Tuesday, February 18, 2014

New Orleans, Rio or the Gaslamp?


So you want to live it up for Brazil’s annual Carnaval, but don’t have enough moolah to fly down to Rio? Maybe not even enough to take a bus down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras?
Not to worry! Just get your Carnaval duds out of the closet and head to the Gaslamp area of beautiful, downtown San Diego on Saturday, March 1.
There you can dance the night away from 8:30 pm until the early hours of Sunday, all the while enjoying the animating Brazilian rhythms while gaping at the sexy, stunning samba dancers who make Carnaval one of the most exciting celebrations known to mankind.
This year the big show—which will also feature nonstop Brazilian music, capoeira perforances and a batucada style parade around the dance floor—will be held at the Fuse Club, a nightclub located at 379 4th Avenue. The admission is $25, a lot less than the cost of Flying Down to Rio.
So you’re asking yourself, “What the heck is capoeira and batucada?”
Well, capoeira is a combination of martial arts, dance and acrobatics. The dancers use quick, complex moves to attack their “enemy,” that is, each other. But it’s really more of a dance—all to the rhythm of the berimbau, a single-string percussion instrument. Rather than me trying to explain it, you’d better just go there and find out for yourself!
What about batucada? Now that is a Brazilian style of percussion with a heavy African influence. It is performed by an ensemble and is known by its repetitive style and fast pace. Check it out on this youtube site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWDIsmM8Iyw
Put it all together and you have New Orleans' and Brazil’s great pre-lenten celebration before the tough days of Lent begin. Of course, It’s quite a bit flashier in New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, where the festivities last from the Saturday before Ash Wednesday until Ash Wednesday itself.
But Carnaval/Mardi Gras in San Diego is almost as much fun, so get on down to the Gaslamp,  feast your eyes on those lovely Brazilian Samba Queens and dance up a storm! 
For more information, visit this website: http://www.brazilcarnival.com/


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