Welcome on the website

What you can find by reading our pages...
before enjoying the complete english version ...

HISTORY

Created by people fond of Brasil, Macunaíma started in 1988 in order to promote brasilian culture and help integration of new brasilian people in the area of Bordeaux (South-West - France). The juridical form is 1901 law association, without any commercial goal.

NEWS

Get the latest news about Macunaíma Samba School and Brasilian Cultural Center !

Brasil news :

Good links to other cool websites about Brasilian Culture.

THE SAMBA SCHOOL

Structure :

Despite its small size (about 130 people for the biggest carnaval), Macunaíma Samba School aims to be a traditionnal one, such as those in Rio de Janeiro. It's composed by "alas" (wings) :

• Ala da Commissao de Frente (for 2000 carnival) : vanguard commission
• Ala da Porta-Bandeira and Mestre-Sala : flag-bearer and her escort
• Ala das bahianas : twirling women dressed in variations of the bahianese traditional costume
• Ala afro-brasileira : choreographed group of dancers
• Ala das passistas : finest dancers
• Ala da bateria : percussion group
• Ala dos puxadores : singers
• Ala dos compositores : songs writers

For stage performances, the Samba School becomes a Folkloric Group wich presents samples of the most famous brasilian music and dance styles (Samba, Ijexa, Samba-Reggae, Maracatu, Frevo, Timbalada, Samba-Funk) in 7 scenes.

Commercial aspect :

The Samba School is available in 4 versions :

• Big stage event : "Evénement Brésil"
• Big carnival with "trio eletrico" (truck with P.A. system) : "Trio Eletrico Fantastico"
• Small stage performance : "Soirée Brésilienne"
• Small carnival : "Clin d'Oeil Carnaval"

Performances time table :

Macunaíma Samba School makes gigs all year long.

Brasilian Traditionnal arts courses :

Anybody can learn about ...

• brasilian percussion (only Samba de enredo and Samba-batucada for beginners ; Ijexa, Samba-Reggae, Maracatu, Frevo, Timbalada, Samba-Funk for the advanced ones) in their traditionnal form.
• brasilian dance (only Samba, Ijexa, Samba-Reggae, Maracatu, Frevo)
• singing (the most well-knowned melodies in portuguese)
• brass ensemble (conjunto musical) workshop (bossa-novas, Samba-Funk, etc.)
• Capoeira

October workshops :

The best way for beginners to join the Samba School. Workshops available on percussion (Samba-batucada and Samba-enredo), dance (Samba, Afro-brasilian dances) and singing (Bossa-Nova, Samba-enredo).

New members :

Samba School needs new people to increase pleasure ! Dancers, musicians (percussionnist, singer, wind instrumentist, bass and guitar player, etc.) and so on !

Links :

Macunaíma Samba School is member of the IFoS (International Federation of Sambistas) and keeps contacts with other Samba Schools in Europa, USA and Brasil.

THE BRASILIAN CULTURAL CENTER :

From the beginning, Macunaíma developped some cultural activities, in order to spread the knowledge of Brasil culture.

"Show-Room" of the Brasilian culture :

• Brasil pictures exposure.
• Diapositive slide-show
• Scenery for the decoration of cultural places (Rio's bay, Minas' church, Brasilia's monuments)

Pedagogic case :

Contains more than 200 items (books, pictures, video-tapes, CD-ROM, objects of the everyday life, etc.) which can be presented by a member of the association.

School activities :

• Brasilian percussion instruments demonstration. More than 35 genuine instruments presented by the Samba School musical director. Musical games, historic and geographic explanations about the instruments origins, etc.
• Samba dance and batucada workshops for 7-11 years old childrens

Portuguese course :

..., for it's better to know the language if you want to understand the culture !