Ologundê Brings Afro-Brazilian Music and Dance to the Kimmel Center February 8
January 30, 2007
The New York-based Ologundê ensemble celebrates the deep, vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture of Salvador, Bahia in the Perelman Theater on Thursday, February 8, 2007. Comprised of Brazilians living in the United States and Brazil, Ologundê is under the direction of percussionist Dendê from the famed Timbalada band. Together, they recreate dances originating in the sugar cane fields by slaves, and exemplify how these acrobatic, playful dances, such as capoeira, later served as cultural weapons to break the chains of enslavement in Brazil. Breathtaking warrior dances will feature daring martial arts, sticks and machetes and call-and-response singing using berimbau, agôgô, pandeiro, congo, among other African instruments as music.
This concert is the third in the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Planet World Series scheduled for the 2006/2007 season. The next concert in the series will be Lura on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 7:30pm.
Tickets for Ologunde are $34 and $40 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10pm to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply.) For group sales call 215-893-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning 2.5 hours prior to curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.
Ologundê ensemble is dedicated to performing the rich Afro-Brazilian culture of Salvardor, Bahia through a diverse repertoire of music and dance. Comprised of Brazilians living in New York City and Brazil, Ologundê includes former members of renowned companies. The ensemble has toured all over the United States and toured Greece as part of the Cultural Olympiad, appearing at the Kalamata Dance Festival and at the Herodeon (at the Acropolis).
The group’s artistic director, Dendê, is a former member of the famed Timbalada band has been performing professionally since the age of 14. He toured throughout Brazil, Europe and Asia, and has appeared on various television shows. As a member of Timbalada, he performed and recorded with such artists as Marisa Monte, Gilberto Gil, Carlinhos Brown, Yvette Sangalo and Sepultura. In addition to Ologundê, he leads three of his own ensembles: the Afro-Brazilian group Hahahaes, the samba group Samba de Três and his Brazilian percussion ensemble Arrastão de Dendê.
Kimmel Center Presents' 2006/2007 season is supported by: Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, National Endowment for the Arts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, ARC Wheeler, The William Penn Foundation, The Wachovia Foundation, Verizon Foundation, The Presser Foundation, Philadelphia Music Project and Dance Advance, Initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trust administered by The University of the Arts. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents. The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com are media sponsors for the Great Orchestras on Tour series.
FREE AT THE KIMMEL EVENTS are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS
February 8, 2007 | 7:30pm
Perelman Theater
Ologundê
I. Candomblé
II. Maculele
III. Capoeira
IV. Samba de Roda
Musicians: Dendê, Davi Vieira, Ramnses Santos dos Santos, Velly Bahia
Dancers: Mario Perreira, Marsha Danza, Michelle Bastos, Silvano Montalvo
Capoeiristas: George dos Palmares, Pimentinha, Gulliver, Cabaça, Omi & Shem
**********
FREE AT THE KIMMEL EVENTS
Wednesday, February 7, 2007 | 6:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza
Pedrick-Smith Guitar Duo
In September 2002 Thomas Smith’s composition "River Rising" was premiered by the Pedrick Hutson guitar duo at the Philly Fringe Festival. Since then, the duo has recorded the piece for their CD Environs, and have extensively performed throughout the United States for guitar societies, concert series, and music festivals. Their music encompasses a variety of styles, including classical, jazz and world sounds. Prior to the ticketed Joshua Bell performance in Verizon Hall.
Saturday, February 10, 2007 | 1pm
Commonwealth Plaza
Svitanya
Svitanya, a female a cappella ensemble, celebrates the timbres, rhythms, and harmonies indigenous to Eastern Europe, and performs a diverse repertoire of traditional Eastern European songs with modern arrangements—ranging from strong and strident-filled working songs to traditional dance tunes to lush and emotive arrangements. Prior to the ticketed Paul Jacobs performance in Verizon Hall.
> index of news releases
> For more information, and to request high resolution images for press use, please
send us a message online.