Denise Kayan

Denise Kayan is one of Australia’s most accomplished Samba dancers. In Melbourne she is the Rainha de Bateria and dance coordinator for Bloco 3K as well as Director of Dance for Unidos da Cacatua. She’s well known in Rio de Janeiro where she has been a passista with Vila Isabel since 2020.

Over the years she has lived and trained in the west zone of Rio, training in the Projetos da Zona Oeste, danced as a passista with Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel and various schools in Intendentes Magalhães. She has been featured in a video clip for Dudu Nobre and published in various media platforms including Meia Hora magazine and G1 Globo.

She was previously Rainha da Escola and Princesa da Bateria at Unidos da Ponte, as well as holding various Musa positions at numerous schools in Rio Carnaval. All this experience means she’s no stranger to Samba both internationally and within Australia.