The best magazine
Opened last February 9 (Frevo Day), the cultural venue is a reference center meant to promote and preserve frevo, listed as Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012.
Recife's Culture Secretariat partnered up with the Roberto Marinho Foundation in the creation of the Paço (the name, pronounced PA-sso, describes a palatial building, often one with an official purpose).
Several public and private sponsors contributed to the effort, which involved the four-year restoration of a building used as the headquarters of the Western Telegraph Company until 1973. The property had been unoccupied since then.
About 180 people were involved in the works, with a project by architect Felipe Campello and museography by artist Bia Lessa. Their creativity turned the historical building into a vibrant space where frevo can be appreciated all year long.
People who make frevo and preserve its heritage share their experiences on videos shown on the ground floor. A timeline starting in 1900 and with no end - the last station is a TV - provides historical context. The ground floor also has a research center named after Brazilian musician Guerra Peixe and a small café
On the first floor, there is a music school with a focus on frevo. A recording studio and an online radio room complement the school programs. The first floor also has space for temporary exhibitions.
The second floor is occupied by rooms for frevo dancing lessons, as well as costume and set design workshops and an exhibition room.
On the third floor, colorful ribbons tied to Jacob's ladders (known in the Brazilian Northeast as traca-tracas), activated by a 28-song soundtrack. "make the whole room dance", in the words of Bia Lessa. On the floor, elaborate flabella and banners created by frevo organizations radiate their bright colors from inside glass display cases.
Live Music, Dancing Steps & Parade
Frevo orchestras, blocos líricos and other groups perform in Quinta no Paço (Thursday at the Paço), at 6:30 p.m. Admission is included in the price of the day's ticket.
On Fridays at noon, there is Hora do Frevo in the café. Admission is free.
On the last Sunday of the month, there is Arrastão do Frevo, a parade with orchestras through Recife Antigo. The parade starts at 3 p.m. on Avenida Rio Branco.
'Vamos Cair no Passo' is a mini lesson with 10 basic frevo steps, lasting 20 minutes, included in the admission price for the day. The hours are: Tue to Thur from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sat and Sun from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. All ages are welcome
Check for possible changes in schedule due to holidays.
Address and Contact
Praça do Arsenal da Marinha, s.n°
Recife – PE
50030-360
55-81-3355-9500
www.pacodofrevo.org.br
Hours:
Tue, Wed and Fri from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sat and Sun from noon to 7 p.m.
Admission: R$ 6 (half-price for students and seniors 60 and older with ID, free for children 7 and under)
Admission is free on Tuesdays
Source: ...