LE BLOCO is a brasilian percussion group, inspired by the samba schools that play the carnival in Rio. In Brasil, samba is a social affair, a passion that is best expressed in a group. Each player adds to the rythm (batucada or batuque) and contributes to the final blended sound. You too can be a part of our group, while learning how to play an authentic instrument. LE BLOCO workshops are aimed at people of all ages, all origins, with or without experience. We supply all instruments for free.

LE BLOCO opens its doors to musicians with prior workshop experience (or other types of musical instruction) and/or having had some prior musical knowledge. Hundreds of amateur and professionnal percussionnists have contributed to our group since its inception.

Joining LE BLOCO is just like a clube social, with people for whom Brazilian samba batucada is a true passion. LE BLOCO, is also:
• A well structured group with weekly rehearsals (from April to October) in Montreal
• Artistic direction by experienced percussionnists
• All instruments supplied surdos, caixas, repiniques, agogôs, tamborims, ganzas, etc.
• Participation to many shows, festivals and large or small scale events.

As founder and artistic director of LE BLOCO, Michel Dupire more than anything wants to share his love for samba, a love that goes way back. Already in the early Eighties, he directed Brazilian musical groups such as ‘TÁ LEGAL and BLOCO LONGE DE LÁ, forerunners of todays’ LE BLOCO. \More about Michel

This love of samba has carried Michel over to Brazil over twenty times to research and study the intricacies of the rythms played in baterias (groups of brazilian percussionnists). Michel has demonstrated such a mastery of playing that Brazilians have invited him on two seperate occasions to march with them at carnival: in Rio, in the famous Sambódromo, with top samba school Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, and in São Paulo, with the Mocidade Alegre samba school. \More about his love for Brazil