As it moves to dissolve at the end of this season, I recently wrote about how we need to attend a concert by Iris Orchestra to celebrate its 22 years of artistic contribution to our community. One special opportunity will be Saturday when it joins Collage Dance Collective for an evening of Brazilian-themed music, dance, cocktails, and food
At 7 pm on Saturday, April 9 at Collage Dance Center, 505 Tillman Street, Iris Orchestra and Collage Dance Collective will host Brazil by Night, a Brazilian-themed evening of live music, world-class dance, cocktails and food. Tickets are $75 and available here.
Exclusive and limited tickets for this VIP experience include an authentic Brazilian feast by Carson Rodizio and performances by Collage’s professional ballet company and the Iris Artist Fellows. Bossa Nova melodies by songstress Deborah Swiney, a professional recording artist and toured internationally as a backup singer for Al Green. Her musical style has been described as Bossa Nova with Memphis Soul seasoning.
A samba party will round out an unforgettable evening of international culture and art in the all-new Collage Dance Center in the heart of Binghampton, Memphis. The DJ for the Samba Party is DJ Alpha Whiskey. She’s an Air Traffic Controller by day and utilizes her passion for international travel to influence deeply immersed cultural mixes for WYXR 91.7 in Memphis and beyond. She’s set to transport ticketed guests of Brazil by Night from MEM to RIO to round out the evening
Both Collage Dance Collective and Iris Orchestra employ Brazilian artists that helped to bring this special event together for the community, including Iris Artist Fellow Pedro Maia and Collage dancer Fábio Mariano. This event is co-curated, community-centered, and set to be a celebration of the diverse professional artists each organization engages in a way that also resonates with the richly diverse communities we serve.
“We wanted to give Memphis a taste of something new and unique like only these two organizations could pull together, yet authentic to the name, and working with other artists to create this perfect moment has been an artistic highlight for me for sure,” says violinist Pedro Maia, a 2021-22 Iris Artist Fellow.
Iris Orchestra’s mission is to serve the community with the gift of exceptional music through performance, education, and community engagement.
“Music and dance are one of the most perfect pairings, so collaborating with Iris Orchestra was a no-brainer for us,” says Marcellus Harper, Collage Dance Executive Director. “It has been an honor to work alongside the Iris team to build a program that both celebrates the vibrant cultural diversity of our company artists and expands the reach of classical arts.”
Collage Dance Collective, the largest Black-led ballet company in the South, is committed to inspiring the growth and diversity of ballet by showcasing a repertoire of relevant choreography and world-class dancers.
The Executive chef and master carver for the evening will be Blake Carson. Through his culinary skills he’s fusing his Memphis (and BBQ lovin’) upbringing with his affinity for all things Brazil (they also love their BBQ) to create a world class authentic cuisine experience fusing South America and Mid-South deliciousness.
Following the excitement seen for Brazil by Night, details for Brazil by Day—a free Community Day at Crosstown on May 14—will be released soon and will feature additional partners in Crosstown Arts and Carpenter Art Garden.
WHAT: Brazil by Night: Where Art and Culture Collide!
WHEN: 7:00 pm Saturday, April 9
WHERE: Collage Dance Center, 505 Tillman Street
TICKETS: $75, here.
INFO: Cash bar and free onsite parking
