VIVA SF CARNAVAL!!!! LOVE HAPPENS!!!
Sun, Jun 10th 2007

We had another tremendous year playing SF Canaval again this year. We played on a float as a contingent for the 2nd year in a row, and in true Carnval spirit, we played FIVE SHOWS IN 24 HOURS. This yearly event if one of our favorite events to be a part of. For those of you who don't know (you are missing out) it is held every year in the culturally rich Mission District of SF during memorial day weekend. There is a street festival on Saturday and Sunday, and Sunday morning is the Parade. The theme this year was LOVE HAPPENS. It started with an amazing show at the Elbo Room on Saturday night, where we were joined by one of our favorite local bands Banda Remelexo, joined by the first female singer from Ilê Aiyê, Graça Onasile. We feel so incredibly BLESSED!!!! to have Dandha and her family from Salvador Bahia Brazil to participate with us! The next morning we woke up (with 3 hours of sleep or less) and started to set up on the float at 7:30. We paraded from 9:00 until about 12:30 with no breaks. One moment to remember... playing "Could you be Loved" by Bob Marley samba reggae style with the judges dancing in there booths. After the parade we broke down, and by 3:00 were set up on our stage. At our stage show, we first did a set with all of Dandha and Kevin's drum students. Then SambaDá took over, and we had a great set with the crowd going CRAZY!!! Among special guests were Tania Santiago and her 3 children. Nasha is an amazing dancer (8 years old) and started to drum with us, not missing one beat. Tosh (5 years old) took center stage with his timba, and seems poised to be added to our percussion section leader as soon as he is tall enough to reach our drums. But best of all was the debut from our newest star and addition to the extended SambaDá family, Orion(11 months) who stole the show while in Dandhas arms, gave his first lead vocal performance with a great big "ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!" We were all stunned, thinking "was that actually in KEY?" After this afternoon performance, we went on the after party with DJ Jeremiah, and kept the party alive. Special thanks to all of our family from Brazil, helping us make a bridge of two continents, cultures and people: Dandha, Marcio, Wagner, Dayse, Graça, Tania, Tosh, Nasha, Orion, Telma, Maisa, Julio Remelexo, Julia, Michelle, VIVA CARNAVAL. Ate o proximo ano!