Events Calendar

Imagine Africa Free Community Afternoon - Brazilian Groove

Brazil’s vibrant cultural and musical heritage take center stage during Brazilian Groove, a Free Community Day, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (with special programming from 1:00 to 4:00 pm)   Brazil is a country richly influenced by the African diaspora and this family-friendly event features Afro-Brazilian drumming and dance workshops, a demonstration of the energetic dance and martial art of Capoeira Angola, and a Brazilian-influenced African dance performance.

Special programming includes an Afro-Brazilian drumming workshop led by percussionist and arts educator Alex Shaw of Alô Brasil. Guests are invited to join in with up to 30 traditional Brazilian instruments provided, including surdos, caixas, repiques and tamborins. Orlando Haddad, music director of the Philadelphia-based Brazilian group Minas, talks about the history of Samba, Bossa Nova and Música Popular Brasileira, and performs a live demonstration of the styles. Enjoy an interactive Brazilian Samba Dance Workshop featuring dance artist and educator Adrienne Hall-Cedeño, where you can learn traditional orixá movements for the ijexá rhythm, as well as the basics of samba de roda (circle samba), to the beat of live drumming. A demonstration of Capoeira Angola, led by the International Capoeira Angola Foundation, combines dance movements, acrobatics, martial arts, music and more in an energetic display. And ODUNDE 365 with the children of Universal Institute Charter School performs a live dance performance, featuring over 30 young dancers ages 5-13 demonstrating their own style of African dance with a Brazilian flair.

Special guest Stef Renée of 900AM WURD broadcasts live from Penn Museum between 1:00 and 3:00 pm!

Brazilian Groove is a featured program presented in conjunction with the Museum’s ongoing Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum gallery project and in partnership with ODUNDE and the Brasil Cultural Center.

FREE ADMISSION!

Photo by Mark Stehle.