Carnival Dance across the Country
18/01/11
Carnival Dance 2011
For the past two years the Beat Carnival have been running master-classes in Brazilian Carnival dance with renowned dancers from Brazil. The aim is to create a dance club for the Belfast Carnival with a group of dancers who can perform in Carnival with live percussion. Originally we have had a small dance performance group formed. The Beat Carnival now seeks to develop this idea and expand our voluntary arts club to new members.
Beatndance seek to…
Bring like minded teachers, facilitators, enthusiasts and newcomers together who love to dance.
Teach dance from Masterclass sessions with some amazing dancers.
To develop a costumed performance group who will participate in Carnival in June 2011 and beyond.
Develop a percussion group to work with the dancers on an ongoing basis. With choreography to live percussion.
Provide a space and performance opportunities for dance rehearsals.
To create a network of dancers of various styles who will be available for performances throughout the year.
Teach the traditional Brazilian forms of Samba Reggae and Maracatu choreography.
Consider the needs and demands of our volunteer dancers in creating a programme of activity throughout the year aimed at developing skills and knowledge.
The work that the Beat does with the Carnival Dance group will be an extension of the Beatndrum Samba band. The band members do not pay to learn Brazilian drums, but during training get opportunities to perform, developing percussion and performance skills.
Dance Master-classes so far.
April 2009: Jackson Pinto (Lion King, Dances of the Orishas) Samba Reggae .
June 2009: Marana Whitehouse (Mandinga Carnival Arts, London) Carnival Dance and Choreography.
May 2010: Mariana Pinho (Gandaia Arts) Maracatu.
The next set of dance masterclasses will be in April 2011. We seek to bring teachers and community leaders within the Dance community together to learn some steps that they can incorporate into their own classes. The Beat hopes to facilitate the learning of new and addictive styles of dance.
Zumba:
This dance craze is sweeping the country. Trained Zumba practitioners are teaching dance moves up and down the country that could have been lifted right out of the Beat and Dance textbook of carnival dance moves. Zumba dancers and enthusiasts are welcome to participate with the Beat Carnival in developing their repertoire of moves based on the traditional forms of dance from Brazil.
This year the Beat Carnival plan to host 120 Top level European drummers who will attend the Belfast Maracatu Encontro (Meeting of Traditional Brazilian Drummers) on June 18th 2011. Among the attending guests will be 2 master Maracatu drummers and spiritual leaders from Pernambuco, Brazil, and a Master Dancer who will be touring Europe with the Masters Nation Project 2011. It is hoped that this work with Beatndance will help this event become a fantastic celebration of Latin Culture and music. This will be the first presentation of Beatndance with 3 days of intensive master-classes in Dance leading up to the main event, held in conjunction with 3 days of intensive percussion workshops.
The Beat would like to invite dancers to come perform in the Belfast Carnival on the 18th June 2011
For more information contact Damian@beatcarnival.com or 02890 434767 or Edgar on 07592 391173
A little information on Edgar Estrada:
Edgar Estrada is a DJ and Latin event producer who lives in Belfast. He is volunteering with the Beat Carnival to spread the dance word throughout Northern Ireland. Originally from Nicaragua he brings a fantastic sense of good music and enthusiasm to the Beatndance table in an effort to see the dancers and Latin enthusiasts of Belfast getting into the carnival spirit. He runs a fantastic Latin music night with some great dancing every Thursday night in 10 Square, Belfast. Check it out!
Other Recent News...
20/07/11 - Heading towards 24 July event
15/06/11 - Mask/Puppet Construction Workshops 18 & 25 June
26/05/11 - Join the Brazilian Party: Saturday 18th June
26/05/11 - Life Is A Carnival! Event on 24th July