Expressions of Brazil 2014

Expressions of Brazil offers a kaleidoscope of arts, culture and culinary delights – August 8-10

TORONTO, ON (July 7, 2014) – Brazil is a country of cultural and geographic superlatives. From the exotic Amazon to the golden coast, Brazil is a destination with mysterious allure for many people. With a geographic area totalling over 8.5 million square kilometres, Brazil is virtually as large as Europe and covers half of the South American continent with its five uniquely diverse regions. From August 8-10, Harbourfront Centre welcomes the third edition of Expressions of Brazil festival to its 2014 summer season, featuring an alluring lineup of live Brazilian music, food, films, and more. A co-production of Southern Mirrors, Puente and Harbourfront Centre..

Expressions of Brazil musical headliner Rubens Salles, one of Brazil’s top pianists, performs alongside Marivaldo Dos Santos on the WestJet Stage on August 9. Dos Santos is a well-known producer, musician, and composer. He has established various music projects – electronic recycle, Brazil Underground and Quables – crafting a vibrant mix of electronic and live new sounds into performances. This exceptional musical duo is one of 15 musical performances throughout the Expressions of Brazil festival weekend.

On the food front, festival patrons are invited to taste the sweetness of Brazil’s bite-size beijinhos, or ‘little kisses’ in English. Beijinho is a widely known sweet, common in every birthday party and is made almost entirely of sweetened condensed milk and coconut. Those interested in spicing up their next birthday celebration are invited to learn how to make their own beijinhos at the festival’s Beijinhos Workshop. The workshop is designed for kids aged 5 years old and up.

Film buffs will not want to miss the Brazilian films series featured at Expressions of Brazil. From Cidade Cinza (Grey City) to O céu no andar de baixo (The Sky Downstairs), short films to feature-length, each film has been thoughtfully curated by BRAFFTV (Brazilian Film and TV Festival ) to highlight the brilliant and booming film industry of Brazil.

“Brazil is incredibly unique; it is like five countries in one. Each of Brazil’s five regions has their own influence and identity, their own distinct traditions and cultural practices,” shares Barbara de la Fuente, Expressions of Brazil artistic director. “We are thrilled to bring the diversity and magnetism of Brazil to Harbourfront Centre for Expressions of Brazil. For three days, we will showcase local, national, and international artists that are all part of the Brazilian diaspora – this festival is not to be missed.”

Expressions of Brazil – Highlights at a Glance:

  • Food – Deep Fried Bloco, Boteco Brazil, Beijinhos and Brigadeiro Workshops and Taste of Brazil’s traditional Brazilian foods
  • Music – Kay Lyra, Marivaldo dos Santos with Ruben Salles and Luciano Porto’s Zé Fuá Forró Band and Olmir Stocker
  • Film – BRAFFTV Film Series

Expressions of Brazil – 2014 Lineup

HIGHLIGHTS:

Humber Brazilian Jazz Ensemble

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – WestJet Stage

Humber College’s Gord Sheard Brazilian Workshop started in 2007 in response to a greater awareness of the fundamental role that Brazil has played in the global jazz and popular music scenes, and in recognition of the need for musicians to have a deeper understanding of the particularities of diverse Brazilian genres. The ensemble’s repertoire has been chosen to represent this diversity, as expressed in exemplary works by some of Brazil’s greatest popular music composers, including Antônio Carlos Jobim, Caetano Veloso, João Bosco, Joyce Moreno, Hermeto Pascoal, and Gerônimo Santana.

Brazil Connection

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Redpath Stage

Brazil Connection brings vocal re-harmonization of Brazilian Classics, with an energetic rhythm section that blends many styles in an unorthodox way, creating organic and colorful Brazilian music with one foot in Africa and another in the rest of the world.


Olmir Stocker

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – WestJet Stage

A composer of over 1,500 songs, considered one of the top guitar players in Brazil, Olmir Stocker has toured 5 continents and played along the top artists in Brazil. With over 50 years in the business, he has his art recognized in countries such as Japan, USA, Spain, France, Italy and Switzerland. 


BRAFFTV Film Series

Friday, August 8 – Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. (Friday) to 6:00 p.m. (Sunday) – Studio Theatre

The BRAFFTV Film Series features great Brazilian films selected and curated by Joffre Silva for Expressions of Brazil. 

MUSIC:

Tio Chorinho

Friday, August 8, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Redpath Stage

Tio Chorinho is a Toronto ensemble dedicated to performing Brazilian choro music in the tradition of the great mandolin master Jacob do Bandolim. The group formed during the spring of 2009 and has thus far developed an impressive repertoire of familiar choro classics by such composers as Pixinguinha, Ernesto Nazareth, Waldyr Azavedo, and of course Jacob do Bandolim.  

Deep Fried Bloco

Friday, August 8, 2014 from 8:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Redpath Stage

DJ Simba brings the heat and flavour of Brazil as part of the DJ Deep Fried Fridays’ series.

Kay Lyra

Friday, August 8, 2014 from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. – WestJet Stage

Brazilian/American bossa nova composer and singer Kay Lyra has captured audiences with her precise, pure voice and impeccable phrasing.  Music critic Nelson Motta described her as “The daughter of bossa with a crystal voice,” in an inevitable reference to her musician/composer father, bossa nova veteran/founder Carlos Lyra.

Flavia Nascimento and Band

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Redpath Stage

Flávia Nascimento has being part of the Quebec artistic scene for 11 years as a singer, musician, leader of a percussion troupe, hosting events. Born in Brazil, Flávia was at a very young age inspired by her father, folk guitarist, and his grandfather, a member of Folia de Reis, a musical parade accompanying the traditional Christmas celebrations.

Brasileirinhos

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Brigantine Room

Paulo Bira’s work, Latin Grammy nominee with this album “Brasileirinhos”, seeks to arouse children’s curiosity about endangered species, though delicate songs treated with joy and wanting to attract the curiosity of kids on the rich Brazilian fauna.

Brazil Delight

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Redpath Stage

Marisa de Oliveira and Valter Barberini lead this band that plays Brazilian Rock and Pop Music and has performed in various events and shows in the city.

Olmir Stocker

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – WestJet Stage

A composer of over 1,500 songs, considered one of the top guitar players in Brazil, Olmir Stocker has toured 5 continents and played along the top artists in Brazil. With over 50 years in the business, he has his art recognized in countries such as Japan, USA, Spain, France, Italy and Switzerland. 

Marivaldo dos Santos and Rubens Salles

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. – WestJet Stage

Marivaldo dos Santos, STOMP member, composer, musician, percussionist and producer has taken his eclectic talent all over the world.  Ruben Salles is one of the most prominent Brazilian pianists/keyboardist of his generation. Both artists have been on stage and recorded with some of the most talented and famous artists in various continents.

Forró Party

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. – Brigantine Room and Brigantine Tent

Luciano Porto’s Zé Fuá Forró Band (Pé de Serra style) delivers a blast of energy and excitement on stage in the authentic Forró style originating in Pernambuco in the northeast of Brazil.

Que é isso?

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Redpath Stage

Que é Isso? plays a mixture of original compositions and 1980’s Brazilian Fusion. This band is a mix-up mash of modern Brazilian music which pays reverence to the classics. A show to behold – a tasteful yet fiery superimposition of three great musicians – Que é Isso? will delight and enliven; the connection to the crowd is instantly apparent with the audience appreciating the antics, humour and stories that Que e Isso? brings to the performance.

Brazilian Sarau – Jam Session

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Lakeside Terrace

Brazilian Sarau: A sarau is a cultural, musical or sporting event in which people unite to express themselves artistically. A sarau may involve poetry, music and other forms of art such as painting and acting. In a relaxed and interactive session, Canadians and Brazilians will share their art and interact creatively.

Ana Aune

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Redpath Stage

Brazilian Singer Ana Aune has always had a great passion for Brazilian music and cultural expression. Born and raised in Brasilia, the city built to be the new capital of Brazil in the 1950s, Ana belongs to a generation that synthesized numerous influences brought by immigrants from

every corner of that vast country, creating a novel and unique cultural identity while staying true to its roots.

Henrique Cazes Choro Canadioca

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – WestJet Stage

Having recorded and performed with virtually every name in the Rio de Janeiro samba community, as well as many of Brazil’s most formidable artists, as a composer, arranger and author, Henrique’s passion is the performance of Choro (or Chorinho).

His artistry is remarkable and he is well known as the ambassador of what Jobim referred to as Brazil’s most authentic music. In Canada, Henrique has formed an ensemble with some of Toronto’s most accomplished Brazilian music performers, Choro Canadioca (Canada + Carioca).

FOOD:

World Café

Friday, August 8, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 12 noon to 11:00 p.m.

Sunday August 10, 2014 from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy our many World Café vendors this weekend, including El Sabor de Mama, Taste of Brazil, Buteco

Beijinho Workshop

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Brigantine Tent

Beijinhos, literally translated to little kisses, is one of those Brazilian treats made almost entirely out of sweetened condensed milk. Beijinhos are cooked sweetened condensed milk and coconut rolled into a little ball, about the size of a quarter, and topped with more shredded coconut and a clove! Beijinhos are the perfect mouth-full for when you are craving something sweet. Popular at children’s birthday parties they help everyone get a perfect sugar rush. For children 5 years old and up. Limited spaces.

Brigadeiro Workshop

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Brigantine Tent

Kids will learn how to make Brigadeiro, a traditional Brazilian sweet. Brigadeiro has wide appeal in Brazil. And here you’ll find all sorts of flavours—inspired by the original but taken into wonderful new places. All of them are gluten-free, and they all evoke memories of Brazilian birthday parties, the spirit of togetherness, and the simple joy of a bite-sized treat.

DANCE:

Brazilian Rhythms

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Lakeside Terrace

Brazil Dance World is a school that offers a number of different Brazilian dance lessons as well as performing them. With the innovative and visionary project of spreading Brazilian culture to other cultures, Brazil Dance World was born in Toronto, Canada in December 2005. Since 2011 it is also the mastermind behind organizing the Brazilian Beat: Canada Dance Congress, the largest celebration of Brazilian dance in Canada.

FILM:

BRAFFTV Film Series – Grey City (Cidade Cinza) – (G)

Friday, August 8, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Studio Theatre

A new way of painting graffiti was born in São Paulo. Hip Hop was replaced by Brazilian regional culture and Os Gemeos’ crew works were spread to galleries around the world. However, a new visual pollution combat act made the City Hall cover their paintings in grey in their hometown. Portuguese with English Subtitles

Screened with the short Linear – A line is a dot that went for a walk. Silent

BRAFFTV Film Series – The Liberdade (O Liberdade) – (PG)

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. –Studio Theatre

In the extreme Southern part of Brazil, there’s a bar/restaurant called Liberdade: an extremely simple place where a band, named “Avendano Jr. e o Regional” has been playing chorinho music for almost 40 years. The Liberdade tells the story of this place through the testimonials of the people who represent its soul – a bar where the passion for music is the bond that ties regular customers and extraordinary musicians. With special appearances of renowned musicians Vitor Ramil and Yamandu Costa, the movie presents some of the last guardians of chorinho music, the talent of the composer and cavaquinho player, Avendano Jr., and his relationship with the work of Waldir Azevedo, the composer of Brasileirinho. Portuguese with English Subtitles

Screened with the short The Tuner, Paulo is a young piano tuner. He works at his father’s restoration workshop. He wants to become a concert performer. Portuguese with English subtitles

BRAFFTV Film Series – The Last Stop – (PG-13)

Friday, August 8, 2014 from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Studio Theatre

June 1950: Lebanese Teenagers Tarik and his younger brother Karim, leave Lebanon to immigrate to Brazil in search of a better life. On the ship, they forge friendships with other Lebanese and Syrian teenagers. Upon arrival in Brazil, each one goes their way and the years pass…

September 2001: The old Muslim Tarik loses his wife and before he dies, he needs to fulfill some promises he made decades before. Tarik leaves everything behind and treks across Brazil together with his daughter Samia, in search of the boys who came with him from Lebanon 51 years earlier. Each stop along his journey will reveal a fabulous truth of more than 1001 nights. Portuguese and Arabic with English Subtitles.

BRAFFTV Film Series – Bollywood Dream (O Sonho Bollywoodiano) – (PG)

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Studio Theatre

Three Brazilian actresses decide to go to India to break into the Bollywood film industry, but once they are inside the heart of Indian culture and mythology, their dreams and wills start to change on the contrast between the East and the West, the ancient and the contemporary values, between the individual and the collective yearnings. Portuguese with English Subtitles

BRAFFTV Film Series – Offsite (Impedimento) – (PG)

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Studio Theatre

José Carlos Paixão, a butcher living in the Brazilian countryside, is at a crossroads in his life. Grief will do strange things, and he’s been living out his own adolescent fantasy of playing professional soccer through his younger boy. Enter Lourdes Cintra, the town’s new teacher, who might very well give him a second chance at love. Offside is about dreaming: daydreams with which we set our goals, and the nightmares that paralyze us. Circumstance, indeed, can impede us. If we’re not careful, the clock can run out. But as in soccer, there’s always a chance that we’ll be released just in time with the goal ours for the taking. Portuguese with English Subtitles

BRAFFTV Film Series – Short Films

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Studio Theatre

  • Boys and Girls (Amarelinha) (G): Boys play with boys. Girls play with girls. Silent
  • Gertrudes and her Man (Gertrudes e seu homem(PG): Gertrudes is a talented seamstress and passionate wife. Romão is her charming and mysterious husband.  When the couple moves to a small town, a curious teenage girl becomes a threat to their happiness. Portuguese with English Subtitles
  • The Sky Downstrais (O céu no andar de baixo) (PG): Since the 12-year-old Francisco make sky photographs. One day, something different appears in one of your photos changing his routine. Portuguese with English subtitles
  • Batchan (Batchan) (G): Noriko’s family comes to lunch.Portuguese and Japanese with English subtitles.
  • Half of the Orange (G): Cacá lives surrounded by women, he was raised by hos two single aunts, his best friend is a woman and he is always dreaming of his dead mother. But Cacá can’t find a girlfriend but these changes when he starts using an app called “Half of the Orange”.  Portuguese with English subtitles.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES:

Brazilian Public Library  and Floresta Tropical

Saturday, August 9, 2014 – Sunday August 10, 2014 – South Orchard Tent

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Brazilian Public Library and Rainforest are integrated cultural expressions that share the same physical space, reflecting the Brazilian diversity with its urban and cosmopolitan society and the strength and beauty of the rainforest. Through storytelling, finger puppet theatre, and games kids will get in touch with the Brazilian rainforest. The library will have a Memory Tree where stories by the community will be hung. Local Brazilian authors will read passages of their books.

Balloon Workshop

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – HarbourKids Tent

Kids love making a colourful balloon animal come to life. Learn how to make a Brazilian animal using colourful balloons. This workshop will be facilitated by Angela Design Balloon. The number of children is limited to 15 each 1/2 hour of the workshop. Suggested age group 6 years old and up.

PINWHEEL Workshop

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – HarbourKids Tent

Cata-vento (pinwheels) is a traditional toy in Brazil. It’s made of a wheel of paper or plastic curls attached at its axle to a stick by a pin. It is designed to spin when blown upon by a person or by the wind. In this fun workshop, you will learn how to make this traditional toy. This workshop will be offered for a group of 25 children each 1/2 hour of the above schedule. 

LECTURES:

Capoeira Workshop

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – South Orchard

Learn all about capoeira, a type of martial art that combines self-defence with music and acrobatics!

Embroiders Talk

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Brigantine Room

Join Elisa Lobo, Visual Artist exhibiting at the Marilyn Brewer Community Space, for this interactive talk about her work with women at risk in Brazil.

Brasilerinhos – Music Circle Workshop

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Miss Lou’s Room

Latin Grammy nominee, composer Paulo Bira will sit down with the kids in a circle and play some of his songs from the Brasileirinhos album. The kids will have the opportunity of learning about the exciting animals in Brazil.

Cantigas de Roda Workshop

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Miss Lou’s Room

In Brazil, children’s songs are performed basically with no instruments, always in a circle where the kids would hold hands and follow special commands. They started as a cross between the ballroom dances and square dance! Come and enjoy this workshop and learn the most famous Cantigas de Roda.

Soccer Workshop with Brazilian Soccer Academy

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – South Orchard Tent

Coaches demonstrate, for kids, the “Brazilian style” of soccer through kicks, passes and juggling, and will develop soccer skills through fun activities and mini soccer games.
The Brazilian Soccer Academy focuses on developing technical skills using the “Brazilian style” of soccer, reading the game tactically, speed of thought and action, positioning, mental skills and fitness. Programmes include Soccer Camp, a one-week training camp consisting of dynamic soccer clinics that focus on specific skills and tactics. 

ART EXHIBITIONS

Elisa Lobo

Friday, August 8 – Sunday, August 10, 2014 – Marilyn Brewer Community Space

Friday, August 8, 2014 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 12 noon to 11:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m.

Eleven years ago, in the south of Minas Gerais state, a work of social inclusion through art with a group of women, formerly coffee harvesters, road sweepers and housewives started. This exhibit tells the stories of those people and how they’ve intertwined with embroidered cushions on reinterpretations of works of art of the greatest masters of painting, and with a giant jellyfish (in Portuguese the literal translation is “living water”) installation. During the exhibition, people will be able to participate in the creation of a piece of art.

Soraya Montanheiro

Friday, August 8 – Sunday, August 10, 2014 – Garage Bays

Friday, August 8, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 12 noon to 11:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m.

Soraya Montanheiro born in Sao Paulo. She worked as a chemical engineer for 15 years before changing her whole life and pursuing her love and passion for photography as her profession. Her photos have been published in various magazines and newspapers including  Estado de Sao Paulo among others. 

OTHER:

Brazilian Interactive Mural

Saturday, August 9 – Sunday August 10, 2014 – Boulevard Tent

Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

An interactive mural created by Isabel Pimentel. Visitors will have the opportunity of being part and experience a collective drawing.  Through the mural we can create moments of pause and opportunities for conversation.

Brazilian Trivia

Sunday, August 10, 2014 from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m. – Garage Bays

Interesting, intriguing and unusual information about Brazil will be presented in a Trivia form (Q&A) in an electronic and interactive format. Test your knowledge about Brazilian geography, goods, history, sports, music and more.