Many thanks!

Many thanks to all that played at a rather hot afternoon yesterday in SunCorp stadium. Thanks very much for your understanding, we now have seen with our own eyes what a mess the floods caused within the stadium. I hope that we soon have a real dressing room again - with airco!

I assume next time we won't have to be there that far in advance as we won't have to rehearse the 'north-south' thing. Also, I will ask if we can a bit more rhythms instead of just 'we-are-red', although I really start to like the variation that we developed throughout the second half.

So thank you!

Update: I received a phone call late this afternoon from the organisation, with sincere apologies for the problems we experienced with drinking water. We weren't the only ones that didn't get the water, it looks like only the players on the field were looked after. They have promised this won't happen again. They also told me they were very happy with what we did. And they agreed next time more rhythms, and less 'we are red'!

Idea for a red chant twist on maracatu

After the Maracatu break L R L R L R R L R just play the first beat of each phrase and shout WE ARE RED!

So instead of this:
|.......|.......|.......|.......|.......
R...LRLRR...LRLRR...LRLRL.R.L.R.LR.R.L.R

Play this:
|.......|.......|.......|.......|.......
R.......R.......R.......L.R.L.R.LR.R.L.R
WE......ARE.....RED

The nice thing is that the WE ARE RED is stadium slow

Details for Sunday's Reds game (20 Feb)

Last minute updates:

• Meet no later than 2pm (preferably 1.45pm already) at the NORTHERN car entrance at Castlemaine street. Until now we always met at the SOUTHERN entrance but this has changed due to floods.
• It's going to be hot. So, sunscreen and a hat would be a good idea. Also forget about jeans, shorts sounds much better in this weather!
• If you have a Reds top, please wear it.

SunCorp stadium inside is still very much a mess as a result of the floods so everything is a bit slower this time.

Players for Sunday:

Team NORTH
Denis - Caixa
Josh - repinique
Brian - 2nd surdo
Elwin - 3rd surdo
Florian - shaker
Paul Dennis - alfaia

Team SOUTH
Paul Caplat - Caixa
Byron - 2nd surdo
Gail - 3rd surdo
Darren - 1st surdo
Florent - shaker
Miki - Shaker


Remko - repinique

Peter

We will play:

• before the game on the South plaza. 1 hour with breaks
• When the team runs onto the field. This will be a special performance, where we'll have two teams, one on the north and one on the south side. We'll rehearse this  on Sunday before the game in the stadium. Listen to it here.
• During the game, on level 5 in our own section. We will play on the side where the Reds run to, switching at half time. We will call the "WE ARE RED" chant. Listen to it here (not sure who was playing agogo ...).

If you have a Reds shirt, please bring on the day. If you don't have one you'll be given one.

Timing:

• 1.45pm-2pm - be at SunCorp Stadium (northern car entrance on Castlemaine street). You will all get a headset for the special 'north - south' feature, this will take some time so please be on time.
• 2.15pm - Rehearsal starts (on level 5). The arrangement I made takes 1 minute but we may have to do this a few times to get it right. I was happy with the rehearsal on Thursday!
• 3.15pm - start playing outside (timing to be confirmed)
• Move inside and set up both on North and South side
• Kick off: 4.40pm
• Play during game when cued. 
• At half time we switch sides
• Finish about 6.10pm

I do realise that's a lot of time. I have already negotiated on this to minimise the time, however two factors are at play:

• Flooding at Suncorp - lots of uncertainty re parking etc, still to be resolved, so let's play it safe
• We have to rehearse the special 'north-south' arrangement. 

For the next game it will all be much less time consuming. I appreciate your cooperation this time (as always).

Finally:

• sorry - I have no guest tickets. Rugby games are a lot more popular than Roar games and they try to sell every last ticket.
• sorry - no parking available, due to flood damage. Not even for me it looks like...
• Make sure you bring sunscreen and a hat for outside

Cheers

Remko

Facebook page for Samba School

For those of you that are on Facebook, there's now a Brisbane Samba School page. If you 'like' this page, you'll get noted of important messages. I intend to put a message there whenever a new important message appears on the blog.

For clarity, the blog will remain the main source of communication. Facebook just will give you the extra alert when something important has been posted.

I appreciate it if you all 'like' that page (you should have received a suggestion - let me know if not). If over 25 people 'like' it Facebook will enable some extra handy features.

And ... tell your friends that might be interested too!

Oficina de Maracatu with Walter Franca

02:35 Late for rehearsal, the kid is under pressure from the maestro, Walter . A great performance from the kids.

Workshop for primary school children with Walter Franca - Maracatu school Estrela Brilhante, Recife.

Thanks & well done!

To those who played today, well done! I'm very proud of you. Not just because you nailed the maracatu rhythms (thanks to Paul Denis), also because of your stamina in the blistering heat! Great stuff!

Thank you
Remko

Reds Fan Day

OK, so tomorrow we'll play during the REDs fan day! I haven't received the details about where I can park the trailer yet, but you can all park wherever they get the fans to park - huge parking facilities. I guess follow the signs.

What: St.George Reds Fan Day
When: Saturday, February 12 from 11am-1pm
Where: Ballymore - 231 Butterfield St.  Entrance off Clyde Road

Schedule
10:15am Remko arrives & parks trailer
10:30am samba school arrives
10:50 ready to play at the entrance
11:00 - 11:20 we'll play at the entrance where fans enter
11:20 - 11:55 we'll do some roaming (and we'll have a break or two)
11:55 - 12:20 break for us while other things are going on
12:20 - 1:00 some more roaming

We'll be given red shirts, please wear jeans if you can.

The following people have confirmed (there may be more, I forgot to save my list...):

Remko

Josh

Patty

Miki

Peter

Brian

Paul C

Leesa

Siobhann

Gail

See you then!
Remko

Samba d'Amour by Paul Mindy

Paul Mindy, great pandeiro player with a nice small group:


Samba
Uploaded by kaiijin. - Explore more music videos.

No Roar game tomorrow

Unfortunately we won't be playing during the Roar game tomorrow - due to the floods certain sections of the stadium are still not usable so they had to rearrange things and it became too hard.

HOWEVER - I do have plenty of tickets for the game. Please call me if you like a few!

REDS Fan Day this Saturday 12 February

We have been asked to perform during the REDS Fan Day this Saturday 12 February, as a precursor to our involvement during the 8 home games this season. We might also do a try out of a routine I thought of that we'll be doing at the start of each game.

Where: Ballymore stadium
When: Sat 12 Feb 10:30am - 1:00pm
General parking available

We'd play several sessions between 11:00am and 11:55am, then have a break (sausage sizzle! Jumping castle!) and play again between 12:20pm and 1:00pm

Could you please let me know if you can play that day - much appreciated.

ALSO - Could EVERYONE let me know asap if you still have a Reds shirt / bandana, and bring this (preferably washed) on Thursday?

Hi Sambistas & Brazilian Music Enthusiasts,

Details attached and below for a Brazilian music session hitting town this Friday night!
Get down if you can!

For those that missed last years' heavy xmas session,
it's your chance again to get down to some true school Brazilian flavours,
for the first QUE SAUDADE edition of 2011!!!

Friday 11th February

Malagueta+Hello Australia+Cutucada apresenta

'o verdadeiro espirito brasileiro'
QUE SAUDADE!
Dance floor sounds from the colourful streets of Brazil.

samba . gafieira . samba rock . pagode . forro music & dancing all night long!

feat
MALAGUETA (Live samba, pagode & forro group)
Djs Pepe Sol & Paprika spinning authentic brazilian beats (samba, gafieira, samba rock, forro, brazilian soul)

Intro Dance class with Angelo Salgado & Groove Brazil dance studio. 9pm-10pm

9pm-3am. Brazilian beer, Cocktails & Comidas de Boteco (freshly cooked Brazilian bar snacks!)
entry:$5 before 10pm - $10 after

Continuing the 2nd Friday of every month!

Casablanca Cellar bar
cnr Petrie trc & Caxton st Paddington
(2 min walk from Roma st Station/10 min walk from Queen st Mall)

* Listen to Que Saudade Vol1 mix by DJ's Pepe Sol & Paprika here (a rare selection of Brazilian beats & pieces for your ears)

www.malagueta.com.au
www.myspace.com/malagueta10
www.groovebrazil.com.au
www.helloaustralia.com.br
find Malagueta & Que Saudade on FACEBOOK

Denis goes shopping

Vou vadiar carnaval

That was great last night - I'm sure we can nail it for the Rugby games - good playing.

Vou vadiar carnaval

(tempo = 80, rhythm = Baque martelo)

(Lead) Eu vou pra Olinda brincar

(Chorus) vou vadiar carnaval

Heads up: Reds games

We have been asked again to drum up support during the 8 Reds games this season. It's going to be bigger and better than last year, with our own sections in the stadium well away from the audience, so no more issues there. We also will do a 'grand opening' each game, on level 5. More about all that later.

I'd like to start checking who is available for these dates please, they want about 15 drummers each time. The dates are:

1. Sunday 20 February Western Force 4:40pm
2. Friday 18 March Melbourne Rebels 7:40pm
3. Saturday 26 March Cheetahs (SA) 2:40pm
4. Saturday 16 April Bulls 7:40pm
5. Saturday 23 April NSW Waratahs 7:40pm
6. Friday 13 May Blues 7:40pm
7. Sunday 29 May Crusaders 4:10pm
8. Saturday 4 June Brumbies 7:40pm

I would really appreciate it if you all could drop me an email with your intentions and constraints, in other words if you'd like to play and also if you've got any holidays etc. booked.

There will also be a rehearsal at Ballymore stadium on Saturday afternoon 12 February - more about that later too.

We will incorporate some Maracatu into all this too!

Cheers

Remko

Samba costume stolen!

It looks like someone has stolen our first pink & green samba costume!!!

Gianne's birthday

As Gianne said on Thursday, she's celebrating her birthday on Sunday. Details below. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it myself but I hope some of you will go and have a good time.

So Sunday is my birthday and would be my best present if you guys showed up to make some noise! We could do a big roda de samba, have some barbecue and maybe try some wakeboarding!
Let me know!

Here are the details:

Gianne Abbott's Birthday!
Sunday 23rd of February from 1 pm.
Brazilian Barbecue at the Logan Cable Park, 80 Ferry Road, Carbrook - 32877777
And if you want to wakeboard you will get 50% of descount!
Prices: $15 - 1 hour
           $20 - 2 hours
           $25 - 4 hours
           $30 - all day
This are the half price rates!
You can bring your own soft drinks but no alcohol sorry. You can buy alcoholic drinks in the Cable Park's bar and drink in a restricted area.
Bring you camping chairs and your great spirit!
I hope to see you Sunday!
xo

Gianne Abbott

Roar games and class fees

Because of the flooding in Suncorp stadium, Roar games will temporarily move to Skilled stadium in Robina, Gold Coast, and they won't require us there. This means I won't be able to fund the Thursday night classes through the Roar games for the time being, so from next week Thursday 27 January I will have to reinstate the $10 class fee (or $40 for 5 vouchers).

Sorry about that. The Polish Club has also increased their fees, and as you may know I am now without a day job for the time being as well, so unfortunately I see no other option.

Once the Roar games resume, including the finals series which hopefully get hosted partly in Suncorp stadium, we go back to free classes. And following that, we should have 8 Reds games as well. More about that later.

If anyone is unable to pay the $10 please talk to me and we'll sort something out.

Thank you
Remko

Samba resumes this Thursday 20 January!

Good news, the Polish Club didn't get flooded and they restored power today as well, so we can have a much needed rehearsal again this Thursday.

Now, it's going to be a bit weird in the current situation. I just spoke with Gail, and she thinks we should indeed resume samba asap. Firstly at night there's nothing to do at her house anyway, secondly people need to pick up their usual routines again as life goes on.

Gail suggested to make it a little bit special as well, to celebrate the enormous help she has received from pretty much the whole samba school. She thought maybe everyone can 'bring a plate', and we'll catch up with each other as well as getting back into samba and pagode.

I think that's a great idea. What do you think? I hope to see you there!

'Back On Her Feet' care package for Gail

Morning All,

Can anyone who is interested in contributing to a care package to help Gail get 'Back On Her Feet' after the flood please contact me here:  claire.petersen@brisamba.com . The list of specific items is still being compiled and I will contact everyone interested in the near future with further details.  This will need to be a highly coordinated effort, so please let me know if you have anything in particular you really want to contribute.

Thanks in advance,
Claire 

Thank you thank you thank you

Can I just thank everyone very much who contributed to the cleanup of Gail's house (aerial picture taken during the flood)  today, of course also on behalf of Gail herself. I could not believe how many people were working at the same time, even people that don't even know Gail but as volunteers were just being assigned to a random house.

It all made a big difference. This is a picture close to the end of the day, when most people were gone already.

(yes that is Gail drinking a beer!!!)

Besides the people that turned up, Miki, Maria, Mike & Sarah also left messages on my phone during the day. Sorry I didn't get back to you - I simply was too obsessed with clearing mud to think about my phone. Rest assured there will be other opportunities to help - today was just a start.

I will post details on how everyone can help in the days/weeks to come, in consultation with Gail.

Thanks all again!
Remko