100 Days to the Paralympics

Wellington Batucada teaches paralympians how to samba

Wellington Batucada at Paralympics New Zealand's '100 Days To Go' event at Te Papa - dancers, paralympians and schoolkids - photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for Paralympics New ZealandA small and select group from Wellington Batucada helped celebrate 100 Days to the Paralympics at Te Papa. Great fun was had by all.

We started filtering through the doors of Te Papa around 11:30 and waited for the rest of the band to arrive. As we waited, the Brazilian Embassy delegation arrived and, as always, Eduardo (the ambassador) showed his charm and general cool dude tendencies by stopping by to say hello to his adopted community samba group. Continue reading

Batucada beginners’ drumming course starts 12 June 2016

Learn samba drumming with Wellington Batucada!

Bledisloe Cup waterfront paradeOur next Batucada beginners’ drumming course begins 12 June 2016.

It will be held on Sundays from 1pm to 3pm at our temporary rehearsal space, Community Music Junction, Level 1, 4 Hopper Street, Mt Cook, Wellington.

The course runs for 6 weeks, dates as follows: Sunday 12, 19, 26 June and Sunday 3, 10, 17 July.

Please make sure you arrive at least 15 minutes early on the first day (12 June) so that we have time to register you.

Fee is $60 for all 6 sessions if paid in advance, or $12.50 per session. Existing Batucada members are welcome to come and help or try out a new instrument, $20 Batmember special price for the full course.

SEE YOU THERE!

Mary Potter Hospice collection day 2016

Drumming and dancing on Cuba Street for a very good cause

How can we say no to such a good cause – and how can we possibly say no to an opportunity to drum and dance on our beloved Cuba Street?

A keen bunch of drummers and dancers turned up on a very cold but sunny Saturday lunchtime to help raise money for the Mary Potter Hospice. Those of us who arrived early got a treat in the form of the Wellington Community Choir singers who were doing their fundraising bit before us. Lovely!

We gathered a pretty substantial crowd as soon as we began playing, all of whom seemed to be enjoying themselves (well they must have been, otherwise they wouldn’t have stayed to watch and listen!). It was cool to see that some people were happy with just one song and then went on their way, being quickly replaced by other passers-by who paused to listen – while others stayed for the whole show. I’m especially looking at you, lovely hippy girl who clearly LOVED us and danced her socks off to our music from start to finish… it’s wonderful to drum for people who are joyfully and completely moved by our music.

Darryn made sure to shake the bucket and encourage people to donate after each song, and I’m hopeful that we were able to help the Hospice raise a bit more money for their very worthy endeavours. Thanks heaps for inviting us!

We’d love to add some photos and/or video to this review, so if you have any, please get in touch with AliG at alison@webweaver.co.nz – thanks!

Farewell to Thistle Hall

The end of an era

Day of the Dead Wellington Batucada team photo. By Alan Shuker

Batucada at Thistle Hall, dressed up in our Day of The Dead costumes, ready for CubaDupa 2016

It’s been our home and our heart for 15 years, but today we had to say goodbye to Thistle Hall – our headquarters at the top of Cuba Street in Wellington (the Coolest Little Capital in the world).

We’ve had a thousand and one band practices at Thistle Hall, got dressed up for many a Sevens gig, prepared for CubaDupa and Cuba Street Carnival there, said farewell to our dear friend Sanny there, stored all our gear, held get-togethers and parties, meetings and AGMs, learned together and played together and shared our love of music together, laughed and cried and drummed and danced there.

Batucada superheroes at Thistle Hall - Wellington Sevens 2016

Batucada superheroes at Thistle Hall – Wellington Sevens 2016

We don’t know where we’re going to end up – our needs are somewhat specialised – we need space to rehearse, a wooden floor to dance on, storage space for our drums, disabled access, some kind of cooling system (drumming is hot work!), not too expensive (we’re a self-sustaining voluntary community group), heaps of parking space, loos and water, inner city if possible – and of course, somewhere where we can drum for 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon and make a reasonable amount of noise without annoying the neighbours.

2015 Sevens waterfront parade day 1 - family photo by Alan Shuker

Steampunk Batucada family photo outside Thistle Hall, ready to play at the Wellington Sevens 2015

Our short-term temporary home until we find somewhere more suitable will be Community Music Junction, Level 1, 4 Hopper Street. As it’s carpeted our dancers can’t dance there without risk of injury, so we hope we’ll be able to find somewhere else really soon. We really don’t want to be separated from our beautiful dancers any longer than is absolutely necessary.

If you know of anywhere that might be suitable, or have any ideas, please contact us at wellingtonbatucada@gmail.com or call Lisa on 021 112 1619.

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