Barbatuques Workshop - Sao Paulo, Brazil

The "body percussion" workshop we were invited to yesterday morning was awesome. Fernando Barba, the founder of the group, Barbatuques, was the one that headed the workshop, It was a mix of learning different techniques and rhythms...creating different tones and sounds with different types of claps and slaps, with your hand on your chest, legs, head, across your cheeks, over your lips, and in front of your mouth...stomping your feet. It was very therapeutic and even meditative at time.

We started off learning how to make 3 different tones from clapping: bass claps, mid-pitch claps, and a high-pitch claps. Then we formed circles and created rhythms in groups. About 20 of us from Saltimbanco were there. (click on pics to enlarge)

We can't wait to get in!


Susan (my wife), me, Fernando Barba, Serge Maheux (Saltimbanco's drummer)


At the end of the workshop 10 of Barbatuques members performed for us giving us a little taste of what they are all about and a wonderful memory. It was an incredible experience.

Giving us a performance after the workshop


Video: Barbatuques workshop performance


They'll be coming to the Cirque du Soleil site in a couple weeks and get to try some of the things our acrobats do in the show.

Barbatuques Pizza Party - Sao Paulo, Brazil

About 25-30 of us from Saltimbanco were at a pizza party last night in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was hosted by a "body percussion" ensemble called Barbatuques (BAR-ba-tooks) founded by Fernando Barba. They had planned a workshop for us the next day, and this party was a good way for us to meet and hang out.

We ate wood-fired pizza in the backyard cooked in their homemade igloo-shaped pizza oven. The sweet smell of grilled vegetables, meat and pizza filled the air. There was sugar cane growing in the back yard. Everyone was smiling, laughing, eating, drinking, and after a couple hours, a jam session took place in their cozy kitchen. It was a great evening!

We were all looking forward to the workshop our new friends were going to give us the next day! (click on pics to enlarge)

Katia & Raja


Dimitri Making the pizzas! Yum!!




Carlos showing us his pandeiro technique


Fernando (guitar) and me jammin' in the kitchen




Video: The Kitchen Jam!

Camburi Beach - Brazil

We had a double-dark last week (2 days off) while in Sao Paulo Brazil with Cirque. 8 of us decided to rent 2 cars and take a little road trip about 3 hours north of Sao Paulo in a little beach town called Camburi. There were coconut and banana trees on the beach. It was beautiful! We found quaint little pousada which is where we stayed for 2 nights.

It was so relaxing. We finally had a chance to really chill out, eat some delicious food, drink passion fruit caipirinhas and clear our minds.

Click on the pics to enlarge.
















Panoramic Video - Camburi Beach

Stryper Backstage at Saltimbanco

I had met Kenny Lewis on my myspace.com page and found out that he would be in Sao Paulo Brazil as the front-of-house sound man for the band Stryper. He stopped by our show (Saltimbanco) and brought along a few of the boys in the band:

Guitarist Oz Fox, me, Singer/guitarist Michael Sweet, Kenny Lewis, Michael Sweet, Jr.


It was very cool meeting these guys for the short time they were here.

Sao Paulo - Nutty Law for Father's Day

You're going to love this one. It Sao Paulo, Brazil, there is a law that allows petty criminals to be relased from jail on Father's Day. The day was this past Sunday. They are supposed to turn themselves back in, which most of them do believe it or not. There were only 10% of those who didn't return last year, but those who don't return still wreak havoc according to the people that live here. On Mother's day, they were shooting at police, robbing businesses, etc.

Backstage at the Cirque du Soleil site, there was a warning posted that suggested we don't go out that night and not use public transportation. The people that live here think it's a whacky law, but "it's the Brazilian way" they say.

Below is a post from the U.S. Embassy Website:

_________________________________

Warden Message: August 12-14

U.S. Embassy Brasilia, Brazil

August 09, 2006

This coming weekend, August 12-14, prisoners are expected to be released from jail in observation of Brazilian Father's Day. A similar furlough occurred over Mother’s Day weekend in May resulted in widespread violence throughout the State of São Paulo, disrupting public transportation and physically damaging many banks and businesses. There is no indication at this time that violence of this magnitude will occur again this weekend or, if it does, that it will spread beyond Sao Paulo. The potential for violence does exist, however. We advise American citizens to check news reports and take normal precautions to protect themselves against crime.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov/ where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/.

In case of an emergency, please contact the Consular Section of the Embassy in Brasilia at Avenida das Nações, Lote 3, telephone 55 (61) 3312-7000, after-hours telephone 55 (61) 3312-7400.

Saltimbanco Premier - Sao Paulo

We had our premier in Sao Paulo, Brazil on August 3, 2006 for Saltimbanco. It was a great opening, considering that we had been off for seven weeks and were working out a bit of the "rust" that developed during our time off.

Here's my makeup station:


Putting on my makeup:


It was great to get back to playing with this amazing group
of musicians!
Left to Right: Benoit Martin, Marc Sohier, Serge Maheux, me,
Paul Hanson


Premier Party photo: me and Ren Jun. She's a 17-yr old double-high-wire artist from China.


My new hat.

Hello Sao Paulo Brazil! - Cirque du Soleil Tour

It was an early morning arrival in Sao Paulo...6am over here, which was the equivalent of 2am in Los Angeles. The flight was easier to deal with than I anticipated.

Somewhere between Arizona and New Mexico

I'm looking foward to exploring this city. It's the biggest city I've ever seen. The high rises are like an ocean of buildings. It's unbelievable! There are 33 million people in the immediate Sao Paulo area.

The view I have from the hotel isn't the most beautiful I've seen, but I'm hardly in the room, so it's not a big deal. The cloudy days didn't help much either.

Having seven weeks off from the tour was great. Now it's time to "work out the rust" and get back into the show!