A Colorful and Enchanting Evening of Afro-Brazilian, Indigenous and Popular Dance and Folklore

• We’ll enjoy a mesmerizing choreography with feverish rhythms and gorgeously elaborated costumes

Get ready for a colorful and enchanting evening of music, dance, and Bahian folklore as you take in a performance by the renowned Afro-Brazilian dance company: Bale Folclorico da Bahia, which has toured in more than 180 cities worldwide and has gained both local and international acclaim. It has obtained the “Best Dance Company in Brazil” award by Fiat Industries and “Best Performance of the Year” award by the Brazilian Ministry of Culture.

With its mesmerizing choreography and feverish rhythms, complete with gorgeously elaborated costumes, the show is an awesome display of physical dexterity, as well as a great opportunity to appreciate Brazilian music and culture.

We’ll be treated to diverse Afro-Brazilian dances with exciting choreography that includes flips, spins, high back kicks, fast-paced rhythms, and the boundless energy of rapid-fire footwork. The company’s nearly one hour performance features the three cultural pillars of Bahian culture: the mystical religion of Candomble, the acrobatic Capoeira (a dance and martial art), and the colorful and rhythmic Samba dance.

Candomble is an Afro-Brazilian, polytheistic religion that was once dominant in Salvador. It combines African gods with Christian saints, along with spellbinding rhythms used to evoke particular spirits in its rituals.

Capoeira is a martial art disguised as a very acrobatic dance and was introduced by the African slaves that were brought to Brazil in order to train themselves for rebellion against their Portuguese masters. It’s heavily ingrained in the Brazilian culture, so much so, if fact, that Capoeira was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2014. During this part of the performance, we’ll see the participants form a circle around two dancers who will engage with each other. The movements of Capoeira require great bodily dexterity, and include kicks, sweeps, flips, and jumps while the rest of the participants around the circle sing, chant, clap, and play percussive instruments.

Samba, a Brazilian dance and music genre, is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil, and the Brazilian Carnival (a huge celebration of Samba) has become an icon of Brazilian national identity. In Brazil, Samba is synonymous with joy and celebration, and the Bale Folclorico performs the Bahian flavor of Samba: the Samba de Roda (dance circle Samba), which was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005.

The show features several sketches, alternating among the three mentioned genres. Each sketch tells a unique story of everyday life (on the sugarcane plantations, in villages… etc) or a legend, typically interspersing reality with magical elements. The show advances from a quiet start in the first sketch to a crescendo and explosion of color, dance, and rhythm during the grand finale.

You’ll have a private transfer that will take you to the show and then to a restaurant for dinner (included, without beverages). After dinner your driver will take you back to your hotel.