Dancing with Puppets
Things here in Olinda are going rather well. My class is very laid back and alot of work is done in the garden outside the Tourist Centre. I am very much in favour of class in the open air, with humming birds, the sun, palms and mango trees. Stories of me singing Smashmouth´s "AllStars" to my students may or may not be true (okay they are, but really it was only because they asked).
Last week was orientation which for the most part was learning Portugese. I´m getting there, slowly. Very slowly. And in just over a month I will have to learn Spanish. And after that... Well lets not think about being back in Perth.
On Wednesday some of us went to a Forroe (sp?) club which is one of the local styles of dance I am learning. On Friday night a group of us went clubbing to a western style club. Strangely there are alot of popular English language songs that get translated into Portugese. This means you hear the introduction of a song and go "oh I know that" but then the words don´t seem to match with what´s in your head. The club was okay, though packed.
On Saturday and Sunday there were puppets in Olinda. Three big stages, two smaller stages, a tent, big screens and a gallery with performances in the evening. The tent had a display of puppets from around the world. The performances were cast on big screens so if you couldn´t see the stage you could still watch what was going on. Marrionettes, hand puppets, rod puppets, shadow puppets... you name it, it was there. With a stilt-walker introducing it all. There was also a photographic display of the puppets in action which looked great. Lots of music on Saturday night as well. And on Sunday a parade in the afternoon.
The Parade was of the giant carnaval style puppets and we watched as around 30 of these brightly coloured, detailed, 10ft tall puppets made their way through the streets of Olinda to a marching band and followed by a 20ft (at least) long dragon puppet which was done in a simmilar style to Chinese dragons. Very, very funky.
Seem to have picked up a virus, unfortunately so missed dancing class tonight. Shall have to subject myself to more fruit juice to help recover. Woe is me.
Last week was orientation which for the most part was learning Portugese. I´m getting there, slowly. Very slowly. And in just over a month I will have to learn Spanish. And after that... Well lets not think about being back in Perth.
On Wednesday some of us went to a Forroe (sp?) club which is one of the local styles of dance I am learning. On Friday night a group of us went clubbing to a western style club. Strangely there are alot of popular English language songs that get translated into Portugese. This means you hear the introduction of a song and go "oh I know that" but then the words don´t seem to match with what´s in your head. The club was okay, though packed.
On Saturday and Sunday there were puppets in Olinda. Three big stages, two smaller stages, a tent, big screens and a gallery with performances in the evening. The tent had a display of puppets from around the world. The performances were cast on big screens so if you couldn´t see the stage you could still watch what was going on. Marrionettes, hand puppets, rod puppets, shadow puppets... you name it, it was there. With a stilt-walker introducing it all. There was also a photographic display of the puppets in action which looked great. Lots of music on Saturday night as well. And on Sunday a parade in the afternoon.
The Parade was of the giant carnaval style puppets and we watched as around 30 of these brightly coloured, detailed, 10ft tall puppets made their way through the streets of Olinda to a marching band and followed by a 20ft (at least) long dragon puppet which was done in a simmilar style to Chinese dragons. Very, very funky.
Seem to have picked up a virus, unfortunately so missed dancing class tonight. Shall have to subject myself to more fruit juice to help recover. Woe is me.
posted by moonbug @ Tuesday, December 14, 2004
1 Comments:
At Friday, December 17, 2004 3:02:00 pm,
moonbug said…
Hey Miriam, Am suriving, seem to have had a bit of a relapse today but generally on the mend.
The puppets in the Museum, sound great, would have loved to see them.
Christmas and New Years will be here in Olinda/Recife. Not sure what I´m doing for Christmas but for New Years there is apparently a big beach party. How about you?
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