautiful Samba no Pé (Samba on the foot) style from Rio de Janeiro which is widely practiced in the Escolas de Samba (Samba Schools). In class, we will focus on the following:

* Learning the history and cultural significance of Samba no Pé
* Practicing technique, style and musicality (including dancing to live percussion)
* Learning the parade choreography
* Performance training including building confidence
* Community building through dance

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Attire:
* Leggings, yoga pants, dance leggings or shorts plus a tank top or shirt that you can comfortably dance in.

We will sweat a lot.
* Barefoot or dance sneakers

*** ADDITIONAL PARADE INFORMATION***

Parade Registration and Costume Order Deadline: Thursday, July 23

*A sample of the costume plus Parade Registration and Costume Order links will be available on July 16.

*Dancers must attend at least 6 classes to participate in the parade.

Parade Date & Time: Sunday, September 20th, 1:00 PM, Call Time is 12:00 PM

Dress Rehearsal Date: Saturday, September 19th

Parade Location: North Country Fair on the Arcata Plaza

2026 Parade Theme: Deep Roots, Wild Spirit - Honoring four decades of the Humboldt Samba Parade and the rich history of Brazilian Samba. This milestone year celebrates the interconnectedness of everyone who has performed in the parade over the years, bound by an untamed love for Samba’s powerful rhythms and dance, as well as honoring Humboldt’s beautiful wilderness.

Instructor Bio:
Maria Vandehorst took her first Samba no Pé and Afro-Brazilian Dance classes in 2000 and has been hooked ever since. She has studied in both Brazil and the U.S. with Brazilian Dance teachers including Dandha da Hora, Tania Santiago, Rosangela Silvestre, Mayome Masai, Ana Laidley, Márcio Dellawegah, Alessandra Jansen, Emilce Parga, Weslei Guimaraes, Danielle Lima and Janete Silva Aide. Currently, she trains with Alex Coutinho, Director of Passistas for Rio de Janeiro's Escola de Samba (Samba School) Paraíso do Tuiuti and the creator of the worldwide Poderosas do Samba Project. During Carnaval 2026, Maria paraded at Rio de Janeiro's Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapucaí as an international passista for the Serie Ouro Samba School União do Parque Acari. She is currently the Artistic Director for Samba do Mar Humboldt and has directed the dance sections for the Humboldt Samba Parade at The North Country Fair for 10 years. She was formerly the Co-Director of Samba na Chuva Brazilian Dance Performance Troupe for 15 years. Maria has been a guest teacher at Pacific Union Elementary School, Cal Poly Humboldt and University of California Riverside.