25.02.2022

2022 Carnival celebrates frevo

By Bruna Cronfli

Carnival is part of the Brazilian identity and is one of the most important festivals in the country.  Carnival manifestations unfold in different ways in different regions and carry a rich and important cultural meaning. At Beacon, we offer a vast repertoire to our students so that they can experience this diversity and expand their knowledge about the most distinct manifestations.

This year, we chose to celebrate Frevo and its exciting artistic expression with the classes from G1 to Y11! Frevo was born in Recife, capital of Pernambuco, and, in 2012, it was considered by UNESCO an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Rich for its musical melodies and instrumental arrangements, characters who involve their narrative and dance steps so distinctively, the rhythm combines march, maxixe, and some elements of capoeira. With its vibrant colors and fast-paced steps, frevo is a captivating rhythm, and during Carnaval, as its name suggests, people dance wildly in the streets, dragging thousands of revelers along its path.

During the weeks leading up to our Carnaval dance at school, students from G1 to Y7 were invited to learn more about the frevo during Portuguese Language, Brazilian Culture, and Music classes. In Visual Arts classes, they were invited to investigate and build masks as allegories and props.

In Early Childhood Education, the children decorated the typical frevo umbrellas, used confetti and serpentine in their artwork, and learned simple steps of the dance, such as “tesourinha” and “saci pererê”. G4 and G5 groups created banners to use in the parade.

G6 to 3rd-year students (Y3) studied the aesthetic characteristics of frevo, its colors and contrasts as a main focus. Fourth graders  (Y4) created masks from the study of cordel engraving, while fifth graders (Y5) participated in the parade along with Bloco da Fauna Brasileira, wearing masks inspired by the work of the artist Rivane Neuenschwander. 

Sixth graders (Y6) created masks using their own faces as inspiration, and the eighth graders (Y8) had their masks modeled with volumes, exercising the characteristics of the three-dimensional (density, malleability, stability, weight, etc). 

On the big day of the celebration at school, the students were welcomed at the entrance of the campus by musicians and frevo dancers. In the mood of the party, besides the students, some teachers, and employees were also dressed up waiting for the dance. The parade took place in the three units (Berlioz, Villa, and Campus), with the participation of musicians and students from Elementary II in the band. It was a day filled with social integration, music, and a lot of joy!