Juliana Amelia Paes Azoubel

Frevo and the Contemporary Dance Scene in Pernambuco, Brazil: Staging 100 Years of Tradition Juliana Amelia Paes Azoubel

This book analyzes the formalization and development of frevo, one of the most important Brazilian popular music and dance traditions,in the streets and theatres of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Historical analyses and ethnographical research demonstrate the contribution of key artists in the development of this dance from 1907 to 2007. This work addresses controversial ideas that are the nurturing elements of Pernambuco´s contemporary dance scene. "Frevo, like samba is a Black Atlantic ecstasy machine. Black Brazilians of the northeast of that enormous creative country teach us how to exult in dancing frevo, teach us the lessons of deep pleasure and joy as a bulwark against the contretemps of life and political struggle. Juliana Azoubel does not leave undiscussed a single issue of self-determination and self-discovery at the heart of frevo. I am proud to have read this volume and the amount of cultural information so richly shared here will keep readers engaged forever. Frevo, the dance jewel of Recife, takes on its proper momentum and healing efficacy in the pages of this outstanding work." Robert Farris Thompson author, Flash of the Spirit