Danças – Bahia

Samba – Is the best known dance of Brazil. It has Angolan-Congolese origens and thus a strong beat similar to those found in the African Nations. Today it can be found in its most primitive form im Bahia and in the side shacks of Rio de Janeiro or in its most spectacular forms in the famous Samba Schools of Rio.

Lundú – Comes from the lower class. The costumes and beat which are from the African slaves were passed to the Spanish and Portuguese nobility. The Lundú was the first dance to be accepted by the whites.

Congada – Is a dramatic dance emerging from the coronation of the Negro kings which the slaves held periodically during the multi-secular fight between the Christians and the infidel Moors (Blue was used to identify the Christians and red to identify the Moors). It was used by the Jesuit priests for religious conversion. Within the dance we find many elements of the problem of the resurrection (present in every traditional civilazation).

Capoeira – Is a dance/fight of great plastic beauty. It is used to be employed as a means of self defense and revenge by the oppressed slaves, today it is accepted and practiced in all Brazil. Berimbau it’s a percussion instrument, essential to beat the rhythm of the “capoeira”- the dance/fight of self defense.

Samba de roda – A popular Brazilian dance of African origin, in which the participants formed into a ring, singing and playing percussion instruments, and a soloist dances in the center of the circle; it’s a characterized as a rural samba and similar to the fandango (dance of Iberian origin).

Maracatú – Is a Royal procession, half religious, half profane. The principal figure is the Lady of the Court who carries a blacks doll (Kalunga), who represents the king of the sea “Kalunga” to the Angolan-Congolese. This doll is passed hand by hand giving a religious character to the soloist dances. There is the presnece of a King and a Queen, Embassadors and Bahia dancers. The “Senaladores” with their torchers open the paths of the Royal Procession.

Bumba meu Boi – Is a popular dance practiced throughout Brazil which presents elemnts of primitive civilization: Animals that dance the resurrection of the bull. The plot, through various dance scenes, concerns the killing and prompt resuscitation of the bull.

Puxada de Rede na Bahia – Bahia is a land where fishing is one of the most important means of making a living. It is where the fisherman throw their nets into the sea and pray to Iemanjá (Goddess of the waters) asking for protection, a good catch and a happy year.

Canbomblé – African religion introduced in Brazil by the frican folks “jê” ou “euê” and “nagô” or “iorubano”, based on a cosmogony system wherein each divinity or “orixá” governs one of the nature forces or elements.

Ogum – God of war who teads the way and despatchs. EXU. He has much prestige in the Afro-Brazilian cults. He is associated with Saint Anthony and Saint George.

Iansã – Gooddess of storms, fire and lightning. Woman who sends out the spirits of the dead. She is associated with Saint Barbara, Saint Rit and Joan of Arc.

Oçaim – One of the three orixás of medicine and helath, jointly with Ajá and Ajê-Xalunga. He is also called Orixanim or Oxambim.

Oxóssi – Orixá who protects the hunters and their huntings, identified with Saint George, Saint Onofre or Saint Sebastian, depending on the geografic region of Brazil.

Cablocos – Belong to the American Indian mythology in opposition to the African Saints. Betrayed by the Negros, the cablocos (Indian and begro mixed ancestry) , showed the force and tenacity if the Brazilian People. Embodied in the mediums they bring comfort to the hopeless and cure the sick, praying for those who have no Faith.

Iemanjá – Mother of Ogún and Exú. She is the universal mother. The fulfilled, beautiful, loving, lover and protector of the fisherman. She is many times associated with our Mother of the Glory and Our Mother of the Conception.

Xangô – God of fire and thunder that rercals as a conqueror warrior and is associated with Saint Jeronimo or Saint João Batista.

Oxalá – The greatest of the orixás, that represents the productive force of the nature. The world creation is attributed to him.

Carnival – Originally was a feast of the primitive civilization. The presnte day Carnival is much more recent and comes from the period of the war against Paraguay and is a continuation of the Shrovetide. It is na urban party that is held in Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Recife, internationally known for its color, beauty and joy.