Projects

Live Brazil

Live Brazil was a Brazilian arts and cultural festival held annually in New Zealand between 2008 and 2011.

Brazil & Aotearoa New Zealand

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Live Brazil poster and Afro Sambas performance. 2009.

Live Brazil was the first Brazilian arts and cultural festival in New Zealand. The festival gave Brazilian and New Zealand artists the chance to share their knowledge, by performing and creating new work together. The festival’s performances also connected the Brazilian community in New Zealand with their own culture.

Live Brazil started in 2008 and took place each year until 2011. Each festival included local Brazilian acts and visiting performers, who performed in venues around the country. Festivalgoers experienced Brazilian music, food, photography and dance through gigs, exhibitions, films and workshops.

Brazilian singer and songwriter Alda Rezende, who now lives in New Zealand, produced the first Live Brazil in 2008. Alda, and several of her long-time musical collaborators, performed in Auckland, Taupo and Wellington.

In its second year, the festival was opened in Wellington by Brazilian band Tambolelê, which went on to perform in Nelson, Queenstown and Tauranga. During the festival, Tambolelê ran workshops in Afro dance, music, singing and percussion. A group of local singers, musicians and dancers called Afro Sambas, led by Julie Bevan, also performed in 2009, alongside Bobby Brazuca, Brazealand, Clube do Choro, Funky Junk, Roda de Samba, Sambalada Funk, Wellington Batucada and Zirigidum.

In 2010, the festival was opened by Brazilian samba-rock band Marku Ribas, and three prominent Wellington musicians who performed choro (a Brazilian urban musical genre): Lucien Johnson, Patrick Bleakley and John Rae. Marku Ribas went on to perform in Auckland, Nelson and Queenstown.

In 2011, Live Brazil also toured Australia (Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney). The festival’s guest artist was acclaimed Brazilian drummer Esdra “Neném” Ferreira. Other performers included Lucien Johnson, Justin “Firefly” Clarke, Alexis French and Patrick Bleakley.

Live Brazil also supported a residency in Brazil for New Zealand musician Lucien Johnson. While in Brazil, Lucien performed at the Savassi Jazz festival, and recorded an album with local musicians. On his return to New Zealand, at Live Brazil in 2010, Lucien performed work inspired by his residency with New Zealand pianist Jonathan Crayford and Brazilian dancer Ana Paula Cançado. Ana dances with Brazil’s highly acclaimed dance company Grupo Corpo.

Live Brazil was funded by Música Minas, the Brazilian Ministério das Relações Exteriores and the Embassy of Brazil. It was supported by CREATIVA Design Studio, Creative Communities, Creative NZ Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, Leonardo Cunha Lima, Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant and Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.

Published 02 November 2023