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Terreiro Adalu is Zurich's roda de samba: on the move through the city since 2017, from Casi Casa to Moods to Kaufleuten. Samba de raiz, played the way it is in Rio de Janeiro. The musicians right in the middle of the crowd, everyone singing along. Brazil as it really is.
Terreiro Adalu is a travelling Roda de Samba. We don't have a fixed home; we bring the circle to wherever Zurich comes together: Casi Casa, Moods, Kaufleuten. Since 2017, our roda has welcomed Grupo Revelação, Martinho da Vila, Mart’nália, Coletivo Gira, Coletivo Raízes do Samba, Samba Nosso and Viva o Samba.
What connects every night: samba, community, joy and brasilidade. No show samba with feathers, no postcard Brazil. Instead, samba as it's lived in the backyards and bars of Rio de Janeiro, and the Brazil that Brazilians know and miss.
Roda de Samba
Our nights aren't concerts to sit and watch. In the roda de samba, the musicians sit in a circle in the middle of the crowd: cavaquinho, pandeiro, surdo, vocals. Everyone sings, claps and dances along. The line between stage and audience disappears — and that's exactly what samba is about.
Workshops: percussion and samba no pé
Samba is knowledge that gets passed on. That's why workshops are part of Terreiro: percussion with guests like Patú Sambá and Pandeiro LX from Lisbon, plus samba no pé, the dance of the roda. Open to all levels, from your first pandeiro lesson to a well-practised batucada.
Brazilian food
A roda isn't complete without food. We serve Brazilian food the way it's served at home. The smell, the taste, eating together: that's what a Sunday in Brazil feels like, and that's how many of our samba nights begin.
Terreiro Adalu is a place for everyone: for Brazilians from all over Switzerland looking for a piece of home, and for anyone who wants to experience Brazil as it is.
Terreiro Adalu at a glance
24. October 2026
September 5, 2026
27. July 2026
31. May 2026
25. May 2026
10. January 2026
Where can I experience samba in Zurich?
At Terreiro Adalu. The series by Verein Adalu has been bringing roda de samba to Zurich since 2017 – regularly, at venues such as Casi Casa, Moods, Kaufleuten and Tanzhaus Zürich. At the last Terreiro, almost 300 guests sang along.
What is a roda de samba?
The musicians play in a circle in the middle of the crowd instead of on a distant stage. Everyone sings, claps and dances along. That is how samba is celebrated in Brazil – in the backyards and bars of Rio de Janeiro, and here in Zurich too.
Is this authentic samba like in Rio de Janeiro?
Yes. At its heart is samba de raiz, the traditional samba of Rio's rodas – with cavaquinho, pandeiro, surdo and vocals. Artists who have played the Terreiro stage include Grupo Revelação, Martinho da Vila, Mart’nália, Coletivo Gira, Coletivo Raízes do Samba, Samba Nosso and Viva o Samba.
Do I need to know how to dance samba?
No. All that matters is having fun. The energy of a roda de samba sweeps everyone along. The crowd is mixed: Brazilians from all over Switzerland and everyone who loves Brazilian culture.
Is there Brazilian food and are there workshops too?
Yes. Terreiro includes Brazilian food and workshops: percussion with guests like Patú Sambá and Pandeiro LX from Lisbon, and samba no pé, the dance of the roda. The workshops are open to all levels.
When is the next roda de samba in Zurich?
You will find current dates and tickets on this page under «Upcoming events» and in the Adalu programme. Newsletter subscribers hear about new dates first.
Adalu Experience
Each project celebrates a different facet of Brazilian culture in Switzerland.
