With the aim of bringing the migrant communities residing in Portugal into institutional spaces, we launch the first edition of the Dancing the World Program, which brings to the EVC dances shared in social meetings, from different cultures and traditions.
The first action will take place on International Dance Day, April 29th, and it is organized in collaboration with ACV — Associação Caboverdeana. The dance starts at 6:30pm, with the presence of instructor Zeca Cardoso, who will invite participants to learn the basic steps of Colá San Jon and Funaná.
Colá San Jon
Colá San Jon, literally “Acclaiming Saint John”, is a cultural expression of Cape Verdean dance and identity which brings together thousands of people in a great religious festival filled with the powerful sound of drums, vibrant colors, dancing, and joy, as Saint John—the most widely celebrated saint in Cape Verde—is carried in the arms of the people. The parades include the coladeiras, who dance frenetically in pairs, performing rhythmic movements to the beat of the drums, and the capatazes, who keep the dance in order using whistles and coordinate the switching of dance partners.
Funaná
Funaná is a traditional Cape Verdean dance accompanied by the musical genre of the same name, played primarily with an accordion and a metal scraper (ferro) and in a binary rhythm, similar to merengue. It is a cultural expression that reflects the everyday lifestyle of Cape Verdeans, a vibrant partner dance performed at all kinds of celebrations. It is the most widely danced Cape Verdean traditional dance in the world.
This class-format event is free and open to everyone, regardless of their dance experience. Prior registration is required and can be completed through the form available on this page.
See you there!