DANCESTRAL
Rhythms of Reverence
This Evening’s Program
We Build Community With Music And Dance
SAMBA FOGO IS:
Lorin Hansen: Artistic Director
Mason Aeschbacher: Musical Director, Composer
George Edgar Brown: Composer, Vocalist, Guitarist
Solange Gomes: Lead Vocalist
GUEST ARTISTS:
Marivaldo Dos Santos
Rosangela Silvestre
Weskley Faustino
DANCERS:
Natalia Andres
Monica Aquino
Tamara Cotour
Karla Galvan
Gabriella Figuccia Gourdin
Lorin Hansen
Dane Hess
Karinna Huidobro-Waddoups
Dawn Levingston
Caleb Mathis
Mallorie Mendoza
Chantelle Murakami
Gabriella Nascimento
Mary Laura Newman
Lennie Swenson
Lauren Cheree Wightman
Mandy Williams
DRUMMERS:
Jade Avery (Drums, Vocals)
Tyler Chen (Drums, Vibraphone)
Basil Harb
Patrick Mac (Drums, Vibraphone, Marimba)
Andy Medeiros (Drums, Vocals, Bass, Guitar)
Kira Medeiros
Meadow Ramires
ORCHESTRA:
Danae Shin - Viola
Jordan Hess - Violin
Julia Furro - Cello
Drew - Electric Bass
Gillian Golamundi - Trumpet
Drea Julette - Saxophone
Patrick Buie - Trombone
Filipe Johnson - Guitar
CREW:
Jeff Gwilliam - Lighting Designer, Production Manager
Daniel Maland - Sound Engineer
Phonsavanh Banphraxay - Fire Safety Head
Christopher Edgar - Fire Safety
Alex Dikwa Nkrumah - Stage Manager
Chris Gould - Stage Manager
Josh Samson - Filming & Livestream
Upcoming Events
A NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Over the past several weeks as we have been preparing this show, I have watched my community come alive. We have pushed ourselves to bring you something special tonight. In our show preparations, we have had many great conversations as a community about our ancestors, our dancestors, and our relationship with feathers, birds, the sacred, and the unknown.
Samba is a dance and music lineage that teaches us to respect ourselves, to honor those who came before us, and to acknowledge that we are all connected. When we dance Samba, our feet speak with the Earth. We communicate with our ancestors and feel a deep sense of connection as we move in rhythm together. When we dance and play music together as a community, we have the power to transform pain into joy.
Tonight’s concert is about honoring the blood and artistic lineages we are fortunate to be a part of. Everywhere we place our feet to dance, we think of those who danced here before us, and we know that we never dance alone.
”We Dance On The Hands Of Our Ancestors”
-Rosangela Silvestre
As a white woman from Utah, I feel deeply grateful to have the lineage of Samba in my life, and to have strong black women leading and guiding me in my dance – those who walk before me, light my path, and guide my way. My “Dancestors.”
“In Order To Be Born, We Must Dance”
-Rosangela Silvestre
It is my hope that you share in our sense of joy, connection, and rooted lineage tonight. Welcome to Dancestral, I hope you enjoy the show.
We Are Dancing On Stolen Land
We honor and celebrate the Original People of this land.
Dancestors
Musical Improvisation by Mason Aeschbacher on Piano and Marivaldo Dos Santos on Lead Drum, followed by a musical composition / improvisation by Patrick Mac and vocalist Jade Avery
Featured Dancers: Lorin Hansen and Rosangela Silvestre
Featured Vocalist: Jade Avery
The “Malandro” is a cultural character in Brazil. The Malandro’s presence and mannerisms are rooted in Yoruba cosmology, embodied in a character named Exu (Eh-Shoo). In this cosmology, Exu is the owner of the crossroads - he opens or closes doors in our lives and is involved in our decisions. Exu is a playful and wily trickster, who uses his wits to skirt the law, as the law does not favor or protect him.
In Yoruba cosmology, one red feather on the forehead can symbolize our search for Axé (life force energy). The more Axé we have, the more powerful and gentle we become. Yoruba music, dance, language and cultural traditions were forcibly brought to Brazil under the vicissitudes of slavery. Many Brazilian Samba songs reference the Yoruba language and cosmology, which includes the pantheon of Orixá, nature spirits who guide us through life and are honored through music and dance. You will see many references to the Orixá tradition throughout tonight’s concert.
Iemanjá, Mãe Sereia
(Yemanja, Mother Mermaid)
Song: Iemanjá, Mãe Sereia
Composed by George Edgar Brown
In honor of the ancestral mother, the owner of the sea, the great lovingly powerful mother, Yemanja (Iemanjá / Yemoja / Yemaya) Orixá (Deity) who is honored and highly revered in Brazilian and Yoruba cosmology.
“In the depth of the sea, in the strong and beautiful waves. In high or low tide, the Mother Mermaid is present. Iemanjá. The queen of the sea.”
Tempo
Rhythm: Congo De Ouro
Featured Dancer: Rosangela Silvestre
Featured Drummer: Marivaldo Dos Santos
Inspired by the Orixá “Tempo,” the tree who keeps time.
Guerreiras Do Vento
(Female Wind Warriors)
Rhythm: Ilú
Featured dancer: Gabriella Nascimento
Inspired by the Orixá Oya, mother of nine, owner of the cemetery, traveller behind the vail. Oya is a fierce female warrior who acts boldly to create change.
Ignite
Rhythms: Acacaumbo, Aluja
Inspired by the Orixá Xangô, king of fire, and his wife and temptress, Oya.
Fire Dancers:
Dawn Levingston
Lennie Swenson
Gabriella Nascimento
Tamara Cotour
Lorin Hansen
A Semente Do Samba
(The Seed of Samba)
“The seed of Samba was planted on the hill. Watered by the tears of my ancestors, it sprouted, spreading its roots, bringing happiness in the nature of its cadence.”
Song composed by George Edgar Brown
Choreography by Lorin Hansen
Horn arrangement by George Edgar Brown
Adepto do Samba Sincopado
“I’m a fan of the sincopated samba. Brave, mischevious, samba that’s hard to bear.”
Song composed by Jorge Aragão
Choreography by featured dancers, Mandy Williams and Caleb Mathis
Caxanga Rosa
Song Composed by Caixa Preta
Choreography by Lorin Hansen, inspired by the Brasilian dance tradition of Jongo, where we pass good energy from one belly button to another.
Oxotocanxoxo
”When entering the forest, the forest shakes.”
Song Composed by Roberto Mendes
Choreography by Lorin Hansen
Musical Arrangement by Mason Aeschbacher
Featured Dancers: Rosangela Silvestre, Natalia Andres and Lauren Cheree Wightman
Inspired by the Orixá Oxossi, hunter with bow and arrow and protector of the forest.
Cadência Do Samba
(Cadence of Samba)
“I want to die in a drumbeat, in the beautiful cadence of Samba”
Song composed by Atualfo Alvez
Choreography by Lorin Hansen
Inspired by the Malandro, a cultural character in Brazil - he is the smooth criminal, the one with “Jeito” - a way of skirting rules and social norms. This choreography won unanimously at the 2019 International Samba Congress in LA.
Alma Livre (Free Soul)
Song composed by George Edgar Brown
Choreography by Lorin Hansen and the dancers
I’m the way that I am, I can’t deny it.
I can’t pretend so others are pleased.
I have everything I need to be happy.
I’m free the way I’ve always wanted to be.
Ei! Freedom don’t flee from me.
I’m on this path and I’ll follow it to the end.
Ei! There can be no shortage of freedom.
I feel at ease in any place.
I’m of a mixed race. I am Brazilian.
I’m from the good nature of the “atabaque” drum and the “pandeiro” tambourine
I’ve freed myself from the punishments of the overseer.
I’m also free from censorship and dictatorship.
My story is complex, I can’t lie.
But you can’t undervalue what I’ve suffered
My path is that of seeking happiness.
Without doubt my destiny is freedom.
Reclaim
Song: Your Sweater composed by Lorin Hansen and Mason Aeschbacher
Choregraphy by Lorin Hansen
This piece is inspired by the divine feminine. It speaks to reclaiming our divinity and re-igniting the sacred fire to restore balance between male and female forces in the world.
Fire Dancers:
Tamara Cotour
Dawn Levingston
Gabriella Nascimento
Karinna Huidobro-Waddoups
Mary Laura Newman
Lennie Swenson
Natalia Andres
Respeitar Meu Tamborim
(Respect My Tamborim)
Dance choreography and drum arrangement by Lorin Hansen.
Ancestral Mother
Choreographed by the featured dancer, Rosangela Silvestre.
Musical composition / improvisation by Tyler Chen and Patrick Mac
Samba “Fringe”
In the Summer of 2024, Samba Fogo dancer Gabriella Nascimento taught a 6-week “Samba Heels” course. This piece sprang fourth from that class series.
Song: Ze Do Caroço composed by Leci Brandão
Choreography by Gabriella Nascimento and Lorin Hansen
Full Lyrics Here
A culturally significant song, known for its strong message of resistance against anti-blackness and classism in Brazil.
Cabide
Samba de Gafieira
Song: Cabide by Mart’nalia
Choreography by the featured dancers, Weskley Faustino and Gabriella Nascimento
Full Lyrics Here
Batucada & Enredo
Our evening culminates in a celebration of culture, community, and collective joy, with our Samba Batucada choreography and drum arrangement by Alvaro Reys, Lorin Hansen, and Mason Aeschbacher, followed by our official group song, “Samba Fogo” written by George Edgar Brown.
“This flame that burns in my heart.
Calls me to the heat of Samba.
It’s the glow that makes the darkness part.
The light that clarifies my path.
It’s expression, it’s culture, it’s art.
It’s magic brought to us from Aruanda.
From black and white ashes.
From all suffering of yore.
A phoenix is born, flaming and resplendent.
A fire burning at the break of dawn.
It is Samba, it is Fire,
Samba Fogo captures the heart.
The fire catches and it is contagious.
It is happiness, it is euphoria, it is passion.
The fire sparkles, a wondrous marvel
Spreading the culture of Brazil.
All of our effort, our blood, tears and sweat,
all our labor meticulous and arduous,
is the glorious fuel that drives our Samba Fogo.
Say it again. It’s the culture of Brazil.
It is Samba, it is Fire,
Samba Fogo captures the heart.
The fire catches and it is contagious.
It is happiness, it is euphoria, it is passion.
Like a fever, Samba warms my body
A radiating heat fully consumes me.
It is Samba. It is Fire.
With much ardor I will exalt your name.
IT IS SAMBA FOGO.
It is Samba. It is Fire.
Samba Fogo captures the heart.
The fire catches. It is contagious.
It is happiness. It is euphoria. It is passion.
Sing With Us:
É o Samba. É o fogo.
O Samba Fogo arrebata o coração.
O fogo pega. É contagioso.
É alegria. É euforia. É paixão.
— Lyrics by George Edgar Brown
Samba at the University of Utah
University students and non-students alike can now learn about Samba at the University of Utah, through the Percussion Department at the School of Music. Our spring semester course is called Global Music Ensemble and it’s open to all levels, with drums provided. Sign up next Spring and come play some Batucada drums with us! The students in this course are performing two concerts coming up shortly, featuring compositions by Mason Aeschbacher that you do not want to miss.
April 7 at the Utah Arts Castle
April 8 at Libby Gardner Concert Hall, UofU Campus
We Thank Our Partners & Supporters:
SAMBA FOGO SEEKS
BOARD MEMBERS
Our 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charitable Organization is seeking new board members to join our team! If you are inspired by what you see tonight and you feel you have skills to contribute, please consider joining our Board of Directors.
Email Artistic Director Lorin Hansen at Lorin@sambafogo.com for more information.
SAMBA FOGO SEEKS
DRUMMERS
Do you know? We are an open-arms group who is always looking for more drummers! Many Baterias (drum groups) in Brazil have upwards of 300 drummers participating together! If you have experience with drumming and percussion, please reach out about ways to join our group! Drummers in the group accompany dance classes and perform at local events, after a bit of free training. If you don’t have previous experience with drumming or percussion, sign up for our next Drum Workshop, coming in June!