On March 6th ArtesAméricas presented the Brazilian dance company Grupo Corpo at the UT Performing Arts Center’s Bass Concert Hall. The show marked the company’s Austin debut and was a huge success, bringing a new level of energy to the stage, which in turn inspired a rousing audience response that won’t soon be surpassed at the Performing Arts Center. During their time in Austin, Grupo Corpo shared aspects of Brazilian culture with audiences both on and off stage. However, true cultural exchange requires that we not only take in other cultures but also share some of our own. And what better way to introduce the rich culture of Texas than by taking the group to see Dale Watson, a fixture on the Austin music scene, at the most famous honky tonk in Texas, The Broken Spoke? While the Spoke sees many tourists from all over the world, those in attendance that night will likely remember the scene for some time. Five Brazilian dancers took part in the pre-show dance lessons, learning among other moves, the Texas two-step. The dance floor at the Spoke is not for amateurs, but not surprisingly, Corpo picked up the steps instantly and had a queue of locals waiting to share a dance with these remarkable artists.

Members of the group also visited some of Austin and Central Texas’s commercial landmarks: Waterloo Records, The Whole Foods Flagship Store, as well as a memorable trip to the San Marcos Outlets, where several members of the company did their part to stimulate the US economy.

After four wonderful, busy days, the company left Austin, raving about the warmth of the people, the receptivity of the audience, and the best sushi they’d ever eaten (thanks to Chef Tyson Cole and his staff at Uchi). Tudo de bom!