School of History and Anthropology

Urucungos at Queen’s

This project will bring ‘Urucungos’, a twelve-person dance company, from Brazil to Belfast, where they will join a group of around 30 students from Queen’s University for a presentation of various Brazilian participatory dance traditions. Prior to the troupe’s arrival, the students recruited to the project will participate in five preparatory workshops, and once the troupe is in house there will be further intense daily workshops in preparation for the joint presentation, which will be held in the Whitla Hall on May 12, 2011, at 7.30pm, as part of the ‘First QUB Latin America Week’ (9-13 May, 2011). A post-presentation meeting will be held with the participants to reflect upon the outcomes of the experience.

Key Objectives:

1) Provide an opportunity for expanding knowledge of Brazilian culture. By learning various dances and songs from across Brazil, participants will be stimulated to want to learn more about the country and the people with which the material is associated. Through a final presentation, a much wider audience, including other students, staff, and the community at large, will also benefit from the visit of the dancers.

2) Provide cultural enrichment through an experience of participatory community dancing. Throughout the world people engage in collective musicking and dancing for the pleasure