Umbela Update, Gratidão Melbourne
- SambaSooz
- Mar 17
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 20
The Umbela team has been busy laying the groundwork for some exciting developments, and before anything else we want to begin with gratitude.
A huge thank you to the Melbourne Samba Encontro, and to the many community members who opened their hearts, their rhythms, and their stories to us over the weekend. More than 250 sambistas from across Australia and New Zealand came together in celebration, practice and shared learning. It was a powerful reminder that this culture lives through the people who carry it.
As I move closer to submitting my PhD for examination, I am increasingly aware of the responsibility Umbela holds. The PhD work may currently have my name on it, and yes Public Officer Samba Sooz may soon become Dr Samba Sooz, but the story itself belongs to all of us. It is a collective story of practice, lineage, friendship and care.
Over the coming weeks we will begin sharing more regular updates about Umbela’s work, the projects growing from the research, and the many people who are shaping this community. Some reflections from the Encontro are still settling, and we will share those in time. For now, we simply want to honour the moment and the people who made it possible.
We are also excited to welcome Jason King from Spooning Australia, who will be supporting Umbela’s communications and social media work. Jason immediately understood the spirit of the project and how important it is that community voices remain at the centre of everything we share.
We will be posting regular blog updates and social media stories to keep everyone informed about what is unfolding. As always, we welcome your feedback. Umbela exists because of this community and grows with your presence.
Whether you have been part of this journey for years, or are just discovering Umbela now, we hope these updates help you see where things are heading and how you can be part of what comes next.
Highlights from Recent Activities
The Melbourne Samba Encontro brought together sambistas from across the country, and our friends across the waters, for a weekend of workshops, music, movement and celebration.
One of the highlights was the Unidos de Cacatua Parade, where groups from across the community came together in a shared procession through Southbank. It was a joyful moment of collective rhythm and connection.
The parade was full of love. Thank you to our community for the generosity, the sharing, and the care for the work at hand. We are honoured by your trust and inclusivity.
Alongside the parade were workshops, rehearsals, rodas, late night conversations, good snacks, amazing feijoada, and plenty of laughter. These moments are where community takes collective breaths and moves together.
Congratulations to Bloco 3K (Rob Arcari, Denise Kayan and crew) and Unidos de Cacatua (leaders from across Australia and New Zealand) for the enormous and informed workload that went into making the event possible, and to every participant who shared their energy, spirit and trust with us.
Some beautiful things we witnessed over the weekend included:
stronger community bonds forming through shared practice, the vibe was high
new friendships and collaborations emerging, alongside old friends reunited
younger sambistas stepping forward and joining the rhythms, including some very cute future leaders
A standout was the butterfly, a symbol of rebirth and ancestral presence. And when they fell, because glue guns can only do so much, they were tucked back in with care, because we are custodians not only of samba, but of what comes next.
Moments like these remind us why this work matters then, now and for generations to come.
Upcoming Projects and Initiatives
Several projects are now beginning to take shape thanks to you our research participants and co-creators.
Samba Downunder Documentary
The Samba Downunder documentary will move into pre-production once the PhD thesis has been submitted in June. The film builds on years of research and community collaboration and aims to share the story of samba in Australia with a global audience.
More details will be shared as the project develops.
2. Directors Events
Our directors are continuing their work across the country:
Mestre Loki is developing musicality and movement work
Julio is leading explorations of malandragem
Mestre Val continues sharing capoeira knowledge and lineage
When community grants are due, or auspicing is needed, cultural leader Jen Howarth, our governance expert, is there to support you.
Meanwhile, Sooz will continue travelling to different communities gathering archival footage and B-roll for the Shared Rhythms project, helping document the living story of samba practice across Australia.
3. Online Platform Enhancement
We are also beginning work on improvements to Umbela’s online space so that communities across the country can stay more connected between gatherings.
Planned features include:
community forums for idea exchange
educational resources and archives
a shared events calendar for workshops and gatherings
This will help keep conversations and collaborations flowing between events and allow us to offer support in a more coordinated way.
How You Can Get Involved
Umbela grows through the participation and generosity of the community.
Here are some simple ways to be part of the journey:
attend workshops, rodas and community gatherings in your state
volunteer your skills or help organise events with us or your school
share ideas and feedback, including reading about our shared rhythms project and research outputs.
support local samba schools by attending classes and performances
Make a tax deductible donation
Every contribution helps strengthen this shared cultural ecosystem.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
The Umbela team is energised by the momentum we are seeing across the community.
There are exciting things on the horizon, and as the research phase transitions into new creative projects, we look forward to sharing the next chapters with you.
For now, we simply want to say thank you.
Samba continues to live and thrive in Australia because people show up, listen, learn and share the rhythm together.
Axé.
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