World Dance Events: Rio Carnival

Last week, Bella Diva Dance celebrated Fat Tuesday Carnaval at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, where we performed and danced to samba wearing our magnificent feathered colorful costumes. At the same time, samba parades were taking over streets in Rio de Janeiro, as Brazil was celebrating its world famous Rio Carnival 2015.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro origin

Rio Carnival is probabbella diva dance samba dancely the most famous and largest dance event carnival celebrated on a yearly basis. It is also one of the most antique festivals as it dates back to 1723. Every year, more than 2 million people pack the streets for five days (this year’s dates: February 13th – February 18th). The origins of the festival are tied to Greek and Roman civilizations, who worshiped their gods through wine and revelry celebration. Later, the Catholic Church modified this celebration to be led into Ash Wednesday. So, it’s a 5-day wild celebration, 40 days before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, one is supposed to abstain from all bodily pleasures, and that’s how Carnival acts as a farewell to the pleasures of the flesh.

There are many celebrations held throughout the country, but Carnival at Rio de Janeiro is undoubtedly the biggest and most visited one. The main show, is composed by the Samba Parades (or Sambodromo), which is actually a competition between the top Samba schools in Rio. There are about 200 Samba schools, and these are divided into leagues. These leagues , and other categories like Children’s Samba Schools, allow for different parades to take place during the days of Carnival. Many aspects are judged, such as percussion band, the samba song selected, costumes, floats and props, and more. Other attractions of Carnival are its balls, which range on location and prices, street parties, and even the opening of samba schools to the public, at night.

samba squad

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

Tomorrow Feb 17th: Mardi Gras – Fat Tuesday Carnaval in Denver

Mardi Gras - Fat Tuesday Carnaval in Denver

Tuesday February 17th at 8:00pmbella diva dance carnivale
“Fat Tuesday Carnaval” at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret 

Tickets $16.00
1601 Arapahoe St.
Denver 80202



Fat Tuesday is the last day of the Carnaval season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, so it is time to live it up before you have to “give it up.” It’s going to be a romp-roaring, booty shaking, bead throwing night of debauchery and fun!

Audience members will even learn the New Orleans traditional Second Line dance after teaming up with their tables to answer trivia about the origins of Fat Tuesday and Carnaval. 

Special Guest artists will include Capoeira Denver led by Bambu, and contemporary dancer Alfred Smith.

Come early at 7:30 PM for a special live drumming show by Capoeira Denver, and “Cirque”-like clowning and games at 7:50 PM.

Don’t forget to come in mask & costume to dress your best for Denver’s hottest Mardi Gras & Carnaval celebration. Prizes for best costume will be awarded during the second half. This show will sell out so reserve your tickets today!

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

samba instructors

Tomorrow we are rising for Revolution at One Billion Rising 2015

1br_rev_landscape_stack_w.date_black(2)Saturday February 14th
“One Billion Rising” 2015
12:00-3:00pm
Flash Mob & Rally
Downtown at the Denver Capitol

 

One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women in human history. The campaign, launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. On 14 February 2013 and 2014 people across the world came together to express their outrage, strike, dance, and RISE in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women.

Events took place in 200 countries, where women, men, and youth came together to Rise, Release, and Dance outside of court houses, police stations, government offices, school administration buildings, work places, sites of environmental injustice, military courts, embassies, places of worship, homes, or simply public gathering places where women deserve to feel safe but too often do not. The campaign was covered widely by media in all corners of world including The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, and many more.

Following up on the last 2 years of our involvement, Bella Diva Dance will once again be RISING in our community and are helping coordinate the city-wide event on Feb. 14th, 12:00-3:00 pm downtown, where we will have a sponsor table set up at the capitol for the rally.

We gave 2 special classes this week to teach the powerful & simple, global choreography “Break the Chain” created by renowned choreographer Debbie Allen. At the end of both classes recorded us dancing “Break the Chain” together and today we’ll be posting it to the international One Billion Rising site and the Bella Diva Dance website!

AND! Students who came to learn the dance during class will have the opportunity to perform during the opening number at our “One Billion Rising” show at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret Wed. March 18th as we raise money for Verifika, a Colorado non-profit that works to eradicate exploitation of women & children involved in human-trafficking in marginalized communities.

This year in 2015, we are rising for Revolution.

We invite you to join us!

OBR2

February upcoming performances in Denver

It might be minus zero out there, but here at Bella Diva Dance Studio it’s always hot and steamy as we prep for our upcoming performances. We will be presenting in 5 major events this month of February alone. Check below the details of these fun, entertaining, charitable events.

February Dance Performances by Bella Diva

2015carnivallogoFriday Feb 6th
Denver’s Kids’ Inc Young Professionals Presents: “A Night in Rio”
8:00pm- midnight
Mile High Station 2027 Old West Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80204

 

Read our “Carnivale – A Night in Rio” post for more details.

 

BlueIce

 

Saturday February 7th
“Travel To Brazil” at Blue Ice Lounge
10:00pm- midnight
22 Broadway Ave.
Denver, CO 80204

 

 

 

 

1br_rev_landscape_stack_w.date_black(2)

 

Saturday February 14th
“One Billion Rising” 2015
12:00-3:00pm
Flash Mob & Rally
Downtown at the Denver Capitol

 

Carnaval banner

 

Tuesday February 17th
“Fat Tuesday Carnaval” at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret
8:00pm
Tickets $16.00
1601 Arapahoe St.
Denver 80202

 

CLASS SCHEDULE CHANGES AND ADDITIONS

Bollywood on Sundays at 11:30am (NO LONGER AT 12:30pm)
Hot Hula will be moving to Mondays at 6:30pm
*NEW Yoga class on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30pm 

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].