Passionate samba, exotic spicy dishes and friendly smiles inviting you to join the dynamic feast – these are the ideas that immediately spring to mind when one mentions the words “Brazil” and “festival” in one sentence. For the delight of Bulgarian citizens longing to get a glimpse of Brazilian culture, the peak of the summer season will be even more colourful thanks to two initiatives in July and August, a week of samba dancing, and a Brazilian festival.

Both professional samba dancers and dilettantes eager to learn are invited to participate in the project called Everyone in Rhythm between July 18 and 26 in Sofia.

The main goal of the initiative, according to organisers, is to bring together samba dancing clubs, as well as spectators and dancing fans from all over Europe, for a week of cultural interaction, fun, and training. Participants from Bulgaria, Spain, Latvia and the Netherlands will be able to exchange experience and ideas, organisers said.

The initiative will draw the attention of Sofians with a samba carnival in the streets of the city. Various workshops for improving dancing techniques, learning samba moves and costume making will be open to anyone interested. A concert including all of the participants in Everyone in Rhythm will wrap up the event.

Seemingly in a continuation of the Brazilian fever, a festival of Brazilian culture will be organised for the first time in Varna between August 1 and 10.

Organisers of the event are the Brazilian embassy in Bulgaria, the cultural section of the Brazilian ministry of exterior, Varna municipality and the association Varna – Cultural Capital of Bulgaria.

Musical performances, cinema projections and visual arts exhibitions will entertain spectators, while dancing fests and culinary attractions will tempt them into joining the fun.

To please lovers of classical music, the pianist Christina Ortiz will perform pieces by Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky, as well as works by Brazilian composers, in the Opera House and the Euxinograd Palace.

In contrast to classical music, the sounds of traditional Brazilian rhythms will sustain the energy levels of the audience. The Semente samba group will dance on the stage of the Open-Air Theatre in Varna.

Lovers of visual arts can view an exhibition by painter Rogério Dias in the Archaeological Museum in Varna. For those interested in trying new activities, the “English yard” of the museum will host percussionist Claudio Kron’s workshop for teaching Brazilian percussion instruments.

To satisfy cinema maniacs or visitors just curious to compare Brazilian cinema to the mostly American and European films to which Bulgarian audiences are accustomed, modern Brazilian films will be projected between August 3 and 14 in the Europe Hall of the Varna Festival and Congress Centre.

Whenever spectators become tired of the performances, they can have a taste of traditional Brazilian cuisine, presented by master chef Beto Pimentel. Among the traditional dishes from Rio de Janeiro, São Paolo and Minas Gerais will be feijoada, moqueca, farofa and more.