But for many samba fanatics, drums are the beating heart of the party. And the maestro's hand swings, flicks, twists and pointing transform potential cacophony into transcendent synchrony.

Kody Roberts was introduced to SambAfriq by his grandmother when he was aged just even, becoming their youngest member, and seven years later was directing the group based in Chorley, Lancashire. He ...

And one’s free fingers can often signal a shift in dynamics. Drum queen Fabiola de Andrade from the Mocidade samba school smiles during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro ...

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — At a classical orchestra, a conductor’s raised hands often means the start of a performance. Tracing shapes in the air could point to how each beat must come. And one’s free ...