Football fans may recognize Brazil as a nation that produces strong, football players with great track records on the field, but there is more to Brazil than just sports and football.

Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile and occupies 47 percent of the continent of South America. Its Amazon River basin includes a vast tropical forest and is the scene of debates over deforestation.

Impressed? Well, Brazil is not only geographically impressive and respectable in the sports arena but is culturally fascinating too.

Quite some time ago I was invited to the launching of Malaysia-Brazil cross culture event in Samba! Restaurant located conveniently in Avenue K, Kuala Lumpur and was given a glimpse of what Brazil has to offer culturally; food, dance and martial arts demonstration.

Check out the videos below for a clearer picture of what Brazil could offer you:

Brazilian music by Batucada

Samba dance. Samba is a Brazilian dance originating in Bahia, Brazil, and with its roots Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions, particularly Angola and the Congo. Samba is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival and considered one of the most popular Brazilian cultural expressions.

Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance and music, and is sometimes referred to as a game.It was developed in Brazil mainly by African descendants. Basically, it is a kind of martial arts dance in which the participant uses the feet to kick the head of their opponent, mimicking the movements of a zebra, and at some point one also uses all of the body to attack the enemy. Lethally interesting, no? I’d say that these are not only interesting but fascinating as well.

Interested to get to know Brazil more? Well, no fret. You don’t have to fly all the way to Brazil to do that. Malaysians will be able to learn more about Brazil and it’s culture from 24th-26th October 2014 at Avenue K through ‘Selamat Datang Brasil 2014’.

The three day cross culture event will be packed with energy and fun with both Brazilian and Malaysian themed workshops, performances and games. Some highlights of the event will include Samba, Afro dance, Silat, Banghra and Capoeira workshops.

A Capoeira graduation ceremony will also be the highlight of the event followed by Brazilian Cultural performances such as Maculele and Frevo Dance as well as Malaysian fusion dance. And oh…of course
..an unforgettable Brazilian party night.

The event is not only for adults but for the little ones too. Children’s workshops will have an eco‐friendly theme and will teach them about recycling, the importance of  reusing and reducing waste.

Below is the schedule for “Selamat Datang Brasil 2014”.

24th October 2014 (Friday)
17:00 – 17:15 Batucada Parade Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
17:15 – 18:00 Capoeira Workshop – Kids Mestre Eddy (Axé – Macau) – Mestre Fantasma
(Ebc – Philippines)
18:00 – 18:30 Open Kids Roda Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
18:30 – 19:00 Afro Workshop – Adults Tunde Slayer
19:00 – 20:00 Capoeira Workshop Acrobatic – Adults Professor Rafael (MSC – Malaysia) – Mestre Fantasma (EBC – Philippines)
20:00 – 20:30 Open Roda de Capoeira Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
20:30 – 21:30 Pagode de Mesa – Samba Steak house Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica

25th October 2014 (Saturday)
13:45 – 14:00 Batucada Parade Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
14:00 – 14:15 Opening – Introduction EMCEE – Rizal Van Geysel
14:15 – 15:00 Open Roda de Capoeira Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
15:00 – 15:15 Pops & Quizes EMCEE – Rizal Van Geysel
15:15 – 16:00 Coco Dance Workshop Graduado Titan (Axé – Macau)
16:00 – 16:15 Pops & Quizes EMCEE – Rizal Van Geysel
16:15 – 17:15 Capoeira Workshop Adults Mestre Eddy (Axé – Macau) – Contra Mestre
Claudinho (Zungu – Indonesia)
17:15 – 18:15 Open Roda de Capoeira Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
Brazilian Night
22:00 Brazilian Djs 
Pagode de Mesa
Pops & Quizes
Batucada Show

26th October 2014 (Sunday)
2:00 Performances – Capoeira /Samba
13:45 – 14:00 Batucada Parade Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
14:00 – 14:10 Opening – Introduction EMCEE – Rizal Van Geysel
14:10 – 14:20 Sponsors Souvenir Ceremony EMCEE – Rizal Van Geysel
14:20 – 14:30 Malay Dance Performance TBC
14:30 – 14:45 Maculelê and Afro Performance EBC Malaysia Students
14:45 14:55 Pops & Quizes EMCEE – Rizal Van Geysel
14:55 – 15:00 Silat Performance TBC
15:00 – 15:10 Silat Capoeria Fusion Silat TBC – Capoeira Ebc Malaysia
15:10 – 15:20 Kids Capoeira Performance
Frevo Dance EBC Malaysia Students
15:20 – 15:30 Pops & Quizes EMCEE – Rizal Van Geysel
15:30 – 15:40 Kids Capoeira Performance Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
15:40 – 16:40 Kids Batizado Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
16:40 – 17:30 Adults Batizado Professor Pimbal – Formada Lilica
17:30 – 18:00 Brazil em Festa Batucada Band Brasil em Festa Performance Company

This event is supported by Embassy of Brazil in Kuala Lumpur and open for public viewing and participations. Some requires participating fees but most are free or charge.

Yours truly might be there for some of the activities, so if you are going, do drop me a message and I’ll see you there. 😉