12 – 20 July 2013
Frevo Drop, direct from London’s V&A Museum, is a stunning exhibition of hand-painted and illuminated umbrellas which is going on display as part of this year’s Brazilica festival. The installation of 30 original frevo umbrellas will be available to view in the Metquarter. Frevo Drop is curated by arts collective Braziliality.
Frevo is a Brazilian style of high tempo carnival music and dance so distinct to the culture of the north east region of Perambuco that it is recognised by UNESCO.
Dancers with frevo bands are known for their energetic moves accompanied with the waving of colourful parasols. The relevance of the umbrellas is more than just spectacle, and can be traced back the late 19th Century and the origins of the dance, when competition between frevo bands on parade could be deadly.