Get ready for Carnaval Brasileiro with Brazilian dance classes, starting Jan. 5!

[Rebekah Fowler]

 It's Carnaval season, and we have the dance classes to get you ready for the party!!

Ladies and gents! You don't have to fly to Brazil to experience the fun! Did you know Austin has its own Brazilian Carnaval (www.sambaparty.com)? A local tradition for over 30 years, this huge indoor celebration will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2013, with over 6,000 partygoers, a Brazilian band flown in from New York City, and Austin's very own samba school, Acadêmicos da Ópera (www.austinsambaschool.com), with over nearly 200 drummers and dancers! Described by Texas Monthly as the state’s “best public bash,” this annual party is something all Austinites should try out at least once! Vamos sambar!! 

Please read and share with anyone and everyone you know, and encourage them to get ready for the big show on February 2 with this great series of Brazilian dance classes and workshops throughout January. Thank you for supporting Brazilian dance in Austin!

===JANUARY WORKSHOPS===

THURSDAYS, January 17, 24, and 31, 6:45 - 7:45 pm

Brazilian Carnaval Bootcamp

**Registration deadline: January 16

Ballet Austin, 501 West 3rd Street, Austin, TX 78701

http://www.balletaustin.org/community/courseofferings.php#carnaval

Time to get ready for Austin's own Carnaval Brasileiro! This 3-week fun, high-intensity workshop will introduce you to some of the most popular dance styles seen in Brazil during Carnaval: samba, samba reggae, axé, and maracatu. We'll even teach you how to "fake it till you make it"! All levels are welcome.

SUNDAYS, January 20th and 27th, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm 

Carnaval Crash Course: A Two-Week Introductory Brazilian Dance Workshop

Esquina Tango, 209 Pedernales, Austin, TX 78702

http://www.esquinatangoaustin.com/index.php/special-workshops/Carnaval-Course
Cost: General public: $15 per class/$27 for both / Students with ID and Esquina members: $12 per class/$22 for both

Newbies or experienced dancers, you'll have lots of calorie-burning fun in this two-week introductory course to some of the Brazil's most popular dances: samba reggae, axé, maracatu, and samba. Two different dances will be covered each week. Come to just one class, or come to both! Space is limited to 25 people per class, so get there early!

===ONGOING CLASSES===

TUESDAYS, 6:30-7:30 pm and 7:45-8:45 pm

Rio-Style Samba 

Esquina Tango, 209 Pedernales, Austin, 78702 

www.esquinatangoaustin.com

Cost: $12 

6.30-7.30 pm: Basic samba with Kaitlyn (ideal for newbies and those still finding their samba feet) 

7.45-8.45 pm: Intermediate samba with Rebekah (faster tempo and more advanced footwork: be prepared to WORK!!)

SATURDAYS, 9:45-10 am

Afro-Brazilian Dance 

Ballet Austin, 501 West 3rd Street, Austin, TX 78701

http://www.balletaustin.org/community/classes.php (see website for prices)

This class will introduce students to a variety of Afro-Brazilian dance styles, including samba (the national dance of Brazil), samba reggae, afoxé, baile funk, axé, and more. Fun, easy-to-learn moves guaranteed to get you shaking your hips! All levels welcome. 

SATURDAYS, 11:45-12:45 am

Afro-Brazilian Dance

Esquina Tango, 209 Pedernales, Austin, 78702 

www.esquinatangoaustin.com

Cost: $12 

This class covers Afro-Brazilian dances like samba reggae, samba de roda, dança afro, afoxé, maracatu, and more, with a focus on technique, choreography, and the culture and history of the dance styles performed. All levels welcome.

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About the instructors:

REBEKAH FOWLER began teaching Brazilian dance in 2000 and she continues to teach students how to samba "like they do it in Brazil," with a focus on footwork, technique, and the Brazilian spirit of "alegria e charme" (joy and charm). Rebekah has worked in the United States and the United Kingdom as a performer, choreographer, and teacher of Brazilian dance for all ages and skill levels. In addition to teaching ongoing classes, she has worked as choreographer and dance director for the Austin Samba School, one of the largest samba schools in the U.S. She has trained in Brazil and the U.S. with Rosangela Silvestre, Nildinha Fonseca of the Balé Folclórico da Bahia, Ana Laidley, and members of DanceBrazil.

Demo reel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8iYGNou7f0

KAITLYN JOLLY has studied samba, capoeira Angola, and other forms of Afro-Brazilian dance since 2002, and performing in and around her home town of Boston, MA with Bloco Afro Brazil (afrobrazil.org) starting in 2007. She is currently a dance director of the Austin Samba School.
She has studied Orixa movement, "samba no pé" and samba reggae with Isaura Olivera, Danielle Lima and most recently Rosangela Silvestre, Ana Laidley, and Ananda at California Brazil Camp (calbrazilcamp.com)


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