For the Love of Brazilian Culture and Dance: Interview with Quenia Ribeiro

When you are learning samba or want a super fun workout at home, you can turn to Quenia Ribeiro, samba dancer and teacher extraordinaire. We recently had the pleasure of connecting with Quenia and were inspired by her energy and passion for her brazilian culture and samba dance. Quenia is a native of Rio de Janiero and is now living and teaching in New York. We got the inside scoop here!

Global Samba: With your extensive background and commitment to dancing, what keeps you inspired every day?

Quenia: First of all I would like to tell you how pleased and honored at your positive response to my work.

I love to dance, I love my Brazilian culture and most of all I love Samba. I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to dance almost everyday. Here in the US people are interested and receptive to learning about Brazilian Culture through Music and Dance. New York is already so multi-cultural and people are not afraid to try new things. It feels good to see a student who has improved their ability to dance or improved their physical well being or even has just had a great time in my class. These are some of the things that motivate me.

Global Samba: How do you create and build your choreography?, and do you have a favorite samba style you like to integrate or focus on most often?

Quenia: I am constantly changing and modifying my steps and choreography. Whenever I find the opportunity I like to try new movements to see if they work. Since I am teaching regularly, I often have to do this in the context of a class. Its interesting to see what works for students in terms of keeping them challenged and interested. When I rehearse with my dance company "Grupo Ribeiro" we have more time to try a variety new movements and choreography in a more experimental atmosphere.
In my classes and my work I like to explore the roots of Samba. (Samba De Roda, Dancas dos Orixas , Jongo and folkloric dances in general). Since I am from Rio De Janeiro I also have a definite strong attraction to Samba No Pe / Samba from Rio. This is a more modern form that you would see performed by passistas in an Escola De Samba . The beauty of Brazil is that its so large and diverse that each region has its own music dances and traditions. You can never run out of new sources of interest and inspiration.

Global Samba: What are your thoughts on the development of samba dance styles/movements and music...does music fuel dancing or dancing fuel music?

Quenia: Its interesting to trace all of the connections from one form of dance to another. Samba has its roots in African dance (religious and secular) . Samba De Roda from Bahia is directly related to these forms (Semba , movements from the Candomble, etc). Everything keeps branching out and changing as it moved from the northeast to Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo. At the same time we have many different dance and musicforms from the Northeast that play a role in influencing samba (Maracatu, Frevo, etc) I feel that music fuels and motivates my dancing . The music in turn is inspired by the dance. Much of Brazilian music is very much about participation. I think this is an element that serves to attract such a universal audience. Its hard to say where the line divides music and dance because they are a part of each other.

Global Samba: What can your fans and the community look forward to from you next?

Quenia: We currently have 3 DVD's available to the public. I am working on future Grupo Ribeiro Dance company projects. I teach adults and kids regularly during the week. We are constantly working on new ideas and ways to keep moving forward and involve the public in our work. My goal has always been to work honestly and put the best of myself and my Brazilian culture out there. I am so happy to have an opportunity to share my passion , experience and talents with the rest of the world.

Thank you Quenia! We have the Dance Today and Samba Reggae Workout videos and break a sweat every time. When we are in New York we look forward to attending your class ( held at the Alvin Ailey Dance Studio on W 55th Street). Hope to see you back at Global Samba very soon!

To contact Quenia, check out her class schedule or purchase her amazing DVDs, visit her website.