Dance Department Welcomes Brazilian Artists in Residency

The Department of Dance will host Brazilian artists Dandha Da Hora and Dendê Macêdo in residency September 9-21. During their time in Charlotte, they will teach classes at UNC Charlotte, Northwest School of the Arts, and the Harvey B. Gantt Center.

Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Dandha Da Hora has been a member of Ilê Aiyê, one of Brazil’s most important musical and cultural institutions, since she was six years old. In her teaching, as well as in her performances, Dandha invokes the incredible spirit of Salvaldor, Bahia, Brazil and of Ilê Aiyê. A master dancer and dance teacher, as well as vocalist and percussionist, Dandha honors the incredible gifts of her culture every time she performs. As a lead dancer with Ilê Aiyê and one of the lead vocalists of music group SambaDá (based in Santa Cruz, CA), Dandha has shared the stage with Brazilian stars such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Daniela Mercury.

Dandha’s Afro Brazilian Dance classes are an invitation to explore the rich world of Afro Brazilian Dance traditions with an experienced and dedicated teacher. Her classes focus on folkloric and Orixa-inspired dance, Samba Afro, and samba reggae, as well as other Brazilian dance styles and feature live drumming by talented local musicians.

Dendê Macêdo is a percussionist, singer, composer, bandleader, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist. He’s been a professional musician since the age of 14, when he appeared in the frontline of Timbalada, Carlinhos Brown’s superstar percussion ensemble. Since 2001, he has been developing his solo career, splitting his time between the US and Bahia and working with his folkloric group Ologundê and his flagship band Dendê & Band.

Dendê & Band have recently performed at venues such as the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles; the KW Latinfest in Ontario, Canada; the Penang World Music Festival in Malaysia; Summerdance in Chicago; and the Chile Pepper Fiesta at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. His folkloric group Ologundê has performed at major performing arts centers and festivals throughout the US and toured Greece as part of the Cultural Olympiad, appearing at the Kalamata Dance Festival and at the Athens Festival at the Acropolis.

He has provided workshops, clinics and residency programs throughout the US and Brazil at such esteemed institutions as Lincoln Center, the Juilliard School, the Eastman School of Music, and the Peabody Conservatory, among many others. Dendê currently teaches regularly in the Philadelphia area.