Hold on to your Brazoukas!
I love all the dance films from the 80’s and 90’s.
When I was a kid I’d watch them over and over again – afterwards I’d run down our hall way and throw myself in the air and make my older brother catch me and hold me in the air like some sort of bootleg version of Dirty Dancing. Don’t laugh – I know you’ve wanted to try it at least once, hungry eyes.
Anyway, when the lastminute lovelies asked if I wanted to check out Brazouka, an Afro-Brazilian dance spectacular playing at Jupiter’s Hotel & Casino Gold Coast I couldn’t say “sim por favor” (that’s hell yes in Portuguese) fast enough!
Broadbeach on the Gold Coast is only a one hour drive from Brisbane, so I jumped in the car with my good Judy and a sick playlist and we were picking up our tickets from the Box Office in no time. Don’t worry, there’s heaps of parking at Jupiter’s Hotel & Casino and it’s totally free.
We made a bee line for the bar, and then started searched for some good selfie light among the pre-show excitement.
Ticket/Seat Selfie
As the house lights come down, saving us from breaking the internet with our millionth selfie, the crowd hushes and the familiar voice of comedy great Billy Connolly welcomes us to the show and introduces Braz Dos Santos – the show’s central character and our hero. Queue music, stage lights…
Braz is from a small impoverished fishing village in Brazil, and is discovered by a Parisian talent agent while dancing the Lambada. Over the next few hours we’re enthralled in Braz’s story, touched by his relationship with his father and rooting for our hero as he gains international attention. I’d like to play it cool, but this show had me hooked by the first number.
Braz is widely accepted as the best Lambazouka dancer in the world
The thing that’s surprising isn’t so much the level of energy, which is incredible BTW, but how they sustain that level of energy throughout the whole performance. It’s clear this dance troupe have brought the best of Brazil to the stage, serving up some Latin realness.
Each scene showcased a little piece of the Brazilian personality
There’s a distinctly modern approach to this show, combining perfectly synchronised high-speed dance moves with a contemporary soundtrack; featuring beats from Rhianna, Katie Perry and J-lo.
They’ve added just the right amount of hairography too which makes the whole experience feel like a party and you know I’m allll about that life.
Beautifully light stage and costumes really help follow the story
I appreciate the amount of humour the producers include in the show; it really helps to capture the Brazilian personality. They’ve also done you a solid by keeping the set simple and instead choose light projection and costuming to help set the scene, so you can focus on the dancing.
The closing number brings together massive feather headdresses and full body stockings – my inner showgirl was seething with jealously. As the big finish draws to an end the entire audience was on their feet dancing and clapping like they were at Carnival! Take me to Rio!
The cast of Brazouka with Producer Pamela Stephenson-Connolly
Why don’t you come join the party? The show wraps on January 18th so get your tickets here ASAP.
There’s heaps of accommodation available on the Gold Coast, but if you want to take a roll of the dice try our new Secret Hotels ® App to book your accommodation. We’ve got plenty of cheap flights to the Gold Coast too so don’t worry Amgea, we’ve got you covered.
Adeus.
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