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INSTRUCTORS

The magic of Escola de Samba Sydney is the strength of our instructor team. With extensive experience performing and training at a professional level in Brazil, our instructors all travel to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Salvador regularly to bring back the latest in Brazilian dance to Australia.  

Sashya Jay Brito

Director / Head Instructor

Renowned as a world leader in Brazilian dance education and performing arts, Sashya is the founding director of Escola de Samba Sydney and Rio Projekt.  A powerhouse visionary, Sashya is an internationally acclaimed creative director, choreographer, educator and performing artist. She has a wealth of experience in Rio Carnaval’s top league as a Musa, Passista and ala director.

Renowned as a world leader in Brazilian dance education and performing arts, Sashya is the founding director of Escola de Samba Sydney and Rio Projekt. A powerhouse visionary, Sashya is an internationally acclaimed creative director, choreographer, educator and performing artist. She has a wealth of experience in Rio Carnaval’s top league as a Musa, Passista and ala director.

Jeska Jane

Samba Instructor

Jess is a well known and highly respected Samba performing artist, instructor and choreographer with a wealth of experience in the genre. She was one of only 12 female dancers selected for the prestigious Brasil Samba Congress World Champions 2019 in Rio and has paraded in Rio Carnaval multiple times as a Passista and Musa with top Samba schools.

Jess is a well known and highly respected Samba performing artist, instructor and choreographer with a wealth of experience in the genre. She was one of only 12 female dancers selected for the prestigious Brasil Samba Congress World Champions 2019 in Rio and has paraded in Rio Carnaval multiple times as a Passista and Musa with top Samba schools.

Luisa Escalante

Samba Instructor

Colombian born Luisa is a passionate and dedicated Samba dancer, performing artist and instructor. She has spent extended periods of time in Brazil immersing herself in the culture and training with Samba masters. She has paraded in Rio Carnaval multiple times as a Musa and Passista for top Samba schools. Luisa’s pure love for Samba is evident in all her work.

Colombian born Luisa is a passionate and dedicated Samba dancer, performing artist and instructor. She has spent extended periods of time in Brazil immersing herself in the culture and training with Samba masters. She has paraded in Rio Carnaval multiple times as a Musa and Passista for top Samba schools. Luisa’s pure love for Samba is evident in all her work.

Aleksander Kok

Funk Instructor

Aleks is a professional and versatile dancer and instructor from Paraná in Brazil. Classically trained in a variety of dance genres, Aleks has solid experience performing both commercial and Brazilian dance shows in Brazil and internationally. A graduate of Brent Street Academy in Sydney, Aleks brings his sharp technique and exuberant vibe to all his performances and classes.

Aleks is a professional and versatile dancer and instructor from Paraná in Brazil. Classically trained in a variety of dance genres, Aleks has solid experience performing both commercial and Brazilian dance shows in Brazil and internationally. A graduate of Brent Street Academy in Sydney, Aleks brings his sharp technique and exuberant vibe to all his performances and classes.

Karolina Pyszkiewicz

Samba Instructor

Karolina is a professional, classically trained dancer and instructor with 20 years of experience in Ballet. With a strong passion for Samba, Karolina has been dedicated to training and immersion in Brazilian culture in Australia and Brazil for many years. She has performed in several Brazilian shows and paraded as a Passista in Rio Carnaval.

Karolina is a professional, classically trained dancer and instructor with 20 years of experience in Ballet. With a strong passion for Samba, Karolina has been dedicated to training and immersion in Brazilian culture in Australia and Brazil for many years. She has performed in several Brazilian shows and paraded as a Passista in Rio Carnaval.

Sky Bailey

Samba Instructor

Sky is a classically trained dancer and accomplished Samba artist and instructor. She has extensive experience teaching, choreographing and performing Samba in Australia and has paraded as a Passista for well known schools in Rio Carnaval. Sky is known for her technical prowess, precision, versatility and infectious personality as an instructor and performing artist.

Sky is a classically trained dancer and accomplished Samba artist and instructor. She has extensive experience teaching, choreographing and performing Samba in Australia and has paraded as a Passista for well known schools in Rio Carnaval. Sky is known for her technical prowess, precision, versatility and infectious personality as an instructor and performing artist.

Eleni Prikas

Samba Instructor

Eleni is a professional full time dance artist and instructor. With Bellydance as her first speciality, Eleni is also an established and well respected Samba dancer and instructor with significant experience parading as a Passista for top schools in Rio Carnaval. She has a great passion and dedication to Samba culture and is the coach of our student Samba team, The Sambinhas.

Eleni is a professional full time dance artist and instructor. With Bellydance as her first speciality, Eleni is also an established and well respected Samba dancer and instructor with significant experience parading as a Passista for top schools in Rio Carnaval. She has a great passion and dedication to Samba culture and is the coach of our student Samba team, The Sambinhas.

Lais Ferreira

Funk Instructor

Hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Lais is a professional dancer, choreographer and instructor. With a captivating signature style, Lais specialises in Urban and Afro Urban dance. She has worked with some of the biggest names in Urban dance culture from Brazil and internationally. Lais shares her passionate for her culture and art through her work.

Hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Lais is a professional dancer, choreographer and instructor. With a captivating signature style, Lais specialises in Urban and Afro Urban dance. She has worked with some of the biggest names in Urban dance culture from Brazil and internationally. Lais shares her passionate for her culture and art through her work.

Geovanna Nascimento

Samba Instructor

Geovanna is a professional dancer from Sao Paulo with extensive performance experience in Brazil, Australia and internationally. Trained in a range of dance genres, she is versatile and dynamic performing artist and instructor. Passionate about Samba and her culture, Geo spent time training in Rio and paraded as a Musa in Rio Carnaval.

Geovanna is a professional dancer from Sao Paulo with extensive performance experience in Brazil, Australia and internationally. Trained in a range of dance genres, she is versatile and dynamic performing artist and instructor. Passionate about Samba and her culture, Geo spent time training in Rio and paraded as a Musa in Rio Carnaval.

Murillo Henrique

Funk Instructor

Born and raised in São Paulo, Murillo is a gifted and magnetic Brazilian artist. Growing up dancing on the streets of the communities, music and dance courses through his veins. After moving to Australia, Murillo pursed dance professionally and has performed in major stage shows and events. He exudes pure heart and soul in every performance and class.

Born and raised in São Paulo, Murillo is a gifted and magnetic Brazilian artist. Growing up dancing on the streets of the communities, music and dance courses through his veins. After moving to Australia, Murillo pursed dance professionally and has performed in major stage shows and events. He exudes pure heart and soul in every performance and class.

Karla Mura

Funk & Samba Instructor

Karla is a classical trained professional dancer with significant national and international and performance credits as a commercial dancer. Well known for her forte in Brazilian Funk, she is a dynamic and diversely talented performing artist, instructor and choreographer. Karla has also paraded as a Musa and Passista with top schools in Rio Carnaval.

Karla is a classical trained professional dancer with significant national and international and performance credits as a commercial dancer. Well known for her forte in Brazilian Funk, she is a dynamic and diversely talented performing artist, instructor and choreographer. Karla has also paraded as a Musa and Passista with top schools in Rio Carnaval.

Yurena Polanen

Funk & Roots Instructor

Yurena is a professional dancer, instructor, actor and athlete. Growing up in Barbados with Afrocentric heritage, Yurena is experienced in a variety of Afrocentric and urban dances and is passionate about Brazilian dance and the roots of the culture. She brings her infectious energy, authentic vibe and diverse dance experience to all her classes and performances.

Yurena is a professional dancer, instructor, actor and athlete. Growing up in Barbados with Afrocentric heritage, Yurena is experienced in a variety of Afrocentric and urban dances and is passionate about Brazilian dance and the roots of the culture. She brings her infectious energy, authentic vibe and diverse dance experience to all her classes and performances.

Chima Olujie

Samba & Roots Instructor

Chima is a professional dancer, educator, pilates instructor and model. She is graduate of the Ailey School (NYC) and accomplished in a host of modern, commercial, Afrocentric, Latin and Brazilian dance genres. A majestic and multi-taltented artist, Chima has performed in several major theatre productions and events and has also paraded as a Passista in Rio Carnaval.

Chima is a professional dancer, educator, pilates instructor and model. She is graduate of the Ailey School (NYC) and accomplished in a host of modern, commercial, Afrocentric, Latin and Brazilian dance genres. A majestic and multi-taltented artist, Chima has performed in several major theatre productions and events and has also paraded as a Passista in Rio Carnaval.

Raline Cerqueira

Funk Instructor

Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Raline has always had a passion for dance. She grew up dancing Funk, Pagode, and Axe as part of life. She went on to train intensively in Brazilian Funk since living in Australia and developed a deeper passion for Brazilian performing arts. Raline is a captivating performer on stage and a passionate instructor.

Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Raline has always had a passion for dance. She grew up dancing Funk, Pagode, and Axe as part of life. She went on to train intensively in Brazilian Funk since living in Australia and developed a deeper passion for Brazilian performing arts. Raline is a captivating performer on stage and a passionate instructor.

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