The 11th Brazilian Independence Day Fetsival was celebrated this weekend in Boston. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny Saturday afternoon along the Charles River as local batucada, Samba Tremeterra, led by Deraldo Ferreira took the stage. While it may be pretty common in Brazil, here in Boston it is really rare to have the chance to dance samba, outdoors, on the waterfront, in the warm sun. The wonderful thing about dancing samba is that it spreads a big grin across your face and keeps it there for the duration -- best therapy I know of for whatever ails you.
And dance we did, with lots of singing together in call and response. Boston is home to the largest Brazilian population in the U.S., so this could be as close to a carnaval atmosphere as you can get in North America. Guest dancers appeared in full costume and Deraldo recruited audience and band members to shake their stuff in front of the group. I am here to tell you that Samba is better than fireworks on the 4th of July - - 'Viva a Liberdade!!'
Samba Trameterra has been playing in Boston under Deraldo's direciton for several years. Based out of the Brazilian Cultural Center of New England, the group is the real thing. The Cultural Center was recently named an international Culture Point by none other than Brazil's Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil. We are blessed to have this great resource here in Boston!!
Get Samba Tremeterra's Music...
Comments