The Seed Of Samba
This Evening’s Program
Note from the Artistic Director:
Twenty years ago, I swallowed a seed… this seed grew roots through my feet, and a crown in my head. It grew a strong center within me, and branches for me to drum and dance with. For twenty years, this seed and I have grown together. This is the Seed of Samba. Today, I stand tall in a forest of others who are passionate about Samba. Our forest is nourished by a broad fungal network of teachers, master artists, and deeply-rooted guides. I believe trees are our elders, plants are our teachers, and I believe dance and music can heal and restore. I hope you enjoy tonight’s journey into the forest, to find and share
The Seed Of Samba.
We Build Community With Music And Dance
SAMBA FOGO IS:
Lorin Hansen: Artistic Director
Mason Aeschbacher: Musical Director
George Edgar Brown: Composer, Singer / Songwriter, Guitar, Cavaquinho, Guitarra Bahiana
Solange Gomes: Lead Vocalist
Julia Rivera: Drums and Vocals
DANCERS:
Mallory Howard
Natalia Andres
Gabriella Nascimento
Missy Stone
Dawn Levingston
Clare Tobin
Mary Laura Newman
Camille Haroldsen
Tamara Cotour
Mallorie Mendoza
Michelle White
Claudia Olson
Karla Galvan
Mônica Aquino
Marcelo Gomes
Chaska Lance
Lorin Hansen
Noel Wetzel-Howell
DRUMMERS:
Andre Rammi
Ryan Metzger
Patrick McEachern
Scott Stone
Leo Thomaz
Jade Avery
Julia Rivera
Tyler Chen
Noah Waldman
Jason Chynoweth
Mallory Howard
Mason Aeschbacher
ORCHESTRA:
Danae Snow - Viola
Jordan Hess - Violin
Brian Salisbury - Violin
Alex Call - Cello
Dante Clavere - Electric & Upright Bass
John Olshinski - Trumpet
Spencer Kellogg - Saxaphone
Chloe Potter - Trombone
Felipe Johnson - Guitar
CREW:
Jeff Gwilliam - Lighting Designer, Production Manager
Daniel Maland - Sound Engineer
Phonsavanh Banphraxay - Fire Safety Head
Adriane Colvin - Fire Safety
Christopher Edgar - Fire Safety
Bella Dixon - Stage Manager
Anna Birch - Stage Manager
A Semente Do Samba
(The Seed Of Samba)
Lyrics and Composition by George Edgar Brown
Arrangement by George Edgar Brown and Mason Aeschbacher
“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.
On the hill this imperial sprout came to life.
Cultivated by a people without much money.
Its radicles propagate
Covering the city
Forming the foundation for our Carnaval.
Fertilized by a people brought over in cowardice,
The seed with origins in Luanda that came from Bahia.
Germinated in the yolk of the marvelous city
Bringing tremendous happiness to its people.”
-Lyrics by George Edgar Brown
Four Sisters
Song: “Eleggua”
Arranged by Lorin Hansen and Mason Aeschbacher
Earth
Rhythm: Barravento
Dance Soloist: Mallory Howard
Water
Song: É D’Oxum by Gerônimo Santana
Dance Soloist: Missy Stone
Violin Soloist: Brian Salisbury
“In this city everyone is “of Oxum.” Man, boy, girl, woman. All these people radiate magic
Gift in fresh water, gift in salt water. And the whole city shines
Be a lieutenant or a fisherman's son, or important judge
If you give a gift, it's all one thing. The force that lives in the water does not distinguish color
And the whole city is d'Oxum. It's from Oxum
I will sail. I will sail on the waves of the sea”
Air
Rhythm: Ilú
Dance Soloist: Natalia Andres
Saxaphone Soloist: Spencer Kellogg
Fire
Rhythm: Alujá
Dance Soloist: Lorin Hansen
Grow
Drum arrangement and choreography by our dear teacher, Dandha Da Hora.
Utilizing a mix of rhythms of Northeastern Brazil, including Maracatú, Seis-Oito, Ilú and Samba Afro. Movement inspired by the Orixá Oya, a strong female force who is sometimes represented by the Buffalo.
Malandragem
Songs:
“Malandro” written by Jorge Aragão da Cruz and João Batista De Alcantara
“Homenagem Ao Malandro” written by Chico Buarque.
Both songs speak about the Malandro, a cultural character in Brazil - he is the smooth criminal, the one with “Jeito” - a way of slyly skirting rules and social norms. This choreography by Lorin Hansen takes inspiration from a particular Malandro, Madame Satã - this was the artistic name of João Francisco dos Santos (1900–1976), a drag performer and capoeirista in the historic neighborhood of Lapa, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Caxanga Rosa
Song: “Caxanga Rosa” by Caixa Preta
Drum Arrangement by our dear teacher, Eduardo “Dudu” Fuentes
Horn Arrangment by Stefanie Schmidt
Reclaim
Song: “Your Sweater” Composed by Lorin Hansen and Mason Aeschbacher
This piece is inspired by the divine feminine. It speaks to reclaiming our divinity and re-igniting the sacred fire.
Alma Livre
(Free Soul)
Song composed by George Edgar Brown
“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.
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.
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.”
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 within 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 the black and white colored ash.
From all suffering that’s come and gone.
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 wonderous 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 wll 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
UPCOMING SAMBA FOGO CLASSES
Open to all levels, held at the SLC Arts Hub
DANCE WORKSHOP
Saturdays, April 22 - May 27 (5 classes)
11:00am-12:30pm
DRUM WORKSHOP
Sundays, April 23 - May 28 (5 classes)
11:00am-12:30pm
Plant Your Feet
Community Dance & Planting Festival
Help Us Dance A Forest To Life
Saturday, May 13
Dance classes with special guests Rosangela Silvestre & Dandha Da Hora
Tree planting with TreeUtah
Film Screening of “Carry Me Home” Return Dance Project film & documentary
Tree planting dance ceremony with live orchestra
We Thank Our Partners & Supporters:
Free exhibit at Rose Wagner this weekend
UTAH BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM ON THE MEZZANINE AT THE ROSE
Free and open to the public. No ticket or reservation required.
Friday, April 14: 11:30am-1:30pm and 7-10pm
Saturday, April 15: 3-10pm
Sunday, April 16: 12-4pm
Please note: the UBHM Bus will be parked in front of The Rose but the exhibit is indoors.