Tucson, Arizona
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| September 8-12 | Tucson, Arizona |
History |
Brazilian Week was conceived in October of 2007 by Bill Martinez, a respected Tucson musician, Roberto Guariglia, owner of Contemporânea in São Paulo (Brazil), and Dr. Carolina Ibáñez-Murphy, Faculty of the World Languages Department at Pima Community College (PCC). While in São Paulo, these friends started to work with the idea of promoting a Brazilian Week in Tucson.
Left to right: Roberto Guariglia, Dr. Ibáñez-Murphy, and Bill Martinez The first Brazilian Week was taken place in 2008. The event was kicked off by Mayor Bob Walkup, who proclaimed the first week of September as "Semana Brasileira".
Left to right: Bill Martinez, Ari Colares, Mayor Walkup, Dr. Ibáñez-Murphy, Linus Lerne, and Sandra Klinger
Brazilian Week 2008 featured Brazilian percussionist Ari Colares dos Santos, who gave percussion workshops to students at the U of A and Pima Community College as well as to local children, and had a special participation in the Brazilian Independence Carnaval along with Sambalanço.
The Brazilian Film Festival was represented by Empress of Carnival, The Year My Parents Went on Vacation, Favela Rising, and Behind the Sun at Pima Community College, Downtown and Northwest Campuses.
The Brazilian Showcase held at the UofA featured Guilherme Vincens (classical guitar), Gabriel Navia (violão erudito), Oxente (forró), Toa Toa (Brazilian rock), Westside Combo (bossa-nova), Capoeira Malandragem, Reveille Men’s Chorus (Xangô and Mulatê do Bundê), and Barbea Williams Performing Company (frevo and samba de roda).
Saravá played bossa-nova at a local restaurant.
For those interested in learning how to dance samba, Bardo Padilla led samba workshops at Pima College, Downtown and Northwest Campuses.
The Brazilian Arts and Crafts Exhibit took place at the U of A’s Main Library and Pima Community College Downtown Campus. On display were more than 85 beautiful pieces representing the Brazilian culture.
The following participating restaurants served Brazilian food: Candela's, Fiorito's, Rio Cafe, and Caffé Milano.
Brazilian Week 2008 was sponsored by Assistech and Contemporânea, with logistic support from the Tucson Mayor's Office, Pima Community College, the Cultural Exchange Council of Tucson, Hotel Congress, and the Brazilian Community of Tucson.
