The Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Portela, popularly known as Portela, was founded in Oswaldo Cruz neighbourhood, on April 11, 1923, as a carnival group that was called Conjunto Oswaldo Cruz.
Founded by the historical samba artists Paulo da Portela, Antônio Rufino and Antônio Caetano, the Conjunto Oswaldo Cruz, before assuming the name “Portela”, changed its name twice, first to “Quem Nos Faz É O Capricho”, and then to “Vai Como Pode”. The school colours are blue and white.
Portela has 22 titles of Rio de Janeiro’s carnival – more than any other samba school – in the following years: 1935, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1980, 1984 and 2017.
The school actively participated at the creation of the samba schools and was the champion of the first samba contest, in 1929, still under the name Conjunto Oswaldo Cruz. The contest was organized by Zé Espinguela. It is one of the most popular samba schools in Rio de Janeiro.
Bateria
Portela’s bateria nickname is Tabajara do Samba, a reference to the famous Tabajara Orchestra, a famous big band leaded by the legendary maestro Severino de Araújo.
Portela’s caixa section plays with caixas embaixo, playing a syncopated groove. Another striking feature is the presence of a four-mouthed agogô’s section.
Tabajara do Samba has won the Estandarte de Ouro five times, in the years 1972, 1986, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Mestre Betinho, the first bateria director, who led it for 30 years, and Mestre Marçal are the two most important baterias director in the history of Tabajara do Samba. Since 2006, Mestre Nilo Sérgio has been in charge of this bateria.
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Rehearsals and events
Portela’s bateria rehearsals take place on Mondays 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 Clara Nunes 81, Oswaldo Cruz
Check Portela’s events on the official website, Instagram and Facebook page.
