Rhythms of samba, colorful and exotic costumes and a women’s choir called Brazilian Voices gave South Florida a taste of the traditional Brazilian Carnaval this weekend.
Brazil celebrates its most popular annual event this time of year. In Broward County, the celebration took place next to a carousel at the Pompano Citi Center.
“We created The Samba Carousel because we’re a group of women, we always rehearse in a circle, we don’t have the format of a traditional choir and in Brazil samba is always in a circle, in a table,” said Loren Oliveira, one of the founders of Brazilian Voices.
Brazilian Voices was created in 2001 by Oliveira and Beatriz Malnic, two native Brazilians who were born in the same hospital but didn't meet until years later, in Weston, as they were developing their singing careers.
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Besides performing at cultural events, the choir also performs at schools and hospitals. The women volunteer to sing to cancer patients about eight times a month.
“We learn a lot when performing in hospitals. We have to connect and project differently while singing at chemotherapy stations,” explained Malnic.
The award-winning choir hopes to continue to promote the Brazilian culture in South Florida and around the world through their music.
