Xiré (she-reh) is an exciting new collaboration between local composer George Edgar Brown and Salt Lake’s own Brazilian music and dance company, Samba Fogo. Premiering original compositions by Brown, coupled with choreography by Samba Fogo Artistic Director Lorin Hansen, Xiré is a folkloric adventure featuring an original score of incendiary Afro-Brazilian rhythms and dance combined with the smooth sound of traditional chamber orchestra and mixed vocal quartet.
Xiré is a Yorùbá word that means “dance” or “dance circle.” In Brazil it is used to describe the songs and dances of the Orixá (o-ree-sha), nature spirits found in West African and African diasporic culture. With the forced movement of Africans to Brazil by Portuguese colonizers, the Orixá traveled also to the New World, surviving in part under the guise of Catholicism as each Orixá was syncretised with a specific Catholic Saint. In the Brazilian religious tradition of Candomblé today, each Orixá is venerated through rich rhythms, songs, and dances representative of their distinct energy and characteristics. The Orixá and their wealth of tradition have continued to thrive – despite centuries of stigma and oppression – as an integral part of Brazil’s vibrant culture and artistic legacy.
This live music and dance concert will take audiences on a journey, visiting sixteen unique Orixá through sixteen original pieces. Brown has paired Afro-Brazilian Candomblé rhythms with a traditional classical aesthetic – string quintet and vocal quartet – to blend both African and European influences with ancient and modern expressions. Brown’s compositions will be augmented by dancers portraying each Orixá, in ornate traditional costuming.
Come enjoy this unique, creative blend of culture, sound, and movement on November 15 & 16 at the Regent Street Blackbox Theater. The evening will open with an optional pre-reception “Talk Forward” with the composer and choreographer at 6:15pm in the blackbox . In this reception, Brown and Hansen will speak about the process of creating Xiré and give insight into the show’s rhythms and dances, exploring their meaning and significance inside the rich traditions that inspire this concert.
Tickets to Xiré are $20 for general public and $18 for students. Tickets are available online at artsaltlake.org, at all ArtTix locations, or by calling 801-355-ARTS. This event is recommended for ages 8+. No babes in arms. Content is suitable for all ages. This presentation of Xiré is supported by the ZAP (Zoo, Arts & Parks) Program, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and the Salt Lake Arts Council. The performances will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Regent Street Blackbox Theater.
Samba Fogo is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural arts organization inspired many years ago by the excitement and beauty of Afro-Brazilian music and dance. For over a decade Samba Fogo has been enriching the community and inspiring others through live performance and arts education along the Wasatch Front and throughout the Western United States. Electronic press kit available for viewing and download Available for viewing and download here: http://http://sambafogo.com/wp-content/uploads/Samba-Fogo-EPK-10.2018.pdf