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Te Encontro no Samba (TENS) is a dynamic Afro-Brazilian music project founded in 2017 with the aim of promoting Brazilian culture in the USA. What began as a small "roda de Samba" performance group has evolved into a multifaceted initiative that continues to captivate audiences across the country. 

TENS has hosted 12 cultural events in New York, drawing an average of 450 people each time. Attendees have been treated to authentic live Brazilian music, food, and drinks, making for an unforgettable experience. Among TENS' standout performances are their sets at Times Square for Jazz Lincoln Center at Times Square Live, Sofar Sound NYC, and Hard Rock Cafe Miami. 

In addition to these performances, TENS has hosted a range of exciting events, including "Bahia Connection," where they were joined by Batala New York, an all-female Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble. TENS also brought the tradition of Brazil's Carnival to New York with their "Baile de Carnaval," which included a Samba no pe contest. Participants competed for a cash prize by showcasing their best Samba no pe moves at the Flamboyant Theatre in February 2019.

During the pandemic in 2019, TENS adapted their approach by offering a series of hands-on percussion workshops via Zoom. Led by renowned percussionists and dancers in Brazil, these workshops aimed to provide students of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to learn from authentic practitioners.

Currently, TENS is in the process of creating an album that fuses Brazilian rhythms with World Music, with the goal of uniting cultures through song. Samba, the descendant of "Semba," a traditional music and dance from Angola, was brought to Brazil by enslaved Africans. Despite years of oppression, the rhythm persevered and evolved into what we hear today. TENS is proud to represent Afro-Brazilian culture through their music and dance, and they look forward to continuing to promote cultural exchange and understanding in the years to come.