Cavalcanti, (2008) shows that many schools carry the name of the neighborhood or locality in which they are situated, as is the case with Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, Estação Primeira de Mangueira, União da Ilha do Governador, Acadêmicos do Salgueiro, Beija Flor de Nilópolis and the Portela which, although it doesn't use the name of its neighborhood, does carry the name of the location of its first headquarters, situated on the Estrada do Portela.

The schools therefore, inculcate a strong sense of belonging when they auto-denominate as representations of the neighborhoods or favelas in which they are located. For this reason, in order to understand the Portela as a representation and its square as a 'place', it is necessary to relate a short history of Madureira as the foundation for the formation of this samba school, to show that the 'Portelense' identity is linked to the identity of this important suburban neighborhood.