Colorado Brazil Fest

Colorado Brazil Fest (CBF) is the largest festival of its kind in the Colorado, and also one of the largest in the nation, with 1500-2000 participants each year. Colorado Brazil Fest is hosted by Boulder Samba School, the leading organization in the state dedicated to promoting the rich heritage of Brazilian music, dance, and culture, with a track record of engaging thousands of local residents in performances and educational music programs since its inception in 2009.

Save the Date: Colorado Brazil Fest 2023 (Aug 10-13)

Colorado Brazil Fest 2023 Shows

You can buy your tickets here! The cost is $25 for a single show ticket, $40 for Saturday both shows. We have discount tickets ($10) for Youth (age 17 and under) and free admission for kids age 5 and under. Note: multi-show discount price will appear in shopping cart after tickets have been selected.

Thursday August 10, 6:30PM: Bateria Alegria on The Mall, Free show with Bateria Alegria, Dandha da Hora, Samba Colorado and Luciana Da Silva (Pearl St Mall - Courthouse Block)

Bateria Alegria is the primary performing ensemble of the Boulder Samba School, composed of 20-30 percussionists and led by Music Director Carl Dixon. The ensemble plays percussion-based styles of music from Rio de Janeiro (samba batucada) and Salvador (samba reggae). The music incorporates a mixture of African, European, and indigenous influences and traditions. These styles of music are traditionally played during the carnival parades throughout Brazil and can be heard in Brazilian concert stages, dance clubs, neighborhoods, and soccer matches.
Dandha Da Hora: Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Dandha Da Hora has been a member of Ilê Aiyê, one of Brazil’s most important musical and cultural institutions, since she was 6 years old. A master dancer, as well as vocalist and percussionist, Dandha invokes the incredible spirit of Ilê Aiyê and Salvador, Bahia, each time she steps onstage. As a lead dancer with Ilê Aiyê, Dandha toured internationally and has shared the stage with many of Brazil’s most renowned artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Daniela Mercury. In addition to performing with Ilê Aiyê and SambaDá, Dandha has performed with Casa Samba (New Orleans, LA), SambaDendê and Bateria Alegria (Boulder, CO), Banda Remelexo and Bahia Soul (Bay Area, CA).
Samba Colorado: Since its founding in 2013, Samba Colorado is devoted to bringing together people from all walks of life in an artistic, educational, and positive community by sharing the joy and beauty of Brazilian culture and dance. We offer classes, workshops, dance residencies as well as energetic and exciting performances for both community and private events. We are an equal opportunity organization welcoming all ages, orientations, races, body types, and ethnicities.
Luciana Da Silva: Native Brazilian Luciana da Silva shares Brazilian dance with audiences and students around the world as presenter, collaborator, performer, and teacher. Join Luciana where femininity, rhythm and authentic culture meet a need for fun and human connection, where women and men long to develop these qualities in their dancing, and where children and seniors want to learn the joyful culture of Brazil.


Friday August 11, 7:00PM: Brazilian Jazz And Forró Night with Brazil Quarter with Carmen Sandim, Alessandro Penezzi and Dandha da Hora @Boulder Bandshell

The Brazil Quarter is Bill Kopper on guitar, Bill McCrossen on bass, Raoul Rossiter on drums, Vincent Gonzales on percussion, and Greg LaLiberte on flute. And joining Brazil Quarter we have Brazilian jazz pianist and composer Carmen Sandim. A side project by members of the Brazilian Samba group Ginga, Brazil Quarter creates high energy, grooving instrumental dance music. Each of the members have spent a lifetime performing and recording jazz, funk, pop, classical, and world music, but they are brought together through their strong passion for the music of Brazil.
Dandha Da Hora: Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Dandha Da Hora has been a member of Ilê Aiyê, one of Brazil’s most important musical and cultural institutions, since she was 6 years old. A master dancer, as well as vocalist and percussionist, Dandha invokes the incredible spirit of Ilê Aiyê and Salvador, Bahia, each time she steps onstage. As a lead dancer with Ilê Aiyê, Dandha toured internationally and has shared the stage with many of Brazil’s most renowned artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Daniela Mercury. In addition to performing with Ilê Aiyê and SambaDá, Dandha has performed with Casa Samba (New Orleans, LA), SambaDendê and Bateria Alegria (Boulder, CO), Banda Remelexo and Bahia Soul (Bay Area, CA)
Alessandro Penezzi, guitar: Considered one of the greatest Brazilian guitarists of his generation, composer, arranger and guitarist Alessandro Penezzi was born in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Having started his music studies at age 7, Alessandro now performs on 7-string guitar, tenor guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin and flute. His teachers were Carlos Coimbra, Jair T. de Paula, Sérgio Belluco, and João Dias Carrasqueira. Alessandro has recorded over 20 CDs, and has performed with many renowned Brazilian musicians, including Yamandú Costa, Carlos Poyares, Toninho Ferragutti, Oswaldinho do Acordeon, Laércio de Freitas, Caíto Marcondes, Arismar do Espírito Santo, Maurício Carrilho, Pedro Amorim, Joel Nascimento, Conjunto Epoca de Ouro, Rogério Caetano, Caio Marcio, Alexandre Ribeiro and Nailor Proveta. He has been a faculty member at the California Brazil Camp since 2010, and his popularity in the USA continues to grow as one of the virtuosos and more prolific composers of the Brazilian Guitar and Choro music genre. He resides in São Paulo and tours regularly in Europe and Africa.


Saturday August 12, 4:30PM: Samba, Bossa Nova, and MPB with Michele Castro Band, Bateria Alegria, Emilce Parga and Samba Colorado @Boulder Bandshell

Michele Castro hails originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As vocalist and guitarist, she began to play internationally when invited to perform two tours of Germany with a Choro/Samba band as lead singer. Michele is proud to say she grew up in the Rocinha favela where she draws much of her musical inspiration and appreciation. While she draws inspiration from a number of artists, Elis Regina and Rosa Passos have influenced her work the most. Her vocal repertoire includes Samba, Bossa Nova, Brazilian Pop & Rock, MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira), Choro and Forró. She also plays a variety of Brazilian percussion instruments. Michele loves exploring the Colorado music scene and sharing her culture and music with a new public.
Band: Victor Mestas (Piano), Raoul Rossiter (drums, percussion), Ian Brighton (woodwinds), Carl Dixon (Percussion)
Bateria Alegria is the primary performing ensemble of the Boulder Samba School, composed of 20-30 percussionists and led by Music Director Carl Dixon. The ensemble plays percussion-based styles of music from Rio de Janeiro (samba batucada) and Salvador (samba reggae). The music incorporates a mixture of African, European, and indigenous influences and traditions. These styles of music are traditionally played during the carnival parades throughout Brazil and can be heard in Brazilian concert stages, dance clubs, neighborhoods, and soccer matches.
Samba Colorado: Since its founding in 2013, Samba Colorado is devoted to bringing together people from all walks of life in an artistic, educational, and positive community by sharing the joy and beauty of Brazilian culture and dance. We offer classes, workshops, dance residencies as well as energetic and exciting performances for both community and private events. We are an equal opportunity organization welcoming all ages, orientations, races, body types, and ethnicities.
Emilce Parga is an Argentinian dancer who fell in love with Brazilian samba and carnaval.
She is a ballerina, a dancer in the Carnaval of Rio de Janeiro, a dance teacher and a professional ontological coach. Emilce spends months in Brazil each year studying and working with dance. She has been a passista of the GRES Paraíso do Tuiuti samba school in Rio since 2020. In addition to developing as a teacher and dancer, she has trained as an Ontological Coach and Ayurveda body therapist in order to to accompany the learning process of those who enter the language of Samba from a more holistic perspective.

Saturday August 12, 6:30PM: Carnaval Show: Featuring Dandha da Hora, Alessandro Penezzi, members of Ginga, and Bateria Alegria, with dance performances by Dandha da Hora, Luciana da Silva, and Escola de Samba Denver @Boulder Bandshell

Samba Dance Lesson with Samba Colorado at 6:30PM / Show starts at 7:00PM

Members of Ginga: Cultivated in Boulder, Colorado and composed of some of the best jazz, classical and salsa musicians on the Front Range, Ginga is the powerhouse Brazilian band in Colorado. The members of Ginga accompanying Dandha are Greg LaLiberte (flute, saxophones, percussion, vocals), Bill Kopper (acoustic 6 & 7 string guitars, electric guitar, vocals), Raoul Rossiter (drums, percussion, vocals), Carl Dixon (percussion, vocals), and Vincent Gonzalez (percussion, vocals).
Dandha Da Hora: Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Dandha Da Hora has been a member of Ilê Aiyê, one of Brazil’s most important musical and cultural institutions, since she was 6 years old. A master dancer, as well as vocalist and percussionist, Dandha invokes the incredible spirit of Ilê Aiyê and Salvador, Bahia, each time she steps onstage. As a lead dancer with Ilê Aiyê, Dandha toured internationally and has shared the stage with many of Brazil’s most renowned artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Daniela Mercury. In addition to performing with Ilê Aiyê and SambaDá, Dandha has performed with Casa Samba (New Orleans, LA), SambaDendê and Bateria Alegria (Boulder, CO), Banda Remelexo and Bahia Soul (Bay Area, CA).
Bateria Alegria is the primary performing ensemble of the Boulder Samba School, composed of 20-30 percussionists and led by Music Director Carl Dixon. The ensemble plays percussion-based styles of music from Rio de Janeiro (samba batucada) and Salvador (samba reggae). The music incorporates a mixture of African, European, and indigenous influences and traditions. These styles of music are traditionally played during the carnival parades throughout Brazil and can be heard in Brazilian concert stages, dance clubs, neighborhoods, and soccer matches.
Alessandro Penezzi, guitar: Considered one of the greatest Brazilian guitarists of his generation, composer, arranger and guitarist Alessandro Penezzi was born in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Having started his music studies at age 7, Alessandro now performs on 7-string guitar, tenor guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin and flute. His teachers were Carlos Coimbra, Jair T. de Paula, Sérgio Belluco, and João Dias Carrasqueira. Alessandro has recorded over 20 CDs, and has performed with many renowned Brazilian musicians, including Yamandú Costa, Carlos Poyares, Toninho Ferragutti, Oswaldinho do Acordeon, Laércio de Freitas, Caíto Marcondes, Arismar do Espírito Santo, Maurício Carrilho, Pedro Amorim, Joel Nascimento, Conjunto Epoca de Ouro, Rogério Caetano, Caio Marcio, Alexandre Ribeiro and Nailor Proveta. He has been a faculty member at the California Brazil Camp since 2010, and his popularity in the USA continues to grow as one of the virtuosos and more prolific composers of the Brazilian Guitar and Choro music genre. He resides in São Paulo and tours regularly in Europe and Africa.
Luciana Da Silva: Native Brazilian Luciana da Silva shares Brazilian dance with audiences and students around the world as presenter, collaborator, performer, and teacher. Join Luciana where femininity, rhythm and authentic culture meet a need for fun and human connection, where women and men long to develop these qualities in their dancing, and where children and seniors want to learn the joyful culture of Brazil.
Escola de Samba Denver with Bella Diva: Escola de Samba Denver is the newest international addition to the original Escola de Samba Sydney in Australia, directed by renowned performing artist and instructor Sashya Jay. Escola de Samba Denver carries on Escola de Samba Sydney’s dedication to providing progressive Brazilian dance education that is aligned with the latest and evolving dance techniques and artistic styles in Brazil, with authenticity and respect for the roots of the culture at our core. Bella Diva artistic director, Caitlin Brozna-Smith, is officially accredited to teach Sashya Jay’s signature technique & syllabus, which bases many of its teachings from the “King of Samba” Carlinhos do Salgueiro in Rio de Janeiro.

Sunday August 13, 7:00PM: Brazilian Guitar with Alessandro Penezzi @Dairy Arts Center

Alessandro Penezzi, guitar: Considered one of the greatest Brazilian guitarists of his generation, composer, arranger and guitarist Alessandro Penezzi was born in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Having started his music studies at age 7, Alessandro now performs on 7-string guitar, tenor guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin and flute. His teachers were Carlos Coimbra, Jair T. de Paula, Sérgio Belluco, and João Dias Carrasqueira. Alessandro has recorded over 20 CDs, and has performed with many renowned Brazilian musicians, including Yamandú Costa, Carlos Poyares, Toninho Ferragutti, Oswaldinho do Acordeon, Laércio de Freitas, Caíto Marcondes, Arismar do Espírito Santo, Maurício Carrilho, Pedro Amorim, Joel Nascimento, Conjunto Epoca de Ouro, Rogério Caetano, Caio Marcio, Alexandre Ribeiro and Nailor Proveta. He has been a faculty member at the California Brazil Camp since 2010, and his popularity in the USA continues to grow as one of the virtuosos and more prolific composers of the Brazilian Guitar and Choro music genre. He resides in São Paulo and tours regularly in Europe and Africa.

Signup to our email list for more updates!

Brazilfest Highlights 2021 from StreamLearn on Vimeo.

Signup to our email list for more updates!

 Follow us on Facebook or sign up to our email list for more updates!