Jess as a Passista (Dancer) for G.R.E.S Unidos da Vila Rica.

Last summer Rio Mate sponsored Samba Dance workshops at Lula Lounge in the increasingly gentrified neighbourhood of Dundas West. Jessica De Cruz Semedo, our hero in this blog post, is a Torontonian of Cape Verdean descent and has a dance company called Afro-Lusophone. You can see her and her dancers at numerous events around the city year-round. I’ve worked with Jess a number of times, over the last couple of years, playing drums for her dance classes and even doing some bookings.

This year Jess traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to check out the samba scene. Now, as I have the good fortune of being in the “marvelous city” (as Rio is known) at the same time as the afore mentioned lovely lady, I took the opportunity to jointly visit the sites, the dancehalls, and the Champions Parade of Samba Schools, check blog post. I also took advantage of being with her in Rio to sit down, have some cold mate, and get a solid interview in. So here it goes.

You are a samba dancer right?

Yes I am. I have been dancing Samba for the past 7 and half years.

What made you decide to come to Rio?

I really wanted to take my samba dancing to the next level, and felt I needed to be in an environment where I was saturated by the music, dance and culture. No better place better in the world than Rio. I´ve learned so much here.

What was it like when you first danced with an Escola de Samba (Samba School)?

It was great! I honestly felt like I was at home although I had to really prove myself in the beginning. Once I was in, people were very supportive and open to having me as a part of their escola.

Who did you parade with?

I paraded with Academicos Da Rocinha in the Sambodromo and was a Passista for G.R.E.S Unidos da Vila Rica.

Is it difficult being a foreigner and dancing here in Rio?

I found it to be quite political. Sometimes it’s all about who you know. Entering an Escola de Samba as a foreign Samba Dancer can be pretty tough. People sometimes have low expectations of you and so you really need to prove you know what you are doing.

Are you coming back (to Rio)?

Definitely coming back! I accomplished my dream to dance for a school of samba, but I continue to set higher goals for myself. There is so much more I need to learn and bring back with me to Toronto.

What is next?

I’m heading to the Northeast of Brazil and plan to learn some different styles of Afro-Brazilian dance. I plan to stay one to two months before returning to Rio and then Toronto. Next year I plan to visit Cabo Verde and fully immerse myself into my Cape Verdean and Guinnense roots: music, dance, culture.

With Academicos Da Rocinha in the Sambodromo

Jess and Afro-Lusophone dancing last summer at the Taste of the Danforth with Batucada Carioca.

Alex Bordokas