I have no shame...

More details next month...

Circus rehearsal

Hi All of Brisamba members involved in the Uncharted performance,

We are having a rehearsal of 2 of the music pieces that involve body percussion and the cahon and palmas this Monday 29 Oct, from 6.30 – 8.30 at the Stores Studio at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The circus performers will be rehearsing in the same room so you will get to meet each other.

The studio is right on the carpark of the Powerhouse behind the big roller-door for those of you who may not know it. The Powerhouse is 119 Lamington St, New Farm.

If you can’t make this rehearsal that is fine we can work out a strategy for catching people up at a later date.

Cheers

Celia

appeal to help a friend with breast cancer

Hi all,
This is not the usual blog entry you'll see from me. My friend and work colleague Angela has breast cancer. Her son Connor has written to all her workmates in an effort to raise some money for her treatment. I'll paste his message verbatim below. If you are able to help in any way please let me know. Thanks, Paul

My name is Connor Rattray and I am 11 years old.

My Mum, Angela has Inflammatory Breast Cancer and has been getting treatment for over a year. She has chemotherapy and goes into hospital every week. Not many people every get Inflammatory Breast Cancer – it is also very hard to beat!!!

Mum has to pay for a new medicine that costs over $4000.00 per time. We have to pay for 6 of these – about one every three weeks. So that’s $24 000.00

I want to raise money for the medicine, to help my Mum beat this cancer. So far it’s working and I know it will keep on!

Connor’s Epic Adventure:

I am going to bushwalk 40 kilometres through the Lamington National Park. I will carry my backpack, sunscreen, tent, food, water and camp overnight.

I want people to sponsor me, per kilometre, or just donate money, to help me in my adventure.

I love doing art with my Mum, we often go bushwalking when she’s well and I want to help her. Please help me do this.

You Can:

Be an Event Assistant!!!!

Could you please take this letter and the Epic Adventure Pamphlet and start getting your friends to help with donations. Mum has said you will need a receipt book – please let me know if and when you are collecting money and I will forward you one.

For information on my walk, you can call Connor on 044 707 5788; my big brother (Event Marketing) Mitchell on 044 777 4904 or Jenny Moss (Fantastic friend and support!) on 0422 812 785.

We will be walking on the 30th of Nov to the 2nd of Dec


Thanks so much for your support



Connor Rattray

Vulcana Women's Circus

In the past month, we have had a couple of visits from Celia from Vulcana's women's Circus, regarding a possible cooperation for their production in December.

It is now time to decide. It's not an easy call as there is quite a bit of commitment involved. Besides a number of dedicated rehearsals on Thursdays in the next month, and maybe a couple of visits to the circus practice on Mondays, we'd need to commit to all of the following:

• Sat 1 Dec, 1-5pm: Final Rehearsal (Stores Studio)

Production Brisbane – The Judith Wright Centre

• Tue 4 Dec – Full Technical Rehearsal
  
• Wed 5 Dec – Dress Rehearsal
• Thu 6 Dec – Preview
• Fri 7 Dec - Opening Night
• Sat 8 Dec – Matinee and Closing Night

Production Logan – Logan Entertainment Centre

• Thu 13 Dec – Rehearsal 6-10pm
• Fri 14 Dec – Performance

Call times for the performance nights will be finalised closer to the event. But all performances are at 7.30 except the matinee which is at 2pm.

Can you make it? Are you prepared to invest the time? Please register here urgently. We'll need to make a call this week. I'll be interested in your comments too, please comment on this post.

As with all gigs, if you say 'yes' now means people will be counting on you, so please vote wisely...

Tamara's wedding

We have been invited to attend, and to play at, Tamara's and Mike's wedding on the 17th November in Maleney. After the 4.30pm ceremony we would go to the reception hall and play some samba at 6pm when they arrive.

It is going to be a really fun, relaxed and unconventional wedding so we are very excited to have Primavera there! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

If anyone wants to stay in Maleny - there is camping at the showgrounds, where the hall is (suited for camper vans) and it is $10.00 per campsite per night.This can be booked by phoning 5494 2008. There is also a Maleny accommodation website www.malenyaccommodation.com.au/

Thanks to everyone who is coming and playing at the wedding. I am very happy to have many of my Samba friends there! Even though I have been so slack at coming to practise this year, my heart is always there and I can't wait to have some more time once the wedding is over!

Best wishes,
Tamara

Please register before 26th October as Tamara needs definite number for catering. If you can't make it, please register as well. Let's organise some carpooling once we know who is going.

Please register here.

Further details can be found in Tamara's letter to guests.

Solidarity Samba in Orleigh Park

Dedication!

How's that for dedication: Patty sent in a picture of her new 'pink & green' garden! This is the first step in her giant 'makeover': now that the garden has been done, David will start with the outside of the house (pink), the deck (green), the floorboard (alternating pink & green planks), the fridge (green) and toothbrushes (pink). Once that's all done Patty hopefully will have found the new 'pink & green' spray-on tan to top it all up.

Talking about nature: we had an injury yesterday during the gig. Can I remind everyone that everyone is responsible for their own actions and that at no stage I will assume any responsibility for either your physical or mental health. Anyway, about the injury, this involved Marcel being attacked by a ferocious ant! Marcel is expected to make a speedy recovery, but if you feel so inclined, flowers can be delivered to me on Thursday's rehearsal and I'll make sure they end up with Marcel one way or another. Please check any flowers for ants though.

On a related matter: a snake got attacked by Dale, and due to lack of anti-Dale venom the snake unfortunately doesn't live to tell...

Dance!

I think I've found a solution for the complaints about our dancing/not enough dancing/not dancing the same thing - as well as Remko's obsession with topless playing.

Check out this fellow on another blog:
dance!

I think it's a local, and I suggest we line up a few in front of the shakers, and have the best stage act in the land!

Brazilian Feijoada this Saturday!

Hi all,
Angelo and Gaby from Groove Brazil are hosting an afternoon party this weekend. There will be lots of Brazilian music, dance, and feijoada - the popular Brazilian dish.

When: 1pm Saturday 20th Oct.
Where: Uniting Church Hall, 35 Princess Street, Kangaroo Point
Cost: $10
BYO drinks
RSVP: Angelo on 0421917688 (this is important for catering purposes!)

Hope to see you there.

Confirmed gig: Stand together

Further to the previous post, this gig is now confirmed for noon, Sunday 21 October. It will be a fairly casual gig, and depending on the number of people there I might also do a workshop. I look forward to a more relaxed gig, for the last two gigs I couldn't really relax and have a chat with all of you afterwards. There will be free hamburgers....

I believe this is just around the corner from Marcel too...
Dress code: up to you

Please register here.

Possible gig this Sunday

Hope you guys enjoyed the trivia night (and the pole dancing). Meanwhile, I wrote the following email. Please let me know what you think. And sorry for making some assumptions on your views on this issue:

Hi Angie

Thank you for forwarding this message to us.

Although the Brisbane Samba School is only indirectly affected by this issue (Brazilian music has strong African roots), I do believe that a large number of participants in our samba school share Ian's view below and as such welcome his initiative.

I therefore consider offering the Brisbane Samba School for Sunday's event free of charge. We could do a free workshop, free performance, or both. As we don't need a stage or any amplification there would be no further organisation required. I could also announce this event on our website (http://brisamba.com).

However I do like to check with the organisation if this would be appreciated before I invite some 20-odd loud percussionists to rock up uninvited...

Could you please pass on my offer to the organisers? I'd be happy to discuss this further by phone if required.

Thank you

Remko Wallach

Brisbane Samba School "G.R.E.S. Unidos da Primavera"

0411 646 083

Check out our new website at http://brisamba.com

---

From: Angie Spencer
Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2007 12:50 PM
Subject: Stand Together

Please see e-mail below and attached flyer.

MAQ encourages your support of this event and the African community in Queensland.

---

From: Ian Muil
Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2007 8:46 AM
Subject: Agree with Minister Andrews - Stand Together

Some few days ago Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews made a number of media statements that African refugees, particularly Sudanese refugees, are no longer welcome in Australia.

Interestingly, police in Victoria, NSW and Queensland have issued statements refuting his suggestion. Crime rates attributable to Sudanese, or African, migrant are no higher than for the rest of population.

This was a calculated ‘dog-whistle’ playing the race card.

But his comments have offended many and caused deep personal hurt to many African/Sudanese migrants/refugees now settling here. Ironically, many of them recall that this sort of comment was the first signal they had in their home country to events which resulted in them being rounded up, imprisoned, moved out of their tribal areas, and then hunted down.

To extend the hand of neighbourly friendship and allow ordinary Australians to say welcome ECCQ has initiated a sausage sizzle at Orleigh Park in West End next Sunday. The event is being jointly organised by a number of agencies with ECCQ and we have been promised some financial support from Multicultural Affairs Queensland and have already given some financial support by the Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU).

I ask that you circulate this flyer and encourage you to attend – the greatest support we can get from anybody is to actually be there on the day to shake the hand of an African person, have a soft drink and hamburger together, and tell them there inclusion in our community is appreciated, respected and wanted.

That’s the only way we’re going to salve some of the deep personal hurt caused by callous politicians.

Ian Muil

Executive Manager

ECCQ

This explains a lot

Sign at the mulitcultural festival...

Multicultural Festival 2007

Thank you!

Thank you all who played this afternoon at the Multicultural Festival. It was something different, with so many kids (and parents) involved, and I wouldn't have been able to do this without all of you, so thank you very much! I'm sorry I couldn't hang around after the gig to thank you all individually, and to hear all the stories - I really had to rush to get all the instruments back to the car, and then set up for the other gig. For those of you who were there - hope you liked it!

After both performances about 10 people came and talked to me, both on joining the samba school and for gigs. I even spoke with the guy from QLD Roar again.... he still wants to get us for 3 matches - let's see if it really happens this time.

Have a good week, and see you on Thursday. It might be busy with new joiners....

Early warning for Mel's Party Sun 24th Nov, lunchtime onward

Guys I'm having a party at my place on the afternoon of Sunday the 24th of November. I guess it will have to be a BBQ as the foundations for the deck will likely not be done by then, but you never know! Bring your drums cos you make lots of noise if U like. Also warm up the Playstaion 3 fingers cos well you know. Other ents will be the BBQ and polite conversation. Hugs Melanie

Also on Sunday...

I'll perform with a very special group: Jason Machado with a string ensemble, percussion & drums. On the lake stage, 4.40pm - 5:05pm. I can really recommend to come and see and listen to this!

Details for Multicultural Festival gig

This Sunday, we'll play at the Multicultural Festival in Roma Street Parklands. We'll play from 3pm - 3.35pm, on the children's stage, and it's going to be a combination of a performance and a workshop. Exactly how it will go I don't know yet, but I like to involve as many kids (and parents) as possible. Maybe something like what we did at the Polish festival. We'll have fun!

Please be there by 2.30pm, and dress creatively (in Pink & Green!)

Trivia Night

Paul and I have decided we'd like to have a go at a classic pub trivia night. All are welcome...
Chalk Hotel - 735 Stanley St Woolloongabba - 7pm Tuesday 16th October. & if you're running early...there's a pole dancing class for the ladies from 6.30pm. Cheers.

More Pictures from the Oxfam Gig

Guys I have the loverly ictures of you loverly people at http://picasaweb.google.com/BlizWizz/2007OxfamWalkOnWant

hope you like. I will keep them public for a week or two before hiding them so download if you want.

Oxfam photos

Sorry, with Brian not there, there will be few photos of the SWAT shakers. Still, here goes...

Gail, the face painting hippie

Dale's Surdo Workshop

Erin waves at herself in the mirror

Oxfam gig earlier today

Thank you all for yet another great gig. I really enjoyed playing next to the river, under cover by the trees, with a cool breeze, and lots of happy spectators. Well done everybody. I look forward to the photo's. The SWAT (Shakers With Attitude Team) did very well indeed! And, these kind of gigs often result in further interest, already somebody asked about us playing a gig in Springfield lakes, and some people were interested in joining us too!

Voor Marcel

Dank voor de drop! Rare gewaarwording, muntendrop met Euros in plaats van guldens!

Details for Walk against Want

We perform at 2pm on Sunday, please come to the stage (between QPAC and the river) at 1.30pm. Creative P&G. All systems go! Surdo players, please be prepared to walk a bit (not too far though). Brian is not playing so you can all relax now ;-)

Message from Donna

Hey Remko

Just wanted to let you know that I am still alive and kicking but you won't see me for a while. I am on late shift and will be for the forseeable future. Unfortunately, this means that I can't make any practice sessions so you will have to count me out for the time being. The way it's looking at the moment, you might not see me again untill February but rest assured, I will return.

Donna

Vulcana Visits Again!

Hi Everyone! It's been great to hear the buzz surrounding the collaboration with Vulcana Women's Circus coming from within the samba school! I'm excited that so many of you are enthusiastic about the 'Uncharted' project.

Super news!

Celia will be returning this Thursday (4th October) to hear some more swingin' samba but also with ideas for our involvement. She is as keen as we are to get this show on the road (so to speak) and to start building an "opening piece."

Once again, please be on time for rehearsal (7pm)