The Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Unidos de Vila Isabel is also known just as Vila Isabel and is one of the most traditional samba schools in Rio de Janeiro.
Originated in Morro dos Macacos, it was founded on April 4, 1946 by Antônio Fernandes da Silveira (Seu China), Aílton Cléber da Silva, Antonio Rodrigues (Tuninho Carpinteiro), Ari Barbosa, Cesso da Silva, Joaquim José Rodrigues (Quinzinho) , Osmar Mariano, Paulo Gomes de Aquino (Paulo Brazão) and Servan Heitor de Carvalho.
The samba school’s colours are blue and white and it was three times champion of Rio de Janeiro’s carnival, in 1988, 2006 and 2013.
Bateria
The Unidos de Vila Isabel’s bateria nickname is Swingueira de Noel, in honor of the great samba composer Noel Rosa. Its caixa section has caixa embaixo playing the straight groove mixed with tarois. These are played with a normal stick and a small one, playing a two-measure groove, which is used only by Vila Isabel.
Their surdos, on the other hand, are tuned in a different way than usual: the surdo 2 is tuned higher than the surdo 3. Therefore, Swingueira de Noel has: surdo 1 (low pitch), surdo 2 (high pitch) and surdo 3 (medium pitch).
Vila Isabel’s bateria won the Estandarte de Ouro four times: in 1977, 1980, 1988 and 2020. Mestre Mug was the most important bateria director in the history of this bateria, commanding it from 1979 to 2009. Since 2019 Mestre Macaco Branco is Swingeira de Noel’s bateria director.
Swingueira de Noel’s Instagram
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Rehearsals and events
Vila Isabel’s bateria rehearsals take place on Wednesdays 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) – Boulevard 8 de setembro 382, Vila Isabel
Check Vila Isabel’s events on the official website, Facebook and Instagram.
