BATALÁ Los Angeles is an Afro-Brazilian
Samba Reggae performance group led by Mario Pallais.
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Upcoming shows
Apr 22, 2018
Moonwater Farmfest 2018
Family-friendly afternoon filled with engaging storytellers Karen Goldin, Michael McCarty and Antonio Sacre who charm all with their tales for Earth Day. Moonwater Farm is an ideal location to sit out in the garden and hear stories that will move you, make you laugh and remind you the beauty of practicing community. There will be music, crafts, food and drinks on offer that will create a vibrant earth day celebration.
May 20, 2018
Long Beach Pride Parade 2018
Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride is proud to announce the 35th Annual Long Beach Gay Pride Parade Announcers; Jewels, Ronn Ruiz, Deb Kahookele, Mia Farrow and Missy Vee. The parade will be held on Sunday, May 20th, with a 9:30 am Pre-Parade Show at the Parade Grandstand located on Ocean Blvd between Cherry Avenue and Junipero Avenue. The parade step off is at 10:30 am on Ocean at Lindero Avenue.
Jun 23, 2018
Hollywood Carnival Parade 2018
The celebration will commence with the Grand Marshal beginning the Parade of the Bands, on the world famous Hollywood Blvd. It proceeds for three (3) miles ending on Highland Ave., the main entrance to the Carnival Culture Village. Our parade and culture village will feature several well- known celebrities from various genres, including movie stars and music icons.
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On Saturday, June 23, Los Angeles’ Hollywood Blvd. will miraculously transform into a Grand Carnival & Street Extravaganza with parade-goers and masqueraders dressed in vibrant, breath- taking costumes dancing to pulsating rhythms of Calypso, Soca, Samba, Reggae, Zouke, Latin, Punta, Meringue, Mariachi, Reggaeton, Blues, Jazz, Steel-pan, Indian, Asian, African, Middle Eastern and other worldly music.
Sep 22, 2018
Brazilian Day Arizona 2018
Join us for a fun-filled festival as we celebrate the 9th Annual "Brazilian Day Arizona Festival" at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Presented by Afro:Baile, in partnership with The Center; the 9th Annual Brazilian Day Arizona Festival is the largest, most authentic, and award winning Brazilian Independence Day Festival in the valley. The all ages Brazilian Festival is a great opportunity for the whole family to come and experience a variety of Brazilian culture, including – Live Brazilian Bands, DJ's, Dancers, Capoeira, Jiu-Jitsu, Film, Performances, Food, Drink, Shopping and more!
about History
​BATALA LOS ANGELES
Batalá Los Angeles is part of the larger internationally recognized Samba Reggae family created in 1997 by Giba Gonçalves. Batalá Los Angeles was founded in 2013 by Musical Director, Mario Pallais.
The community-based Afro-Brazilian percussion group is open to all regardless of musical or performance experience!
Batalá—an international samba reggae performance group—was founded in Paris in 1997 by Giba Gonçalves, a Bahian percussionist (Ilê Aiyê, Olodum, Muzenza, Male Debale, Jimmy Cliff, Tupi Nago, and Kaoma).
One of the founders of the Afro Bloco Cortejo Afro, an arts education project to help underserved young people living in poor communities, Gonçalves moved to Paris in 1997 and founded Batalá as the European wing of the project. Today, Batalá Paris is the oldest of all the international Batala contingents.
Cortejo Afro and Batalá share much of the same repertoire and since 1999, Batalá groups have performed every year at the Salvador’s carnaval as part of Cortejo Afro.
From its inception in Paris, individual Batalá organizations have sprung up all over the globe in countries as diverse as Brazil, England, Spain, Wales, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Angola, South Africa, and The Netherlands.
In the United States, Batalá Washington DC was founded in 2007 and Batalá New York City was established in 2011. A few years later Batalá Houston, Batalá San Francisco and Batalá Los Angeles were established.
The international movement shares the samba reggae musical arrangements and percussion breaks composed by Gonçalves, graphics, costumes, and dance movements.
With a worldwide membership of over 800 drummers, the shared musical and artistic models facilitates the various groups to travel from country to country and participate in events together.
Batalá drums, sticks and mallets, drum straps, and costumes are produced in Salvador at Instituto Oya and Fabrica Batalá under a fair trade agreement.
The name Batalá carries a double reference to the phrase “bateu lá,” meaning “hit there” in Portuguese and to Obatalá (Oxalá), the Candomblé diety who is the father of the Orixas and of all humanity. Draped in the purity of white, Obatalá is the source of all that is peaceful and compassionate.
Contact
Musical Director/ Founder Mario Pallais: Musical Director/ Founder
Booking BatalaLosAngeles@gmail.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/BatalaLosAngeles
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