São Paulo – Mabruk!, an Arab folk dance company from São Paulo, will represent Syria at the 45th International Folk Dance Festival, which will take place in the city on September 24 and 25. The group’s women will be joined by the girls of the youth folk dance group of Sport Club Sírio, which includes children over the age of seven. In all, 21 women and girls will present the rhythms of the Middle East to the festival’s audience.
The event is organized by the Brazilian Society for Japanese Culture and Social Assistance. Besides Syria, there will be groups representing 22 other countries: Germany, Armenia, Austria, Bolivia, Chile, Croatia, Scotland, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan and Ukraine.
“We will present a dance from the Gulf, a palatial dance from Syria and a dabke number”, says Mabruk dancer and founder Márcia Dib on the Arab rhythms that will be presented on the event’s stage. According to her, the group has been performing at the festival for eight years. “We will show the folk dance instead of the belly dance. Each year I bring a different dance”, she says.
According to Dib, the crowd’s reception is great. “They notice the dance’s diversity and embrace the idea of the kids dancing”, she says. Mabruk will also organize a stand to sell sweets, clothing and objects from the Arab country, such as cushions, dresses, rugs, marquetry boxes and other decoration items. The Arab group’s presentation is scheduled for Saturday (24), at around 4:30 pm.
Quick facts
45th International Folk Dance Festival
When: September 24 and 25, 2016
Saturday, at 4 pm, and Sunday, at 3 pm
Where: Grande Auditório do Bunkyo
Rua São Joaquim, 381 – Liberdade – São Paulo – SP
(near the São Joaquim subway station)
Tickets: BRL 20 (USD 6.23) – cheaper prices for people over 60 years old and students with ID and student card
Phone: (55 11) 3208-1755
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani