Capoeira in the first Brazilian Culture Day. Photo: Janaína Silveira

By Vera Penêda

Getting into the roda (circle) to dance samba and play capoeira with a Caipirinha in your glass is as close as you'll get to Brazil this summer in Beijing. Without a real beach within arm's reach, a Brazilian party series is slated to happen at 2Kolegas backyard every second Sunday of the month throughout July and August.

"The Brazilian Culture Day events will showcase the diversity of Brazilian culture," said Janaína Silveira, with Pau-Brasil, a non-profit Beijing based group comprised of 15 Brazilians, Chinese and foreigners that organize the parties.

Under the topic Junine Party (an annual Brazilian celebration held in June) the second edition of the Brazilian Culture Day will present Brazilian music and dance, a photo exhibition and traditional games. The Caipirinha is to be paired with chicken pastries, cheese bread, and hot dogs with Brazilian barbeque sausage.

The local percussion group Sambasia will set the Brazilian mood to the ratatat of berimbau and panderios (types of drums) while Capoeira Mandinga Beijing and Brazilian samba instructor Renata Secco will invite revelers to join the roda and try out the Brazilian martial art and dance. Fabão, a Beijing based guitarist, will play MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) in an intimate show and DJ Jana from Pau-Brasil will deliver a selection of music, rock and funk Brazilian songs.

Coinciding with the World Cup, there'll also be a football workshop for children. Photos on display are by Michael Ende, a German photographer who has lived more than 20 years in Brazil.

"I think Chinese people don't know much about Brazil beyond football," said Chinese Chris Jao, 23, who practices capoeira and plans to go to the party on Sunday. "I'm personally interested in Brazilian culture, but it'd be nice to see more promotion of samba, capoeira, maculelê (an Afro-Brazilian martial art derived from capoeira) or the Carnival," he said.

"The party was really nice," said Alessandra De Guio, 31, from Italy, who went to the first event in late May. "I jumped in for the samba, but there were activities for everybody, children, young people and adults could all have fun," she added.

"There were a lot of Brazilian people so it was easy to get into the Brazilian spirit," said Anibal Maillo, 27, from Spain. "But I wish they'd bring along musicians to perform live," he said.

About 250 people attended the first event. The next is scheduled for July 11 with plans to include live bossanova performances and video screenings.

Brazilian Culture Day

Sunday, June 13, 4 pm

2 Kolegas

Tickets: 50 yuan / 30 yuan (for students), the fee includes one caipirinha, one mineral water and two hot dogs

For more information and advance tickets, email paubrasil.beijing@hotmail.com

verapeneda@globaltimes.com.cn