BmoreArt

After attending my first Viva Brasil party at Creative Alliance in 2019, I became curious about who was behind the event’s production. That’s when I met Pablo and Kate from EducArte, the organization that now brings this long-running celebration to life. While EducArte has helped shape the event’s recent evolution, Viva Brasil was originally founded in 2005 by cultural producer and filmmaker Mari Gardner, in partnership with the Creative Alliance, the International Capoeira Angola Foundation, and Samba Trovão.

Founded in 2015 by Brazilian musician and arts administrator Pablo de Oliveira and dancer, scholar and educator Kate Spanos, EducArte fosters creative cultural spaces for the education, preservation, and practice of Brazil’s cultural traditions, while establishing Washington, DC, as an important destination for Brazilian artists to perform.

Pablo and Kate represent the kind of cultural ambassadors who understand that preserving traditions requires active creation of spaces where culture can live, breathe, and evolve. Their work with EducArte reflects a deep commitment to maintaining the vibrancy of Brazilian culture while making it accessible to new audiences.

The Viva Brasil party serves as more than entertainment; it functions as a cultural bridge, connecting the Brazilian diaspora in the DMV area while introducing others to the richness of Brazilian traditions. Since its founding two decades ago, the event has built a legacy rooted in community and cultural exchange, evolving through the vision of many dedicated organizers, performers, and educators. In a city like Baltimore, where communities often exist in parallel rather than intersection, events like this create opportunities for genuine cultural exchange.

For those who have never experienced Brazilian carnival, imagine a celebration where music becomes a universal language, where the boundaries between performer and audience dissolve, and where the simple act of dancing becomes a form of collective joy. The party captures this essence, transforming Creative Alliance into a space where the warmth of Brazilian hospitality meets the energy of Baltimore’s diverse community.

As we approach this year’s celebration on Saturday, July 19th, the event promises something special: EducArte is bringing its popular “Sarau de Samba” experience to Baltimore for the first time. This year’s format represents an evolution from previous parties, offering a more intimate, community-centered celebration of Afro-Brazilian samba tradition.

Led by Brazilian musicians Pablo Regis and André Coelho, “Sarau de Samba” offers an interactive evening of live music and dance. The ensemble will perform a lively mix of Golden Age samba, choro, modern pagode, and carnival rhythms. A beginner-friendly dance lesson with Mariana Triginelli will open the event, welcoming all skill levels, with or without a partner. Brazilian vocalist Rose Moraes, a São Paulo native, joins the lineup. Moraes has brought Brazilian music to global audiences and regularly headlines Creative Alliance’s sold-out Carnival concerts. Rounding out the celebration, Batalá Washington DC, an all-women Afro-Brazilian drum corps, will deliver Samba-Reggae rhythms inspired by Salvador, Bahia. The group blends cultural performance with a mission to empower women through drumming.

The Viva Brasil party stands as a testament to the power of cultural celebration to create community, preserve tradition, and build bridges between diverse backgrounds. This year’s “Sarau de Samba” format promises to deepen that connection, offering participants a cultural immersion. In a time when cultural exchange feels more important than ever, events like this remind us that music and dance remain powerful tools for connection and understanding. The Creative Alliance will once again become a Brazilian cultural embassy, pulsing with the heartbeat of Brazil, inviting everyone to discover that some of life’s greatest joys are found in the simple act of celebrating together.

To learn more about the vision and passion behind this celebration, I reached out to Pablo de Oliveira from EducArte. The following interview was edited for clarity.

How did your partnership with Creative Alliance begin?

It began with Joshua Kohn, who was their Performance Director at the time. They already knew about us and reached out to see if we could participate in an event, maybe perform. I came, played music, and also brought in other activities like pre-show concerts and dance workshops. Over time, the relationship evolved. We started as performers and eventually became co-curators. We help select and bring in artists, not just from EducArte but from outside as well. For example, last year Dr. Tinku Bhattacharyya, the current Performance Director at Creative Alliance, wanted to do a Bossa Nova night, so we helped bring in musicians for that. It’s a long-standing collaboration. Every year, we talk about how EducArte can contribute, what we can bring to the party, and we always bring artists to the table.

What aspects of Brazilian culture really shine through in this event?

The musicality, of course. The joy and energy of Carnival. That sense of community and celebration. The dance. And also the gathering of people in Baltimore who love Brazilian music, it’s the longest-running Carnival party in the area, which is really special.

Who are some of your key partners?

Creative Alliance is the main partner, the event is theirs, and we collaborate. The artists we bring are part of our EducArte community. Some of our key collaborators include André Coelho, our percussion director; musicians Felipe Brandão, Carlos Rangel, Hugo Vasques. Kate Spanos is also a huge help with organizing everything. This year, we’re excited to feature singer Cissa Paz, who has been performing in the area for a while, along with DJ Marcela Biondo. The lineup also includes percussion group Batalá, as well as vocalist Rose Moraes. So yes, our biggest partner is Creative Alliance, and I’d say we’re one of their key partners too.

Do you have any standout or special memories from past events?

One that comes to mind is when we did a mini-Carnival in the Creative Alliance restaurant space before the main show. It was all about traditional marchinhas, that was a really fun moment. Every year is memorable in its own way. We’ve had friends join us, like JP Silva, a samba musician from Rio. His participation was very special; he’s someone who really lives and breathes samba in Brazil. We’ve also brought our percussion ensemble and dancers for daytime workshops. It’s always a full experience.

Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the future of this event?

From EducArte’s perspective, we want to keep growing it and continuing the legacy. There hasn’t been another Carnival party in the region that’s lasted as long as this one. We want to bring in new artists, new formats, and showcase more than just the Carnivals of Rio and Bahia. There’s also Carnival in Recife, in the Amazon region, and even within Rio, there are different styles: samba enredo, samba de bloco, street samba. So we want to keep expanding and educating, through music, dance, and joy, about what Brazilian Carnival really is, and all the beautiful cultural expressions that come with it.

You can join in the celebration of Viva Brasil at the Creative Alliance Theater, Saturday July 19th at 7:30pm. Find more information and reserve your tickets here.

Header image: Batalá Washington DC, an all-women Afro-Brazilian drum corps