Reality Checks: Samba Parade
Sometimes life takes you in extrodinay directions. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be sitting at a sewing machine making Samba costumes for a Samba Parade above the Arctic Circle in Norway.
I am currently production managing the world’s most northern Samba Parade. This year we have incorporated many Brazilian parade traditions like the Queen of the Drums, Samba dancing and an original Samba music theme. The parade begins with crown and instrument making workshops, then Samba rhythm tuition, the procession will march through the city streets and end with a showcase of Latin flavour in the city’s biggest shopping centre. It’s a fantastic spectical experiencing a Samba parade in the middle of a Norwegian Winter. The festival director is hoping for snow as an exotic addition but I’m so enthusiastic. (I’m sure all the snow will stick to all my feathered costumes!)
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I’m so glad you are using your talent in dance even as you live far from your native land. Maybe the Arctic Circle needs a little of L-Jay’s brand of dancing to shake things up; lol.
Makes me really happy! I ambrazilian myself and know there are many, many of us there in Tromsø. When is that Parade happening? Would love to see!
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from L-Jay:
You can see the No Siesta Fiesta program here:
http://www.nosiestafiesta.no/program
The parade is on the Saturday 13th – activities start at 11.00 with crown and instrument making workshops for the kids.
Would love to see you there! (I’ll be the girl running the show
)
Hi L-Jay! We are a Venezuelan couple that arrived to Tromso the last week. We are going to live here about 4 years… We saw you in the Samaba parade! We were in a shop,and my son heard the drums and said: Mami… yo quiero ver el san Benito!!! I want to see El San Benito!!!! He was very happy!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=Z8njH_zb2XM&feature=related
And, on the other hand… I would like to ask you if it is possible to find powder milk here!!!
Thanks a lot!!!
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from L-Jay:
Heya – it’s great you got to see the parade. And welcome to Tromsø!
They don’t really have powdered milk here in Norway in the shops, except formula for babies. You might be able to get some from speciality stores where you’d buy food for camping. Powdered milk is called ‘tørrmelk’ in Norwegian.
Hi L-Jay! I LOVED your website and I was amazed to see that a samba parade went on there!
I’m a Brazilian looking for a way to learn Norwegian and got here through the podcast
Thank you for bringing this wonderful resource!