May 17, 2014 6:30 PM Dendê & Band at International House's "Colors of Brazil"

53rd Global Gala: Colors of Brazil
For more than 50 years, International House Philadelphia has held a Global Gala, during which a different country or region of the world is celebrated. Last year, we travelled to the Eurasian country of Armenia, a nation rich in cultural heritage and tradition, as well as a contemporary culture that includes riotous fun music, beautiful artwork, and inspired cuisine.

International House Philadelphia’s 53rd Global Gala: Colors of Brazil is channeling the rhythm of Carnaval for its main event on May 17th, and there is no better time to celebrate this amazing country! In the past year alone, Philadelphia took part in a Brazilian trade mission, which successfully brought new Brazilian business to our region while introducing Brazil to our historic city of Brotherly Love. With a direct flight from Philadelphia to Brazil on US Airways starting this year, its not a moment too soon as Brazil will host the World Cup this summer, and in two short years, the Summer Olympics. Brazil has long been the jewel of South America, and now it is opening itself up to the rest of the world.

Please join the IHP Board of Trustees, Community, Business, Civic, Government Leaders, and other Distinguished Guests for a festive cocktail hour, black-tie dinner, silent auction, entertainment, and dancing.

Cocktails & Silent Auction 6:30 pm
Formal Dinner 7:30 pm
Entertainment, Live Music & Dancing 8:45 pm
We'll be dancing the night away to the Afro-Brazilian party grooves of Dendê & Band!

Dendê is a percussionist, singer, composer, bandleader, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist. He’s been a professional musician since the age of 14, when he appeared in the frontline of Timbalada, Carlinhos Brown’s superstar percussion ensemble. Since 2001, he’s been splitting his time between New York and Bahia, and has played with Mongo Santamaria, Giovanni Hidalgo, Zakir Hussain, David Byrne, and Vinicius Cantuária. His own bands include the folkloric music and dance troupe Ologundê, the acoustic Samba de Três, and Arrastão do Dendê, a traditional Afro bloco (samba party band), but it’s as leader and principal songwriter of his flagship band that Dendê has made his greatest impact.

The band, formerly called Hãhãhães, has been packing clubs and festivals throughout the US and internationally for the past five years most. The have been presented most notably by Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the World Music Institute, the Cedar Cultural Center, the Old Town School for Folk Music, Joe’s Pub, World Café Live and Johnny D’s among many others. They have been featured at festivals such as the Marquette Waterfront Festival in Madison, WI; the Lake Eden Arts Festival in North Carolina; the Kalalu Festival in Saint Lucia.