Dorina

Dorina emerged in the 1990s as a striking samba voice shaped by her upbringing in the Carioca suburbs, where early immersion in local traditions introduced her to the genre’s core. Paulinho da Viola paved the way for her debut recording, Eu Canto Samba, issued in 1996 and honored with the Sharp Prize for Samba Revelation. The accompanying stage production of Eu Canto Samba toured continuously for twelve months across Rio, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, and Recife.

In 1997 she staged De Paulo a Paulinho, tracing the trajectory of Portela Samba School through compositions by Paulo da Portela, Monarco, and Paulinho da Viola. That same year Zeca Pagodinho, while showcasing Samba Pras Moças, brought her aboard for an extended run at Rio’s João Caetano theater. Their partnership resumed in 1998 at the Novo Canto series held on the Terraço Rio Sul. A joint presentation with Dona Ivone Lara at Niterói’s Municipal Theater drew strong critical notice, as did subsequent appearances alongside the Velha Guarda da Portela and the Velha Guarda da Mangueira.

The following year she honored Paulo César Pinheiro in the program Carta de Poeta, and a succession of well-received concerts with João de Aquino followed. After issuing her sophomore album Samba.com in 2000—featuring songs by Monarco, Wilson Moreira, and Paulinho da Viola—she rejoined Dona Ivone Lara for the Clássicos de Samba project at the same Niterói venue. Also in 2000 she joined Walter Alfaiate to record “Falso Amor Sincero,” written by Nelson Sargento, for the anthology Casa de Samba 4.