Welcome to Seattle Center
BrasilFest is part of the Seattle Center Festál series and produced in partnership with Brazil Center.
In 2022, Seattle Center Festál is celebrating 25 years of stories and traditions. The theme, "Where the World Gathers" links together the series of 24 free festivals presented throughout the year, each with a unique cultural focus, identity, and range of engaging activities.
COVID-19 Protocols:
In terms of COVID requirements, Seattle Center is a City of Seattle department. Thus, we are following the guidance from the City of Seattle as well as King County Public Health. Learn about Seattle Center's health and safety protocols at our events. To protect the public, City staff and contractors are asked to be fully vaccinated.
The festival will take place in-person on Sunday, August 21, 12pm-7pm in the Armory Food & Event Hall, Mural Amphitheatre, and Fisher Pavilion Rooftop. The event is free and open to the public.
BrasilFest exposes the community to Brazilian arts and traditions during the week of the Brazilian Folklore Day. This is a unique mission, as this day is not usually celebrated outside of Brazil. In Brazil, this event is an important educational tool in continuing Brazilian folkloric traditions. The festival's mission goes beyond keeping traditions alive, and combines traditional and contemporary Brazilian expressions. It provides an opportunity to bring together all artists and organizations concerned with Brazil and to unite them in one venue. Thereby, they hope to increase the visibility of the Brazilian cultural landscape in the community.
Eduardo and Ana Paula, Brazilian immigrants, co-founded the nonprofit, Brazil Center, and BrasilFest, which has been held free of charge at the Seattle Center since 1999. It is the area’s best-known Brazilian festival. Eduardo was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. He is a guitarist, percussionist, singer, composer, and director of Show Brazil Productions. He traces his heritage to a royal African family called "Mama Beka", meaning “Prophet of the Royal Court". Ana Paula is a promoter and co-founder of Show Brazil Productions, a Seattle area company created in 1995 to promote Brazilian arts and education opportunities in the U.S and Canada. Ana Paula Mendonça was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and has lived in the United States since 1987, as a naturalized U.S. citizen.
| TIME | PERFORMANCE |
| 1:00pm-1:30pm | Raiz Seattle |
| 2:00pm-2:45pm | Tabla Forró |
| 3:00pm-3:45pm | Chorando na Chuva |
| 4:00pm-4:45pm | Tambor E Cordas |
| TIME | PERFORMANCE |
| 12:30pm-1:15pm | Capoeira Malês Seattle |
| 1:45pm-2:45pm | Dance with Dora |
| 3:15pm-4:15pm | En Canto |
| 4:45pm-5:45pm | Show Brazil! |
| TIME | FACILITATOR | LOCATION |
| 12:00pm-12:45pm | Fawnia | Armory Loft 2 |
| 1:00pm-1:45pm | Karen | Armory Loft 2 |
| 2:00pm-2:45pm | Ron | Armory Loft 2 |
| 3:00pm-3:45pm | Dora | Armory Loft 2 |
| 2:00pm-4:00pm | Roda de Capoeira | Fisher Rooftop |
| 5:45pm | VamoLá (Drum & Dance Ensemble) | Mural/Fisher Rooftop |
OVERVIEW
Seattle Center Festál presents BrasilFest in partnership with Brazil Center and Show Brazil Productions. BrasilFest invites the broader community to enjoy capoeira, food, music, dance, and more!
HISTORY
BrasilFest was established in 1999 by Brazilian immigrants and husband and wife duo, Eduardo and Ana Paula Mendonca, to share Brazilian arts and traditions during the week of Brazilian Folklore Day. This is unique because the holiday is not celebrated outside of Brazil, yet is an important day to educate and share Brazilian folkloric traditions.
Eduardo Mendonca is a musician, music arranger, composer, and festival organizer since 1974. He has performed for many notable people, such as the 14th Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II, and former South Africa President, Nelson Mandela. He is the co-founder and co-director for Show Brazil Productions and the Brazil Center.
Ana Mendonca is the co-founder of Show Brazil Productions, a Seattle company established in 1995 to promote Brazilian arts and education opportunities the U.S. and Canada. She is the booking agent, promoter, and also co-founder of Brazil Center, a non-profit organization behind BrasilFest.
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