Maracatu Voodooo Dance

Witch-doctor Brian trying to cure Maracatu possessed sambistas.

Doctor, doctor...

I need a maracatu fix. Gettin' twitchy, here. Haven't seen any swishy skirts or heard any shishy xeqeres in a long long time. How about it? :)

That was Amazing MkII

For more pictures, please try the link below:

Brisbane Roar Gig

That was AMAZING!!!

Congratulations to all of you for a VERY slick performance tonight. Before the game, in the stands, on the field, it all worked out beautifully. I sometimes have to remind myself that some of you have never played an instrument before. Congratulations!

Special congrats to Warren and Darren, they played surdo very well after only two classes. Well done guys!

Now, I also have some not so good news. Both Vitor and Martim are going back to Sao Paolo in the next couple of weeks, this was their last performance with us. Thank you guys for everything, you have inspired us very much in the past few months! Also, Peter is going to go to Germany for 6 months or so. Fortunately he'll be back after that!

Guys, again, well done for tonight, and thank you for helping me to make my dream possible!

Details for Saturday gig

I'll keep updating this post with details as they'll become available:

• Dress code: Roar shirt, white pants. Please no jeans/black pants. Our own white pants with the pink & green stripes are OK. I've got some spare ones if anyone needs them
• Be there: 5pm - at Inform car park opposite main vehicle entrance on Castlemaine Street
• Parking at the Inform carpark has been arranged for Erin, Denis, Claire, Lynne, Patty, Elwin and myself ONLY. We will get all instruments from the trailer, and won't have a dressing room. You can leave stuff in my car if you want.
• Guest tickets - I'll distribute those shortly after 5pm at the car park.
• The event is a big deal - TV all over the place. Please be on time and take the time to listen to instructions, we only have a few days to organise this.
• We'll play during the game, at half time, and most likely also before the game on both north and south plaza. During the game, we'll have our own section (for the whole samba school, not limited to 6 this time). We'll get assistance from 200 kids.
• Keep checking the blog for updates please

Here are some of the calls we'll do when in the stands:

• Crowd1
• Crowd2
• Crowd3
• Crowd4

This is the break we'll do once we're all gathered at the centre of the field.

And this is the grand final at the end of our half time performance.

Instruments

First Surdo: Mike, Will

Second Surdo: Brian, Darren

Third Surdo: Fernando, Martim, Artur, Warren

Caixa: Denis, Vitor, Jason, Peter

Shaker: Sarah, Gail, Lynne, Patty, Elwin, Zelia, Miki

Tamborim: Claire, Erin

Grouping for pre-match performances

Caxton Street side: Jason, Vitor, Claire, Gail, Fernando, Lynne, Will, Elwin, Miki, Darren, Warren

Milton Road side: Remko, Erin, Mike, Sarah, Denis, Brian, Patty, Peter, Martim, Artur, Zelia

Aisles/sectors for half time performance

339: Denis, Gail, Brian

340: Vitor, Miki, Darren

301: Fernando, Lynne

302: Patty, Martim

303: Artur, Zelia

304: Erin, Claire, Warren

308: Mike, Sarah, Peter

309: Jason, Elwin, Will

(refer to map for location)

Gig THIS SATURDAY - SunCorp stadium

As discussed on Thursday, we've got a special event at SunCorp stadium this Saturday 30 January. Brisbane Roar has made an announcement about a temporary coach for a couple of weeks. He happens to be Dutch, but has got roots in Surinam and Curacao, two places I lived when I was a child. His name is Patrick Kluivert.

I am currently discussing exactly what we'll do, but it will involve the whole samba school, playing on the plaza, in the crowd (looks like we'll get our own section) and on the field. Again, details to be confirmed.

Because of time constraints, I would appreciate it if you could let me know asap if you can be part of this - via email.

Kick off will be at 6pm, I think we'd need to be there 5pm.

UPDATE: well we will do something very special indeed! What do you think about a paradinha with REAL fireworks????!!!!!

Gig alert

I am currently discussing a few gigs, here are the details so far for your information:

• Sat 30 January 6pm - the last Roar game of the season. This is going to be a special one, and if all is going ahead we would have the whole samba school perform in a very, very special way, maybe supported by 400 kids. I would love to be able to do this with ALL of you. I have further details that I'll discuss tonight as I shouldn't put these on the Internet...
• Somewhere in June, we might play at the Eumundi markets, during a body painting festival, leading a parade of, well, painted people. Might result in some good pictures! And maybe we can paint Brian as well. It's a bit of a drive, but maybe we can make a day of it. I can only do this if enough people are interested in this - let me know. We could car pool, and maybe combine with a Noosa visit.

Happy new year - first rehearsal 2010

Everyone HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope you all had a great break and a nice Xmas. I have been pretty much isolated from the rest of the world down in Tassie, with no email and no mobile phone for weeks. Refreshing...

The first rehearsal for this year will be next week, Thursday 21 January. I know I said earlier we would start the 14th but we still have interstate guests and I am also busy with a few other things this week, so best to start relaxed the week after. I know most of you are keen to get going again so apologies for that, and see you next week!

Remko

Last Pictures of the Year

The pictures are a bit grainy. I've tried not to use the flash in order include the Christmas trees' lights that Remko has put them on specially for us !.

Last rehearsal for 2009

This Thursday 10 December is the last rehearsal for 2009. I propose we make it quite informal, with lots of pagode, time for socialising, and lots of fun.

If you want to bring some nibblies you're more than welcome!

I will also have a little present for everyone....

And, this Thursday's class will be free for everyone again.

I really hope to see all of you there, before we break for the holidays!

Well done everyone!

Flamengo e Samba

Details for Sunday's gig @ SunCorp

Hi all, here are the details for tomorrow's gig at SunCorp.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it due to prior commitments that I thought I could change but it turns out I can't. Jason has kindly agreed to step in and lead the bateria! Please help him out.

Dress code: white pants, Orange Roar shirt. For those who don't have a Roar shirt, there will be some extra ones available in the dressing room. Hang on to them for next time!

Everyone assemble at Inform (radio lollipop) car park, opposite the main boom gate at Castlemain Street. Please be there 5.45pm. You will receive tickets, wristbands and be lead into the stadium and to the dressing room. I will have parked the trailer at the carpark previously, please carry all instruments and bags inside to the dressing room.

We'll have a dressing room, and I've asked for a separate dressing room for the 3 dancers. Please set up, ready to go for half time at 6.45pm. I believe the first 7 minutes of half time will be commercials, but don't count on it - be ready on time!

The half time performance will last 7.30 minutes max, and will go as follows:

1. bateria walks out of centre tunnel (without playing), sets up in front of stage
2. Jason walks out of centre tunnel, playing paradinhas. Bateria responds (of course!)
3. Jason walks to front of stage as well (whilst playing paradinhas)
4. Samba for 2 minutes or so
5. Dancers come out of centre tunnel (walking with grace, but not dancing) then dance on top of stage
6. Optional: Jason enters stage and interacts (musically) with dancers
7. bateria + dancers + Jason walk back to centre tunnel while playing

So ONLY the dancers (and maybe Jason) will go on the stage!

Following the half time performance, I'd like to ask the following players to play in the Den with Jason (repinique): Elwin (2nd surdo), Mike (1st surdo), Fernando (3rd surdo), Gail (shaker), Vitor (caixa)

Everyone else, please take instruments back to dressing room. I will arrive into the stadium about 7.30pm with my car + trailer, and we will be able to load the instruments into there without going back to the lollipop carpark.

Carol & Michael's BBQ

Short notice - entirely my fault as I've been 100% flat out since Wednesday. Sorry!

Carol & Michael are organising a BBQ tomorrow Sunday 29 November at the Roma Street Parklands (where we had the Multicultural festival). It starts around 11am (yes, in time for lunch!).

BYO drinks & food.

Please RSVP (0431 320 754) by Thursday (sorry!). They will provide plates, knives etc.

I understand it will be next to the main stage but check with Carol to be sure.

Flamengo

Possible SunCorp gig this Sunday evening

As you are all aware, over the last few weeks we have been playing with a small number of people (different people each game) in the stands during Brisbane Roar games.

It has been tough as not everyone likes samba, and the people that don't like something typically are more vocal than the ones that do appreciate it. But we are making progress and this might become a regular thing, with better cooperation with the fans down the track.

This Sunday, they again want 6 drummers in the stands. But on top of that, we have been invited (all of us!) to perform at half time on the stage on the field for 7 minutes. We haven't formalised anything yet but I'm sure we'll get there. We also have been asked to provide dancers in costume.

So, this might be our last gig before we break for Xmas, and it would be a great way of showing what we are capable of.

We'll discuss this further tomorrow during the rehearsal! Hope to see you there!

Denis' Party

Posting on behalf of Denis,

To all sambistas,

Denis is putting up a party for us all to celebrate Remko's new trailer mkII.

When: Saturday, December 5th @ 7:00 pm

Where: 14 Eckersley Street , TARRAGINDI

B.Y.O. drinks and musical instrument .
.

Merry melee this Sat

Hey sambistas,
Join the merry melee at 51 Burlington St, East Brisbane (5 min from Mowbray Park ferry stop) from 3pm this Saturday, 21st Nov. Bring an instrument if you feel the itch! Partners and kids welcome (we have a house full of things for kids to bash/juggle/watch/dance to). Food and non-alc drinks provided, additions welcomed.
Hope to see you there!
Will

Tonight's rehearsal

I particularly enjoyed tonight's rehearsal! Thank you all who were there, you were magnificent!

Christmas break

It's that time of the year again where people think less about Samba and more about Xmas presents. So, to allow you to plan your shopping trips, here's the holiday schedule:

• Last rehearsal 2009: Thursday 10 December
• First rehearsal 2010: Thursday 17 January

Don't worry, I'll give you homework to do for the period in between :-)

I hope to see as many as you as possible during the next 5 weeks - we have made some significant progress this year however we could do more and make it even more interesting if everyone attended every class each time.

By the way, why is it that the moment there is any sign of the slightest bit of rain, people don't come to samba rehearsal? Let me know your theory by commenting to this post (Brian is only allowed one comment!!!)