The Brazil Tour started with an incredible evening of dance at the Ebu studio of Raquel Trinidade. Last year Raquel had introduced the dances of the Orixas to our Dances of Universal Peace training group. We visited her at her home studio and made plans to share Dances of Universal Peace with her students. They offered to show us one of their folkloric presentations, the Maracatu. This is a powerful samba beat usually performed during carnival as part of the “Parade”. It was a powerful and passionate evening.
Poetry & Magic in Motion
Raquel greeted us and invited us to open the evening.
She gathered her dancers and explained the evening to them. They were dressed and ready.
Anahata and I greeted the circle, opening with Tashi Deleg.
It had to be one of the most colorful groups we had ever taught
And then we took our seats and prepared to be entertained.
Well, most of us took our seats, Angela and Bel couldn’t resist dancing along
First she directed the music to start it’s intoxicating and overpowering rhythms.
Her grandson Manuel, led the musicians
A magnificently beautiful young man, he was delicate in his direction and totally devoted to his grandmother.
On the wall behind the musicians this local piece of art seemed to breath in unison with the music
Musicians and dancers are all from the neighborhood and love any opportunity to share their work.
Their focus was admirable
Complex rhythms
Then the dancers were set in motion. First Raquel introduced us to the story. The King and Queen were to be crowned.
In a parade their group would be one of a number of ensembles. Each group carried banners announcing their school.
The flower ladies
The Bayanas
Crowned at last
The King
And the King’s court
Then the King and Queen were presented with these dolls representing babies to carry on the line.
These ecstatic women in gold were referred to as the African Queens
After the performance Raquel signed one of her books for Jack.
And then took the group into her house to see her original art
Shabda finally arrived (far right) and the group decided to give him an impromptu taste of the music. Samba to the max.
