The Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, also known as Grande Rio, had its origins in Duque de Caxias, a municipality that is part of the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. Acadêmicos do Grande Rio was founded on September 22, 1988, from the merger of two samba schools: Acadêmicos de Caxias and GRES Grande Rio.
Grande Rio is one time champion of Rio’s Carnival, in 2022. Its colours are green, white and red.
Bateria
Grande Rio’s bateria nickname is Invocada. Its caixa section has only caixas em cima playing the groove known as partido-alto. Another feature is the presence of a four-mouthed agogôs’ section.
The most important bateria director in the samba school’s history is the legendary Mestre Odilon Costa, who commanded it for 11 years and won three Estandartes de Ouro. Invocada has won the Estandarte de Ouro five times: in 1996, 1999, 2005, 2019 e 2022. Since 2019 it has been commanded by Mestre Fafá.
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Rehearsals and events
Grande Rio’s bateria rehearsals take place on Tuesdays at 8 pm, in the samba school’s quadra. There are also other rehearsals, feijoadas and other events. Always check the samba school’s official channels (Website, Facebook, Instagram…) to confirm that rehearsals and events are going ahead.
Address (Quadra) – Rua Almirante Barroso 5, Centro, Duque de Caxias.
Check the events of Grande Rio on the official website, Instagram and Facebook page.