UMS/LACS Immersion: Brazil

In its 02/03 season, the University Musical Society (UMS) will focus on the great cultural traditions of Brazil, with major performances by the Orquestra de São Paulo, Banda Mantiqueira, Grupo Corpo, Caetano Veloso, and Egberto Gismonti.

UMS Education is hosting a wide array of interactive events to further appreciation of Brazilian culture, music, and dance. These events are a UMS collaboration with LACS, the UM School of Music, and UM Department of Dance. All events are free and held in Ann Arbor.

Poster (pdf format)

STUDY CLUBS - SYMPOSIA - BRAZILIAN DANCE SYMPOSIUM - MASTER CLASS - PARTY

STUDY CLUBS

Led by local and visiting Brazilian experts/educators, these UMS Study Clubs offer the opportunity to learn more about Brazilian culture, music and dance. Registration required.To register, please contact UMS Education, 734-615-6739 or umsed@umich.edu. Seating is limited.

Brazilian Culture
Mon, Oct 28, 7-9 pm
Michigan League Vandenberg Room (911 North University, 2nd Floor)
Led by Keila Grinberg, Associate Professor of History at the University of Rio de Janeiro. Through short lectures, discussion, and film clips, this interactive workshop will focus on Brazil’s international image through two lenses: the history of Brazilian culture and the ways Brazilians have represented this culture abroad; and how and why non-Brazilians, including critics in the United States, have produced certain images about Brazilian culture.

Brazilian Dance
Thu, Oct 31, 2:30-4 pm
International Institute, Room 1636, (Located in the School of Social Work building at 1080 South University, 1st Floor)
Led by Lúcia M. Súarez, former dancer, Assistant Professor of Spanish at the University of Michigan, and Faculty Associate at the UM Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program. This Study Club will focus on the history of classical, modern, and folkloric dance in Brazil, as well as the work of contemporary choreographers and companies, viewed through the prism of the Brazilian aesthetic.

Brazilian Music
Wed, Nov 13, 7-9 pm
Michigan League Koessler Room (911 North University, 3rd Floor)
Led by Mary Catherine Smith, host of WEMU’s weekly radio program, “Brazilian Sol.” Focusing on the popular musical traditions of Brazil, such as samba, bossa nova, and tropicalismo, this study club will give an in-depth overview of the history of Brazilian music, as well as focus on important artists featured in the UMS Brazil Series.

SYMPOSIA

Art Music from Brazil Symposium
Wed, Oct 30, 11 am – 4 pm
Michigan Theater (603 East Liberty)
Many music enthusiasts are familiar with the more popular musical forms from Brazil, but Brazil is also home to a rich diversity of important contemporary art music. These sessions help put Brazil’s art music into perspective with a focus on important composers, vocal, and classical music repertoire.

11-12:30 pm Orquestra de São Paulo Open Rehearsal
Housed within the impressive Sala São Paulo (a former 1920s railway station), the Orquestra de São Paulo is considered one of the most important orchestras in South America. Under the artistic direction of John Neshchling, the orchestra prepares for its Ann Arbor performances rehearsing works by such composers as Villa-Lobos, Guarnieri, and Krieger.

1:30-2:30 pm Maestro John Neschling and Quarteto Amazônia
The Brazilian artistic/music director of the Orquestra de São Paulo, John Neschling leads this lecture/demonstration on important Brazilian classical music composers. Quarteto Amazônia, a string quartet housed within the Orquestra, will assist Maestro Neschling.

2:30-4 pm “Search for a National Voice: 100 Years of Brazilian Art
Song ” by Luiz Ballestero

This lecture/recital will trace the development of the Art Song in Brazil and present how this genre helped to form a musical national identity. The lecture will be illustrated with songs by Carlos Gomes, Nepomuceno, Fernandez, Villa-Lobos, Mignone, and Guarnieri.

BRAZILIAN DANCE SYMPOSIUM

Thu, Oct 31, 2:30-5:30 pm
International Institute, Room 1636, (Located in the School of Social Work building at 1080 South University, 1st Floor)

The history of dance in Brazil is profound and significant with the development of such important traditions as capoeira, samba, carnaval, and emerging classical and modern dance. These sessions focus on Brazil’s contributions to the world of dance, and how this art form is informed by Brazil’s history, people, and culture.

2:30-4 pm Brazilian Dance Study Club
Led by Lúcia M. Súarez, former dancer, Assistant Professor of Spanish at the University of Michigan, and Faculty Associate at the UM Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program. This Study Club will focus on the history of classical, modern, and folkloric dance in Brazil, as well as the work of contemporary choreographers and companies, viewed through the prism of the Brazilian aesthetic.

4-5 pm Panel Discussion/Interview with Grupo Corpo
Grupo Corpo Brazilian Dance Theater artistic director Rodrigo Pederneiras and company members discuss the state of dance-making in Brazil, their upcoming performance, and how Brazilian culture and aesthetic inform their artistry.

5-5:30 pm Reception with Grupo Corpo
International Institute Lobby

MASTER CLASSES

Grupo Corpo Dance Master Class
Thu, Oct 31, 11-12:30 pm
UM Dance Building, Studio A (1310 North University Court, 2nd Floor)
Observe Grupo Corpo company members work with UM dance students on repertory from the company’s upcoming performance. Open for observation only. Seating is limited.

Banda Mantiqueira Percussion Master Class
Thu, Oct 31, 1-2:30 pm
Michigan Theater (603 East Liberty)
Banda Mantiqueira, a Brazilian wind and percussion jazz group featured within the Orquestra, will lead this workshop with UM Percussion students. This master class will focus on Brazilian rhythms such as the gafieira, samba, chorinho, and bossa nova. Open for observation only.

PARTY!

Brazil Community Party
Thu, Oct 31, 10:30 pm (after the Banda Mantiqueira concert)
Zanzibar Restaurant (216 South State Street).
A community party for Orquestra de São Paulo and Grupo Corpo. Music by local Brazilian music group Sonamó. Cash bar and light food provided. To attend, show a ticket to any performance on UMS’s Brazil series or the official Brazil Community Party invitation.

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For more information, call LACS at 763-0553
or e-mail at lacs@umich.edu.

This page updated December 9, 2002 by Bebete Martins.
Copyright 2002, Regents of the University of Michigan.

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