Weekly percussion, dance, and brass sessions to perk up your week playing and moving alongside some of the Carnival community’s most enthusiastic and talented folks. Led by the GG artist team, our tutors will take you through exciting beats and breaks from Brazil and beyond as you learn new instruments, further your technique in percussion, dance and brass playing, and learn to play arrangements as part of a workshop-band. Weekly classes will run on Tuesdays for percussionists, Wednesdays for horn/melody players, and Wednesdays for dancers. There will also be an extra monthly special class every second Sunday of the month where we will combine all three art forms!

This weekly class is available to buy as a weekly ‘drop-in’ class, though where possible we are encouraging members to subscribe to a longer term of classes to create something really special together over time and support the long-term development of the Bloco. As a Bloco monthly or yearly subscriber you will also get access to special discounts and other benefits across the Global Grooves creative programme.

The more you put in, the more you will get out! We know life is busy and understand it can be difficult to commit to weekly sessions and especially practicing, but we would encourage participants to attend as many sessions as possible to get the most benefit. Come along to the monthly combined sessions to enjoy blending the percussion and melody classes with the dancers to rehearse together for that big Global Grooves energy hit!

You are welcome to bring along your own drinks and snacks to the sessions (let us know if you have any severe allergies that we should be aware of). You are welcome to bring your own beers along to the sessions if you wish, or to support the venue (thanks in advance!). The bar will be open for alcohol and soft drinks. Monthly and yearly membership subscribers will receive a special 10% off all drinks at The Vale bar.

Anyone and everyone from 12 years plus is welcome to join the Bloco. Children between the age of 12 and 16 must be accompanied by an adult who will also be expected to participate in the classes and rehearsals. Future Leaders aged 12-16 are able to attend without an accompanying adult.

We offer two different types of membership subscriptions: monthly and yearly. We also offer a pay-per-class option that can be paid in advance via the website or on arrival at The Vale. We recommend paying in advance so an instrument will be ready and waiting for you and we can plan our classes in advance (and you will also get a discount by subscribing monthly or annually).

Monthly subscriptions will be debited via the payment method you used to take out your initial subscription and will repeat on the same day each month. Yearly subscriptions will automatically be taken on the same day of the year annually.

Your subscriptions, payment methods and other account information etc can be reviewed and edited in the ‘my account’ area of the Global Grooves website at this link. If you are having any difficulties with our online services please email [email protected] for further support.

Bloco contributions

Weekly drop in = £6 / £12 per class

This weekly class is available to buy as a weekly ‘drop-in’ class, though where possible we are encouraging members to subscribe to a longer term of classes to create something really special together over time and support the long term development of the Bloco.

Savings are available when booking a monthly or annual subscription.

Monthly = £47.50

This includes:

• 4 x weekly sessions (averaged through the year).
• 1 x monthly combined session with the dancers and horn players.
• 10% off selected gig tickets, courses and masterclasses plus 10% off at the bar at any of our events @ The Vale.

Annual = £375

This includes:

• 4 x weekly sessions (averaged through the year).
• 1 x monthly combined session with the dancers and horn players.
• 10% off selected gig tickets, courses and masterclasses plus 10% off at the bar at any of our events @ The Vale.

Our commitment to accessibility

The Global Grooves Bloco is for everyone.

If you would like to speak with a member of the team about an access requirement you may have, please complete the form here. We see anything that might prevent you from taking part as an access consideration (this could be due economic/financial factors, travel logistics, language/communication, or something else). Please do feel welcome to strike up a private conversation with us, as we want to include everyone who has the passion to participate.

Pricing structure

There are many costs associated with running our Bloco. Drum maintenance, costume prep, heating, lighting, tutors costs, administration and more. We encourage those that can to help out by joining as a monthly Bloco member.

You can save a little on costs per session and also support the growth of the Bloco with a regular contribution per month.  A percentage of all Full and Concessions options also contributes towards supporting others to attend.  You will also get 10% discount on selected gigs, and drinks at the bar at The Vale – Plus free further study opportunities rolled in with your membership.

If access means you might attend less frequently then there is a pay per class option that might be just for you. And if costs are prohibitive, you can also pay what you can. From just £1 per session you can enjoy the Global Grooves Bloco.

• Full price per session = £12
• Full price Monthly Membership = £45
• Concession price per session = £10
• Concession price Monthly Membership = £36
• Bursary per session = £pay what you can

Online payments in advance are preferred, but if you do need to pay cash or card on the day, you can.

Anyone from the age of 12+ is welcome regardless of your level of experience. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned performer there will be something for everyone, and our creative team will make sure the sessions are engaging, accessible as well as the right amount of challenge for your current level. More important is your commitment to learning, supporting others and enjoyment of the sessions.

Performing with the Global Grooves Bloco

Global Grooves has a professional touring company that performs internationally. Some of our events are more suited to professional performers while others anyone who has attended Bloco rehearsals will be welcome to join us.

For more information, click here.

Classes take place at our home The Vale in our purpose built studios.

The Vale’s address is – The Vale, Vale Mill, Micklehurst Road, Mossley, OL5 9JL

More information about the vale can be found here.

Information including detailed directions and transport links can be found at The Vale’s website here.

We recommend wearing clothes that allow you to move around freely and easily. Perhaps in layers so that you can choose to adapt your clothing depending on how much energy you and others are giving out. We recommend trainers or other comfortable footwear but some dancers choose to dance in bare feet. Please be aware that many of the space at The Vale have harder concrete floors.

For more detailed guidance please contact us on [email protected]

We are close to Mossley train station (approx. 15 mins walk) and several bus routes. For full information about accessing the Vale, click here.

Address: The Vale, Micklehurst Road, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL5 9JL

The GG Bloco is a large street / Carnival group that invites instruments that are portable, can be heard over other acoustic drums and are mainly *unamplified.

In the percussion section we use mainly Brazilian Carnival instruments including Surdo (bass drums), Caixa (Snare drums), Repinique, Timbau and from time-to-time other handheld instruments and traditional drums.

In the Horns / Melody section we welcome woodwind and brass as well as a small number of other instruments such as electric bass, guitar and other amplified instruments.

*Amplified instruments. We have a small number of portable ‘mambo amps’ that are designed for outdoor performance. These are worn on a backpack and carried around with the performer. From time to time these may be mounted onto a cart allowing for a fully portable PA system. If you have an instrument that needs amplification, or perhaps you are a vocalist or MC then please contact us and we can assess weather this is a fit for our Melody section and see if we can accommodate your technical requirements.