65th Amazonas Folkloric Festival: The diversity of popular culture of folkloric groups in the Gold Category

Festival

Reaching different generations, the festival features folklore dances at Povos da Amazônia and the bumbás of Manaus, at the Sambódromo. The program continues until the 29th of July, with free admission.

Manaus (AM) – Cultural manifestations, rooted in folklore, surpass generations and represent the essence of the Amazonas Folk Festival. Rich in diversity, the attraction promoted by the State Government has lasted for 65 years with a democratic and popular format, promoting folk groups in the communities and neighborhoods of Manaus. Over time, many of them underwent changes, gained new training, management, but without losing the essence.

Still in the 70s, the presentations of the folk festival migrated to different locations: stadiums Ismael Benigno (Colina), Parque Amazonense, Vivaldo Lima (Vivaldão) until arriving in 1979, in the so-called “Bola da Suframa”. Later, the festival returned to Vivaldão, occupied the Sambódromo and, in 2007, with the inauguration of the Povos da Amazônia Cultural Center (CCPA), in the former Bola da Suframa, the associations returned to perform there.

The process was one of adaptation for many folk groups. One of them, “Marupiaras do Amazonas”, a member of the Gold Category of the Amazonas Folk Festival, has more than four decades of training.

The challenge of putting the quadrille to dance reflects the love for culture and community of the founder and president, Margareth Soutelo, “Magá”.

“We danced at General Osório, Nacional, and several other places. I remember many times dancing on the Bola da Suframa platform, a wooden platform where people would beat a lot with their feet, making a lot of noise”, recalls Magá, who is now proud of the structure of the current space dedicated to presentations. “The gangsters, when they come from outside, make a point of getting to know the Peoples of the Amazon in person. A sign that our place is good”,

said the founder.

The gang goes through several generations and concentrates more than 10 members of the same family. Elson Rocha assumes the post of scorer and Andreia, in the role of bride. Both are children of the founder and president. “Marupiaras came up with my father and mother, and it was always an adult square dance, under fifteen years old couldn’t dance, so even in the middle of the square, I distributed flowers, I was an extra. I became a scorer and today it’s been 15 years in this role and always with a 10”, celebrates Elson.

“I’ve been dancing square for 40 years, I danced while pregnant with all my daughters and it really is a family group, we adopted another family, which are the square dances. It is a very big representation in my life. It’s my greatest fun.”

reveals Andrea.

The group’s persistence culminated in the construction of its own headquarters, recognized by the Brazilian Quadrilha Confederation as the only square gymnasium in Brazil.

cultural relations

Tradition is also the key point of Brotinhos de Petrópolis, founded 40 years ago. Quadrist Lisia Barca followed the growth of the group, which was born as a joke between friends, to occupy the idle time of the youth of the time.

In childhood, she was engaged to the gang for six years, however, she stopped dancing, but remained participatory in the direction of the group. And if necessary, she says she guarantees the ballet. “Where there are Brotinhos I go as a special guest, I dance, I always cover for someone who is absent, because I know how everything is done. I continue to this day”, says Lisia, who remembers well the times of the “tabladão”.

“Today, returning to a mega-structured location is exciting. Spending all this time without stepping on the Bola da Suframa and returning to the same place as Povos da Amazônia is an honor”,

reveals Lísia that this year she will face the arena as a special guest.

Isaac Freitas also has a history with the Gold Category of the Amazonas Folk Festival. He’s been at the festival for 47 years and says he’s been through several folk groups. Today, at the age of 58, Isaac is the presenter of the festival, a place that, according to him, he never imagined occupying. “I’ve been presenting the festival for two years and it represents such a great gratitude to be here on the other side, seeing all that I’ve already been through. It is a great joy”, concludes Isaac, adding that currently his children and grandchildren are part of Boi Bumbá Garanhão, in addition to other family members joining folk dance groups, confirming the cultural legacy that has entered the family.

*With advisory information

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