Brazil is hot! The economy is booming, the music scene is exploding, football is thriving, and the new world and the classical roots mix better than the caipirinha. Brazil is a challenge: expanding cities, exploited rainforests, a growing middle class, and huge differences between rich and poor. In short, a society embroiled in an exciting process of change.
'Vamos Brasil!' is an invitation to zoom in, to focus your image more precisely, to address the myths. The deconstruction of a samba girl, the soul of football, the bustling life in the favelas, the sentiment of the bossa nova. 'Encontro' is the motto of Europalia Brazil, as well as of this two-day event. Musicians from Brazil will set up projects with bands from here. DeSingel will be transformed into a Brazilian party palace for body and mind. Writers, musicians, economists, journalists and anthropologists will form the mainstay of two nights of debates and concerts, lectures and performances. A dialogue on development, history and poetry.
MUSIC
Tom Ze is a living legend. In his work avant-garde, dada, roots and a cheerful passion for handicraft flourish to the rhythms of samba and bossa. For forty years he has been a thorn in the flesh, a tireless artist and unstoppable critic.
DAAU v. Fernando Sardo & GEM is an 'Encontro' cooked up in the deSingel Music Studio.
Chico Correa is artist-in-residence. His specialty: diabolical DJ sets in a combination with live musicians. He has created several new projects for 'Vamos Brasil!'.
LITERATURE
Ricardo Domeneck is a poet, VJ, DJ, artist and editor of a leading Brazilian poetry magazine.
Lirinha is a musician and poet in addition to reciting for 'Literatura Cordel'.
MV Bill is a rapper with powerful and socially engaged lyrics.
Arnaldo Antunes is a poet and legendary singer in Brazil.
Paulo Lins is the author of 'Cidade de Deus'.
Lourenço Mutarelli is a writer and cartoonist.
David Reybrouck has shifted his activities from Congo to Brazil for the occasion and will be writing a piece for the event.
PERFORMANCE
Choreographer Maria Clara Villa Lobos has a history with Villanella. She creates work that is an ingenious blend of art and kitsch, with playful angles and a very personal approach to movement material.
Luanda Casella is a writer and actress, and prefers to combine her two disciplines to the accompaniment of music.