Manchester School of Samba - Since March 1995
What is MSS?
Manchester School of Samba is Anthony Watt trading as "Manchester School of Samba (click here for office contact details)". Manchester School of Samba (MSS), the first Samba School in the NW of England, formed in March 1995 to foster the appreciation
of Brazilian Carnival culture through rhythm, melody, dance and simple costumes.
MSS have provided an often life enhancing introduction to percussion and dance for hundreds of people as well as an opportunity for some to build on their knowledge and strengths, be inspired and make it part of their life. We currently have 70+
fully fledged members including dancers and drummers, and
for special occasions also like to recruit a brass section and puppeteers. We focus on Brazilian Carnival Art forms, and teach rhythms & dances from different parts of Brazil at all levels from beginners to advanced and are open to all people.
Scroll down this page for more information including pictures and even more videos!.
Hire Us!
With over a decade's experience of providing crowd stopping shows, inspirational workshops and courses for schools and colleges, and motivational team building for a range of corporate clients if you are organising a function or event or perhaps want your workforce to enjoy an activity as a team, we are sure MSS can help to provide that magical moment! For more information scroll down for videos or click here...
Can I Play?
Come along and find out!
A warm welcome to the new people! We hold sessions twice a week during term time so as to give you more of a chance to fit us into your busy life...
Next Wednesday the 1st February we hold the fourth rehearsal of 2012 (after a storming start the last three weeks) at Sacred Trinity Church which is by the traffic lights on the junction of Chapel St and Blackfriars Rd (an easy way to reach there from Piccadilly is just to continue down Market Street/St Mary's Gate and over Deansgate when you walk over the bridge thats Blackfriars Road you'll see the Church) yes, surprisingly close to Manchester City Centre, for a very sociable rehearsal from 7.00 till 9.30p.m. (with a brief break).
The first Beginners Class of 2012 will be this cominmg Monday 30th January at The International Society, 327 Oxford Road, Manchester from 7.30 till 9p.m. providing the chance for you to keep that New Year's resolution and come down!
So rehearsals for 2012 restarted recently but as always you can join throughout the year! We provide all necessary percussion and a dance space to any potential enthusiast over the age of 16 (children can come under the supervision of their parent or guardian)!
This coming term we will cover another third of our core styles in the Beginner's Class. We suggest you attend both the Beginners Course at The International Society and the main rehearsal on Wednesdays at Sacred Trinity Church, till you are up to speed.
I Wanna Dance!
If you just fancy an exciting way to work out or want to become one of our dancers at our various performances as part of MSS, then come down to learn!
This runs alongside the drumming, and is an integral part of the rehearsal, every Wednesday at Sacred Trinity Church on the junction of Chapel St and Blackfriars Rd by the traffic lights very close to Manchester City Centre, from 7.00 till 9.30p.m.
We suggest you attend both the classes at The International Society, 327 Oxford Road, Manchester on Mondays that form part of the Beginners Course (The first of 2012 will be Monday 30th January 7.30 till 9.00p.m.) and the main rehearsal at Sacred Trinity Church on Wednesdays (next one is next week, 1st February 7.00 till 9.30p.m.) till you are up to speed. Experienced Members please make a special effort to attend the first Wednesday session of each month (when we will consolidate new pieces) even if you are strapped for time.
N.B.Next Wednesday dance and drum rehearsal? 1st February!
Can I Watch?
Sunday 19th June MSS was proud to play The Manchester Day Parade (see videos below)!Wednesday 22nd June MSS played for Wastebusters at The Eco Schools Show! MSS are always available for workshops for both schools and other clients just contact us to discuss your requirements at the office details above!
For Tony's musings on aspects of Brazilian culture take a regular look at his
Keep an eye on this box for details of some of our public performances.
For some 
see "News" below.
Tweet
News
You can catch a glimpse of us on the teaser for the Derby on Sky Sports News (405) up until the match in this video on YouTube (don't ak me why it's upside down but it plays the right way up)!
Read this article from Manchester Evening News 22/3/08
Express your support for busking continuing in Manchester (especially if you live nearby) in an e-mail: busking@sambaman.org.uk and subcribe to our e-mail list to be kept updated. In 2008 (and 2011) we were seen on Britain's Got Talent and locally towards the end of February that year on Channel M's Zeitgeist programme (Channel M Sunday 24th at 10p.m.) and you can watch it again by going to Zeitgeist Online (many thanks to Alison Moore for Producing the clip!). You can also see our part in a programme about one of our members Michael Browne on the BBC web site or catch glimpses of us playing on Deansgate, Manchester as part of The Manchester Day Parade, Sunday 20th June 2010 in the first video above, some footage of us in this year's Manchester Day Parade 2011 (29 seconds into the second for a minute, and from above for the whole clip in the third) in the next two clips, working with Zoe Walker & Neil Bromwich's "Love Canon" in the fourth video and slide show of images from one of our Wednesday night rehearsals at Sacred Trinity below that: