Project Brincadeira
The Brincadeira Project will deliver the samba clubs in 12 primary schools in disadvantaged areas between Sept 2011 and March 2012.
Half of the schools will run a club in the carnival dance Samba Reggae; the other half will make a 15-piece samba band. The dancers and drummers will then join together to create a finale showcase event.
Brincadeira is funded by the National Lottery’s Awards for All program and run by Falmouth-based Jinga Communities, training provider the Brazilian art form capoeira. The company received the £10,000 funding for the project in July 2011.
Director Craig Blackburn said: ‘We’re really happy to be working with Lottery funder once again and even luckier to have the chance to work Sarah Hyams and Robin Tynedale, our teachers for this project. Their knowledge of Brazilian percussion and dance is truly phenomenal.
‘I’m also really happy to deliver a project using samba as it compliments our core offering of capoeira training. Just like capoeira, these art forms are fully-inclusive; they offer so many benefits for the children such as improvements in confidence and communication skills, increased cultural awareness and wellbeing. And it’s loads of fun!’
The children in the project will also make masks, costumes and instruments from recycled materials to show off at the Carnival show. Other children will be able to get involved in the project through a Brazil Carnival Art competition and a volunteer program for 11-16year-olds.
The first half of the project is now under way, delivering samba band clubs at Trannack, Mylor Bridge and St Martin-in-Meneage primary schools and samba dance sessions at Falmouth Primary, St Francis CofE and Penryn Juniors. The sessions started this week (September 19-22nd) The showcase event will be on Saturday, November 19.
In January 2012, Project Brincadeira will repeat the whole process in another six schools, with a finale event on March 17, 2012. The primary schools in the next phase of the project will be: King Charles, Boskenwyn, St Keverne, Cury CofE, Halwin and St Mary’s Catholic primary schools.
