May 1, 2012
Mar Aberto has a new home! Clay & Paper Theater!
Look alive crew! Rehearsal day, outside the studio on Ordinance Street after a long night of being out.
Maracatu Mar Aberto has a new home! After a search of a couple of months, a chance encounter with David Anderson outside of Long n Macquade led to the idea of us sharing their space at 35 Strachan right close to the bridge over to Lakeshore, Liberty Village and just south of the Trinity Bellwoods Park gates.
Clay and Paper Theatre, a puppet and street theater organization are the producers of Day of Delight, Night of Dread and many other manifestations based in Toronto and centring around Dufferin Grove Park. Their new space is a marvellous warehouse former cop-shop and has lots of room for artists to practice their arts and for a drumming group to make noise twice a week. There are also giant puppets and paper mashé facilities, giving the space a carnival artistic air that is synonymous with the creativity in the maracatu tradition! Needless to say we are very happy!!!!
Ryan Jeans, one of the most amazing people and a great helper in the maracatu, building shelves for Clay & Paper Theater
April 18, 2012
Lula Lounge is cooler than cool for maracatu
Maracatu Mar Aberto is without a home. At the end of last month Ballet Creole closed it’s doors and the maracatu was left without a residence. So.. now, where do we hold classes and rehearse??? Here comes Lula to the rescue!
If you don’t know Lula Lounge on 1585 Dundas Street, then you should. While mostly known as a salsa club (because of their now famous live music salsa nights on Saturdays), they have been at the forefront of the whole world music scene in Toronto since their opening in 2003. Maracatu Nunca Antes, Mar Aberto’s predecessor, held various highly successful events there over the years. Recently Lula has been increasing their profile in the Dundas West community, hosting the area’s BIA meetings, organizing the Samba on Dundas street festival, the Lula World festival, holding brunches on Sunday, and hosting music workshops. Lula also has the nicest owners and managers of any live music club anywhere. We approached Tracy Jenkins, the charming GM of Lula, and Jose Ortega, the owner/artistic director, about being able to hold our classes there in the short term. Without giving it a second thought they offered us th space on tuesday nights for classes (barring they had no other programming of course).
And so… A tip of the hat to Lula Lounge, who beyond being a cool ass club, understand that we are all in the same game and sometimes, the living arts in this city need a little help from their friends to make it through the tuff times. ;)
February 24, 2012
Masquerade!
UPDATE!! The event was amazing, check out our photos!
Join MMA and the Fedora Upside Down crew for a party this Saturday, Feb 25th celebrating Carnival in all of its manifestations around the world. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Be sure to come in costume!
