The Brazilian-Latino Club at Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities is very different from most HIgh School clubs in America. It is the only High School club in the U.S offering Samba. The club is made up of many different ethnicities, nationalitities, and races. In this club we have Spanish (none of them are from Brazil), Afro-American, Russian, Polish, African, and Asian kids. Everyone and anyone can join the club, you dont have to be Latino. If you enjoy dancing, playing percussion instruments, making new friends, or just want to have fun, this is the club for you. The diverse make up of the club reflects the make up of the Humanities High School student body. There are literally students from all over the world who attend the school.

On this website you will find all kinds of pictures and biographies of every member of the club, as well as a history of Brazilian and Samba culture. Welcome and enjoy your visit!!!!

- By Brianna, Class of '03

Muito Obrigada Brianna! That is "thank you" in Portugese. The Brazilian-Latino club at Humanities High School aka "Academicos de Humanidade" (The name of our Samba component) is unique. To my knowledge there is no permanent Samba/Copeiria organization on the High School level at any public School in this country.

Teaching in the New York City public schools is a challenge. It is a tough job. Sometimes out of a tough situation comes an unique opportunity. I had this opportunity when I started working at the Bayard Rustin School for the Humanities in the Chelsea area of New York City. Our organization got started about four years ago when the Assistant Principal Mr. John Angelet, invited me to participate in the school's traditional multi-cultural celebration. Having Brazilian roots on my parents side, I decided to introduce Samba and Capoeira that very first teaching year. I started out with three dancers, none of them knew how to dance Samba or play percussion instruments. I made a few phone calls and I recruited Ms. Quenia Ribiero, a Carioca by birth. She was willing to teach Samba dancing in one hour. I also recruited Mastranda Edna Lima to do a demonstration of Capoeira and the Quilumbo L samba group to provide the percussion engine for the whole thing. It worked!!! The show proved that Samba and Copeiria could appeal to a wide audience of students, parents, teachers and administrators.

After September 11, our school needed a morale booster. The organization took off when more than 25 students came to the auditorium on a Friday after school to see a demonstration of Capoeira and Samba. As Brianna stated in her opening remarks we have students from all over the globe. Today we are growing and striving as an after-school activity and are one of the most popular and active clubs at our school. With the help of our artist in residence Glenn Heally, Quinea Ribeiro, and Curtis Watts we have a great thing going.

-Henry aka Henrique Funes

Faculty Advisor for the Brazilian-Latino club at Humanities H.S.

January 2, 2003