Martial Arts, Capoeira, and Samba…

The BR Day New York takes place on Sunday, September 3, with unmissable musical attractions. But on the previous Saturday, other elements of Brazilian culture will be highlighted in a free street festival happening in Little Brazil (46th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues). It’s the Warm-Up for Brazilian Day! An event co-produced by the founder of BR Day NY, João de Matos, along with choreographer and capoeira master Jelon Vieira and musician percussionist Carlos de Oliveira.Martial ArtsLed by Renzo Gracie, members of the famous Gracie family will present Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. “We will do a self-defense demonstration showing what Jiu-Jitsu is and also a Muay Thai presentation,” announces Renzo. “People will learn and be able to participate. We will also set up a booth where we will distribute DVDs with the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie family itself,” he adds. Renzo is part of the fourth generation of the “Gracies,” a family that has been dedicated to martial arts since 1925, and became globally known for creating Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BBJ). Over the years, more than 40 family members have defended the practice and dissemination of the group’s techniques and philosophy. Direct descendants of Grand Master Hélio Gracie, they form the largest family of athletes in the world. The Gracie family is also one of the key figures in the spread and success of martial arts in New York. Renzo founded Renzo Gracie’s Academy 22 years ago, a network of academies that has taught martial arts to thousands of students, establishing itself as one of the largest academies in the world. Additionally, celebrities like Keanu Reeves, star of “Matrix,” and some of the best MMA fighters such as American Chris Weidman have trained there. Participating in the Warm-Up for Brazilian Day will be a unique opportunity to see and learn about martial arts with one of the legends of Brazilian sports. “Since I arrived, I have always followed Brazilian Day and have always thought it was an extraordinary event, but this will be the first time I will participate, and it will be a great honor. I am excited,” says Renzo. For more information, visit: www.renzogracie.comCapoeira and MaculelêCapoeira and Maculelê, Afro-Brazilian cultural expressions that mix fight, dance, and music, will also be highlighted in the Warm-Up for Brazilian Day with the participation of choreographer and master Jelon Vieira and guests. Jelon is planning interactive capoeira and maculelê presentations. That is, the master is inviting the public to participate and learn practically about these two manifestations that represent Brazil. “The community is invited to participate in the classes. For Maculelê, anyone who wants can bring the grima,” invites Jelon, referring to the two sticks used in the manifestation. Vieira, a Bahian who has lived in the United States for 42 years, is one of the most recognized capoeira masters today. He was the one who brought the art of teaching capoeira to the United States 30 years ago. He is the founder of Capoeira Luanda and also the founder and choreographer of DanceBrazil, a contemporary dance company. For more information, visit: www.dancebrazil.org and www.capoeiraluanda.orgSambaFor a party to be Brazilian, it must have samba. Of course, samba will not be left out of the Warm-Up for Brazilian Day. “We will have a samba school drumline parading in Times Square,” announces Carlos De Oliveira, musician percussionist and founder of the Brazilian Council on Samba, who is organizing a true carnival for September 2. Working together with the New York Samba School and other professionals in the field, Carlos hopes to showcase in the “Warm-Up” the typical elements of traditional samba from Rio de Janeiro, complete with dancers and a couple of mestre-sala and porta-bandeira. The Brazilian Council on Samba is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support artists and organizations to represent and promote the history and culture of samba. For more information, send an email to info@braziliancouncilonsamba.org.