Guia Cultural da Costa Verde

Paraty • Paraty

CIRANDA DE TARITUBA

A relic worthy of preservation

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Ciranda is a century-old dance combining European features with circle dances found in Afro-Brazilian culture. Preservation of this cultural expression in the Costa Verde is practiced in Tarituba, a district of Paraty.

The group originated from folk dancing encouraged by Mestre Chiquinho, and brought together the entire Tarituba community to celebrate the good fishing or the good harvest, and simultaneously to preserve this pearl of folk culture.

Ciranda de Tarituba is an event with several kinds of dancing: Xiba (or Cateretê), Cana Verde, Arara, Caranguejo, Chapéu, Caboclo Velho, Flor do Mar, Tontinha and others. It is always performed to the rhythm of verses and music from a guitar, fiddle, ukulele, tambourine and a mancado, a wooden box that is struck by clogs held in the hand. Tap dancing by the men with their Portuguese clogs made of orangewood is essential to keep the rhythm. Traditionally, a good dancer usually broke his clogs. The women swirl in their calico skirts, swept away by the contagious rhythm and the rhyming songs.

The group had a venue for many years where they rehearsed frequently. Unfortunately they lost these premises and it is now more and more difficult to preserve their tradition. The group is directed by Seu Pardinho and Simone Bulhões and numbers almost 50 members, with the sole option of rehearsing outdoors in the streets, or in the schoolyard when it rains.

Ciranda de Tarituba is a constant presence at the feast of Santa Cruz de Tarituba, on the first weekend in May. To see the group in action on other occasions, scheduling is required for a venue to be found for the performance.

Works by Ciranda de Tarituba include a mini-vinyl recorded in 1976, as well as the Vamos indo na ciranda book (2003, by DP&A Editora) that comes with a CD containing songs and a 20-minute documentary. This project was one of the highlights of Prêmio Cultura Nota 10, sponsored by the State Secretary of Culture in 2005. Traditions such as this deserve to be perpetuated and exalted by everybody who values our culture’s memory and acknowledgement of this undeniable immaterial heritage.

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