The cortege (also know as a processions or in some cases, parade) is a practice of religious origin, but like most things in Brazil, it has mixed with popular manifestations over time. It exists today as a hybrid happening, incorporating the religious and non-religious, the past and present, and the equal participation of rich and poor Brazilians alike. Corteges are common events in Brazil, celebrating both religious and secular events throughout the year and ranging in size from the grand Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro to the celebration of the Cirio de Nazaré in the city of Belem near the mouth of the Amazon River.

A reflection of the Congress theme “Immersion in Diversity,” the cortege will display Brazil’s tri-ethnic heritage: Amerindian, African, and European, each of which encompasses its own diversity. For example, Brazil’s European heritage comes from Portugal, Spain, Germany, Italy, among others. While many of the traditional practices on display in the cortege have long since disappeared in their country of origin, the hybrid or “Brazilianized” forms continue to be celebrated widely in Brazil today.

The event will include well-known traditions such as samba, maracatú, and frevo with other, virtually-unknown manifestations like the toré of the Pankararu Indians. Hundreds of performers will participate, coming from each of the five distinct, geographic regions of Brazil: North, Northeast, Central West, Southeast, and South.
A true spectacle of music, dance, and theater, it will be a unique experience not to be missed!





Inclusion in the Arts
This panel will examine the role of artists in making the arts accessible to all individuals, while blurring the line between educational or social projects and the creation of world-class art. The work of these artists changes the lives of both the participants as well as the audiences and often creates the arts patrons of tomorrow. The panel will examine several case studies, originating in different cities throughout Brazil as well as Colombia in the areas of music, theater, and dance.

Panelists:
Ivaldo Bertazzo: Choreographer and Founder Escola de Movimento Ivaldo Bertazzo and Projeto Dança Comunidade
María Claudia Parias Durán: Director, Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra
Viviam Caroline Jesus de Queirós: President, Didá Educational and Cultural Organization & Banda Didá
Chico Pelúcio: Actor, Co-Founder, Grupo Galpão
Martha H. Jones [Moderator]





Popular Urban Culture in Brazil
Brazil is home to some of the largest cities on Earth, many of which are often portrayed, both at home and abroad, as chaotic, violent, and poverty-laden. However, they are also teeming with creative output that mixes traditional forms of artistic expression in Brazil with influences from abroad as well as new the new creative languages of contemporary artists. This discussion will explore how this rich urban culture crosses social boundaries and inspires other forms of art, as well as the role it plays in the lives of those who inhabit these large cities.

Panelists:
Samuel Araújo: Associate Professor of Music, Universidade Federal do RJ
Guti Fraga: Actor, Director, and Founder of Nós do Morro
Susana Yamauchi: Choreographer and Programming Consultant, Fábricas da Cultura
Rappin’ Hood: Hip Hop Artist
John Dawsey: Professor of Anthropology, Universidade de São Paulo
Paul Heritage: [Moderator]: Professor, Producer and Director of People’s Palace Projects.





Tem jeito: Circulation of the Arts in Brazil
In Brazil, there is a saying “Sempre tem jeito” or “There is always a ‘way.’” While Brazil’s cultural market is not organized in the same style as its European or North American counterparts, Brazilian artists find a way to present their work before engaged audiences. From the institutional structures that house and support performances, including government agencies, independent festivals, and private entities, to artist representatives as well as the artist themselves, this panel incorporate a variety of viewpoints to explore how things get done in Brazil.

Panelists:
Cacá Machado: Director of Music, FUNARTE
Carlos Tabakof, Director of the Brazil Music Fair
Marcelo Mendonça: Director of Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil – São Paulo
Leandro Knopfholz: Director of Curitiba FestivalAnthony Sargent [Moderator]

Maninha Morais: Director-president of Centro Dragão do Mar, Ceará
José Mauro Gnaspini: Director of Virada Cultural de São Paulo
Anthony Sargent - Director do The Sage Gateshead [Moderator]





Diversity of Inspiration: The Intersection of Popular and Fine Arts
Throughout its history, Brazil has spawned artists whose work reflects a constant dialogue between classical and popular art forms. From Villa-Lobos to Rodrigo Pederneiras, Brazilian artists have often sought multiple artistic viewpoints to inspire their work and have ignored the barriers observed elsewhere between classical and popular art. Others have chosen to create using parameters that all but ignore Brazil’s popular traditions, while embracing new tendencies from abroad. This session will address this fascinating diversity, starting with the perspectives of Brazilian artists creating today.

Panelists:
Silvio Ferraz: Composer, Music Scholar, and Professor of Music at the Escola de Música do Estado de São Paulo [Unicamp], São Paulo
Cibele Forjaz: Actress and Theater Director, São Paulo
Márcia Milhazes, Coreógrafa, Marcia Milhazes Dance Co., Rio de Janeiro
Graham Sheffield: (Moderator): Artistic Director, Barbican Centre, London