Warm up with Carnaval this weekend

A bit of Brazil comes to Juneau this weekend: Carnaval, a festival of dance, live music, dance performances and workshops, will be held Saturday, March 20, at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center. Performances will include music from Salsa Borealis and dancing from Samba instructor Dora Oliveira. The event begins at 8 p.m. and all ages are welcome.

Carnaval is celebrated around the world, most famously in Rio de Janeiro, over the course of several days in February or March. Juneau's event, like Rio's, will include costumes and masquarade-style masks; a contest for both will be held during the evening.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students, and are available at the door. A no-host bar will be provided.

Dance workshops will also be held throughout the weekend and will include instruction in two traditional Afro-Brazilian dance forms, Samba and Capoiera. (Capoiera combines elements of martial arts, and is believed to have been practiced in Brazil by African slaves as a form of self defense.) Register for classes at the door.

The cost per class is $10 for adults, $7 students, or $25 and $18 for three classes.

For details, contact salsa@juneau music.com or 988-7378.