Public Opening for Afro Modern

Category: Launch
Profile: Tate Liverpool
Opening hours: See Tate website for details.
Event Date: 14:00 – 17:50 Saturday, 30th Jan 2010
Organisation: Tate Liverpool
Venue: Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4BB.
Contact: Jennifer Martin/Carly Townsend
Email: carly.townsend@tate.org.uk
Website: http://www.tate.org.uk/liverpool

Description: Enjoy the spectacle of Brazilian samba and the ‘dance, fight, game’ of capoeira in a day of performances celebrating the hugely popular and thriving cultural scene that developed out of the dispersal of peoples of African descent throughout Brazil and Europe.

The irresistible rhythms and glamorous spectacle of samba take over Tate Liverpool’s foyer as the award winning Liverpool Samba School take to the floor. One of the only non-Rio samba school’s to play in the world-renowned Rio carnival parade, enjoy lashings of Rio-style percussion and plenty of glitz and glamour in extravagant hand crafted costumes. One of the most authentic Brazilian traditions, samba was the dance practiced by former slaves, and assumed different characteristics within and across Brazil through the merging of African and European cultures and rhythms.

Compelling performances from Liverpool Manchester Capoeira tell an epic story of survival, slavery and spirit in this beautiful yet dangerous ‘dance, fight, game’. The culture of slavery in Brazil brought together African, Native American and European cultures to gradually combine various art forms and martial arts into what is now known as the Art of Capoeira. A form of self defence and a fight for survival during a time of slavery and marginal resistance, capoeira saved many lives as well as upholding the right for freedom and equality.

The day also includes the performance Masquerade wonderful created by Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) student Elisabeth Bower. Dance with purpose as the fantastical creates the all-knowing elephant, the all-seeing eagle and the almighty bull are brought together to express themselves through an illusion of frenzied movement to the beat of drummer Paul Pangle. These bizarre creatures represent differing geographical corners of our planet, and this is their tribal masquerade dance. Each has been created with influence from several African tribes, but with relevance to global consumerism. They celebrate that being more resourceful means something worthless is capable of being something wonderful. The dancers are Hannes Michael Bronczkowski (bull), Vickie Mifflin (elephant) and Martin Sierra (eagle).

Join in the celebration and let the performers take you to a spectacular finale as the samba and capoeira schools collaborate for an unforgettable performance to carry you into the evening and related city-wide events.

14.00-15.00 Liverpool Manchester Capoeira performances
15.30-16.00 Liverpool Samba School performance
17.00-17.50 Liverpool Manchester Capoeira and Liverpool Samba School collaborative performance

Tate Liverpool
Free (Free concessions)
For tickets, call 0151 702 7400