The exciting energy of Brazilian culture shined through each performance of Afro-Brazilian capoeira, percussion and samba at the second-annual Festa Brazil last Saturday at the University of Wyoming’s Conference Center.
Families, students and community members sat at round tables filled with Brazilian candies and lists of the evening’s events, which were organized by the student-led Partners of the Americas at UWYO (PAUWYO) to showcase Brazilian culture with a wide variety of music and dance.
“We like to celebrate anything,” said Marina Oliveira, UW graduate student and member of PAUWYO.
One of the student chapters of the international nonprofit Partners of the America, the local group was started in the 1960s as a way to connect North and South America, club president Nicolas Arizaga said.
Graduate student Otto Pereira began the festivities with a breathtaking viola performance in a Bossa nova style, a mix between jazz and samba.
“Just got to make sure I’m Brazilian,” Pereira joked before his performance as he greeted the hosts of the event with a traditional hug and kiss on the cheek.
After the performance attendees enjoyed an authentic Brazilian dinner with rice, beans and more uncommon foods.
Fort Collins cultural group Capoeira Canavial started the event up again with a riveting performance of Afro-Brazilian martial arts: capoeira, a form of dance and fighting developed by African slaves in Brazil, Brazil-born student Anjos Neves said.
The beginning segment included the use of wooden sticks colliding with each other, followed by a segment with a performance of drums and berimbaus, single-string percussion instruments that have a similar look to a fishing pole.
“Are you ready to dance?” Brazilian percussionist and educator Marcus Santos shouted to the crowd as he introduced the next performer, Bloco em FoCo from Fort Collins, Colorado.
Using drums and other percussion instruments, their performance created an energetic and party-like atmosphere. Santos conducted the group, as well as the audience, and invited members to come onto the stage to dance. Performers from previous acts joined the fun.
Luciana da Silva then performed and taught the samba to audience members, dressed in the traditional attire of Carnaval, an annual festival in Brazil.
The evening concluded with a dance party. DJ Jaggedon provided the music — a mix of Portuguese, Spanish and English music.
Associated Students of the University of Wyoming sponsored the event.
Students interested in PAUWYO may contact the group at earizaga@uwyo.edu.
