Samba Director Kellyn Rosa Brings Maricá Dancers to San Francisco Carnival

Kellyn Rosa, the artistic director and coordinator of the passista wing of the União de Maricá samba school, returned to the United States for a third consecutive year to serve as guest director of the Ginga Brasil bloco in San Francisco, California. During her month‑long residency she choreographed performances for more than 60 dancers and conducted samba workshops for local students, showcasing Afro‑Brazilian cultural heritage abroad.

Ginga Brasil, a historic street‑carnival group founded in 1989, stages its annual parade on the streets of San Francisco, the largest West‑Coast street carnival. This year the bloco presented the theme “Recôncavo: Umbigo do Mundo,” celebrating the cultural strength of Brazil’s Recôncavo Baiano region. Rosa highlighted the importance of preserving and sharing Afro‑Brazilian traditions, noting the enthusiasm of U.S. participants in learning samba.

The event underscores ongoing cultural exchange between Brazil and the United States, with the Maricá samba school gaining increased international visibility through Rosa’s participation.