For more information about ‘Bloco Xangô’ click further information below.
This course is a continuation from our last Bloco event in Cambridge ‘Bloco Yemanja’ that saw over 50 percussionists from all around the UK celebrate the rhythms and energy of the Orixa Yemanja (goddess of the sea).
For singers:
On this intensive weekend course, you will learn a small number of short, traditional Candomblé (Afro-Brazilian) songs, but the main focus will be on learning a jazz song, arranged in close-harmony. This will be adapted by the Global Grooves team to complement the percussion and dance styles of Salvador Brazil. Time permitting there will also be a Bengali lullaby for the introductory section on the piece.
Although this workshop will focus on learning songs together in harmony, it will offer participants the additional element of joining together with dancers and drummers to create a truly unique and intriguing fusion arrangement.
The course will culminate in an informal performance on the Sunday evening for friends and family. The fusion of percussion, dance and song styles will offer the weekend many wonderful extra ingredients to turn the final presentation into musical gold and, as always, a joyous celebration.
Faith’s work is all about harmony. Whilst she teaches songs from a number of styles and cultures around the world, her own particular interest is in the smooth melodies, syncopated rhythms and crunchy harmonies found in British and American jazz and swing from the 1920s, 30s and 40s.
An opportunity not to be missed!
For Dancers: Lead by the amazingly talented dancer and choreographer Adriana Rosso (Brazil), dancers will have the opportunity to learn new Samba Reggae choreographies influenced by the rhythms, movements and personalities of the Orixa Xangô. Working closely alongside the percussion arrangements, dancers will explore how dance movements and percussive phrasing interact with each other to create a powerful and intensive Samba Reggae choreography (to be performed with the Bloco on Sunday evening).
This is an open level course suitable for dancers who have a basic to advanced understanding of Brazilian dance styles.
About Xangô:
In the Candomblé tradition Xangô is celestial fire, the fire of life and death. He lives in rocks and minerals and in volcano lava. He is a strategist and a king (Alafin) from Oyo, Nigeria. He is Lord of the drums and an Orixa of war.
For Drummers: This intensive weekend percussion course will focus on a bateria piece for ‘Xangô’ as well as traditional Samba Reggae arrangements. Using Surdos, Timbas, Caixas and Repiniques Leon Patel (UK) is scheming up some cheeky and flavoursome grooves and breaks that will inspire a serious respect for all things Reggae.
We will develop an exciting and unique arrangement to explore and celebrate Brazilian carnival styles from Salvador, Brazil. These arrangements will draw upon rhythms from Brazilian Candomblé adopting percussive phrasing to celebrate the power of the Orixá Xangô.
This is an open level course suitable for players who have a basic to advanced understanding of Brazilian Percussion.
Dates and Times:
Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March 2013.
Workshops: Saturday 10am – 5pm / Sunday 11am – 6pm
Evening performance from workshop participants Sunday 24th @ 7pm
Fees:
Classes are sponsored by the Worldwise Learning Centre.
£30 full £20 concessions for the full weekend and performance*
*Please note for members of the UClan Worldwise Samba Drummers group or students at UClan, this course is free. Please register by clicking the link below, fill in the form and close the window when you reach the payment page.
Venue: UClan, The Media Factory, Kirkham Street, Preston PR1 2HE