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Myths are a part of who we are. They explore our darkest fears and desires, and the very best and noble in all of us. The world of Greek mythology is a rich source of symbols, colours, captivating tales, and extraordinary characters that strike a chord with anybody who was ever told a story, or who was ever young and dreamed. Imagine the delight of a small child as he sees in our parade the unmistakable figure of the bull-headed Minotaur, or snake-haired Medusa... Icarus with his great wings, who flew too close to the sun, Dionysus god of wine, theatre and madness, the Titan Atlas, who holds up the world, or Kharon who ferries the dead across the river Styx into Hades... imagine Aphrodite, the beautiful goddess of love, the nymphs Circe and Calypso, mythical beasts like Pegasus, and Cerberus, the 3-headed dog who guards the gates to the Underworld, wreaking samba through the streets of Notting Hill. Imagine the overwhelming power and awe of the gods as commanded by almighty Zeus, each beat of the surdo echoing in our hearts like thunder...

Presenting, The London School of Samba: "Gods, Myths and Monsters"

London will be captivated by an astonishing display of might and imagination. From the comissão de frente presenting the Gods of Mount Olympus: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo et al... to the bravest, boldest, most disciplined fighting force in all the ancient world, our ritmistas, warriors of Sparta, whose reputation strikes fear into the hearts of their opponents, challenging them to the battle of the batucada... on to the passistas: the Amazons, daughters of the goddess Artemis, fearless warrior princesses led by their queen... and there, rising into the sky from a distance, delivering our coup–de–grâce: that ominous and portentous symbol of Homer’s Iliad, of love and honour, of pride and determination, The Trojan Horse; the London School of Samba will intrigue and amaze the masses — is this an offering to the Gods, or something more sinister? Only our music will tell...

By Chris Bicourt

Designs by Stella Cecil & Chris Bicourt / Illustrations by Stella Cecil