On the other side of the river,  at the World famous Globe Theatre, Grupo Galpão will bring its carnivalesque Romeo and Juliet – as part of the event Globe to Globe – on May 19th and 20th, with its thrilling mix of circus, music, dance and Brazilian folk culture.

The play Two Roses from Richard III reunites two of Brazil’s leading directors: Claudio Baltar from the circus companies Intrepida and Archaos, and Fabio Ferreira, known for his text-based theatre and multimedia work. A guaranteed array of astonishing costumes will be on display thanks to the knowledge and experience of the costume designer – the renowned carnival winner Rosa Magalhães, who collects five titles of Rio’s carnival.

Almost at the same time, Grupo Galpão will take over Globe’s stage for the second time and promises to repeat the same success it enjoyed the last time around, featuring circus language and live music – played by the actors, translating world classics into Brazilian popular culture, in a wonderful mix between the popular and the erudite.

The World Shakespeare Festival is a celebration of Shakespeare’s world’s playwright, produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, in an unprecedented collaboration with leading UK and international arts organizations. Almost 60 partners are coming together to bring the Festival alive. The festival has been running since  April 21st and is part of the London 2012 Festival which is the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad.

By Bruna Gala

Over fifty art galleries from the Americas, Europe and London will be showcasing an exciting range of works by established and emerging Latin American artists. This is an opportunity to experience the sophisticated, international and most distinguished visual art from Latin America through museum-quality works representative of abstract, concrete, neo-concrete, kinetic and conceptual art.

For 2012, three sections will be presented at PINTA London: Galleries, Solo Exhibitions and Art Projects – the latter of which is set to be curated by London-based Mexican, Pablo Leon de la Barra. Once more, the fair will include the participation of over fifty international art galleries, amongst these São Paulo’s Luciana Brito, Baró and Casa Triângulo, and Rio’s Anita Schwartz.

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7th – 10th June
PINTA London 2012
Earls Court Exhibition Centre
Warwick Road, Earls Court
London
SW5 9TA
http://www.pintaart.com/

General Admission £15
Student £8
Groups (8+) reduced price £12

After scaring New Yorkers and Londoners with statues that looked like just about to jump from the skies and commit suicide, the acclaimed London artist is managing to have the same repercusion in São Paulo, where a new exhibition of his work has just opened.

“People passing by the exhibition were quite scared with what they saw”, explained to the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo Luis Fernando Spaziani, the programme director of Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB), the cultural centre funded by a major bank in Brazil and responsible for the event. “When the police came and finally noticed that it was just statues, the problem was solved”.

Famous for his sculptures based on moulds made from his own body, Gormley brings Event Horizon (Horizonte de Eventos) to São Paulo, a major exhibition of his work at CCBB, on view from 12 May – 15 July 2012.

‘Still Being’ is the first major presentation of the artist’s work in South America. It will be held in three venues in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, and will introduce the main themes that have concerned the artist over the last 40 years: the body as space and space as object.

Are you a foreigner finding it difficult to pick up English? Then you should try Geordie! The Newcastle dialect is a challenge to many Brits, let alone those coming from abroad already entangled in learning a different language and culture. It is a daunting task for travellers and newcomers looking to embrace (or simply grasp!) the city’s noble heritage and customs, such as football (Hoo’s the Toon gannin?) and wet afternoons (Cowld the day, mar!).

Differences between English dialects are much more profound than those between the Portuguese spoken in the various parts of Brazil. Geordie is considered one of the oldest English dialects in the world, and it is deeply rooted in a history stretching back to medieval times. At times it is hardly intelligible for Brits from the South.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Two years ago, a survey of 5,000 people for Travelodge revealed that Geordie is “the sexiest accent in Britain”, closely followed by Edinburgh. I wonder if it was Cheryl Cole’s warbling and Sting’s whining that helped Geordies to secure a place in people’s hearts and pants.

In November 2011 Brazilian entrepreneur Guilherme Afonso moved to Newcastle and was suddenly faced with the strange wonders of Geordie speech. And so he created the iPhone application Alreet Geordie School, a spoken dictionary to help those Brits and foreigners visiting or moving to Newcastle.

The initiative took several months to complete, and was supported by more than 40 local organisations, ranging from museums to night clubs. The project team also included Jorgen McLeman, Steven Hunt, Kerry Harrison and Peter Robson – the last two are authentic Geordies.

The project is UK-only, but there is potential for similar applications in Brazil. A baianês dictionary (Bahia dialect) and the Aurélia (gay dictionary) were once published in Brazil, but these jest-filled books served humorous purposes rather than more functional one. Also, they were simple lexicons with little or no regard to phonology and general characteristics of the cultures represented. Alreet Geordie School is much more than this.

Language is a quickly and vigorously changing field. It’s good that technology is keeping pace with this phenomenon and helping to bring different cultures together.  It is also helping to document unique language traits, shifts and trends –  very useful for linguists and historians. More importantly, it could help you to engage with a Geordie babe and thoroughly enjoy the nuances of their sexy tongue! Ye knaa what ah mean leik?

By Victor Fraga

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Find out more at their Facebook page  www.facebook.com/geordieschool

Or by the app at the Apple Store http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geordie-school/id515823120?mt=8

Owner of a beautiful and mystic voice, Teresa Salgueiro is one of Portugal’s most acclaimed and respected singers. With an extraordinary career broaden over the last 25 years, she returns to the Union Chapel in London with her new album O Misterio and her amazing gift to wow the audience.Teresa Salgueiro reached international recognition as the stunning voice of Madredeus, the group she founded in 1986 with guitarist and producer Pedro Ayres Magalhaes, helping to establish it as the most renowned Portuguese band of all time.  After 11 recorded albums she left the group in 2007 to pursue a solo career and has released five solo albums.

O Misterio (The Mystery) was recorded last year at the Covent of Arrabida, an iconic location in Portugal, a scenery surrounded by magnificent mountains and the ocean that radiates tranquility and magic. Teresa Salgueiro composed the songs and wrote the lyrics of all 17 songs – a first time experience for the singer – that reflect on the mystery of life and the dimension of the human condition.

Out in the UK on May 21, the new album O Misterio is an ode to life, a mighty musical production planned to be performed live and to create a mystic atmosphere full of emotion and delight. The singer brought talented musicians and a variety of instruments: the usual accordion (Carisa Marcelino), guitar (Andre Filipe Santos), double bass (Oscar Torres) drums and percussion (Rui Lobato). Long time collaborator Antonio Pinheiro da Silva co-produced her new album.

Known for her powerful unique voice and remarkable performances Teresa Salgueiro will recreate the album energy at the Union Chapel show, on an amazing evening of pure superb and exceptional music.

By Silvia Almeida
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Saturday 26th May, 8pm
Teresa Salgueiro
Compton Avenue
N1 2XD

020 7226 3750 ‎
www.unionchapel.org.uk

The title for this article could well be the name for a Mashup (and probably is already…) but actually it is about a funny feud that happened just after the Superbowl. The famous 2012 show featured Madonna with a medley of old hits and finished with the new song “Gimme All Your Loving”. For some it barred a lot of semblance to a song release not long ago by João Brasil, “L.O.V.E. Banana’, featuring Love Foxx from CSS. Have a listen here and let us know what you think…

There were talks of João’s label suing Madonna, but being a huge fan of her and himself a heavy users on other people’s song, it kind of made no sense. The saga ended happily and gave João a big boost on the World Wide Web and probably a few thousand more fans. Capitalizing on this, Club Popozuda is back with the mash-up master topping the bill.

Popozuda as many of Jungle readers know all to well means “Big Booty” in Portuguese. The term is commonly used in Brazil to describe the kind of girls that usually wear tight jeans and dance till their bottom hits the floor.

The term also serves as the name for one of the most effusive Brazilian nights in town. The brainchild of James Hurrell, a Londoner with Brazilian connections, Club Popozuda has been hosted in many venues around London but seems to have found a home at a corner in Old Street made famous by Favela Chic but now named Floripa.

The atmosphere remains the same and so does the music, courtesy of Mash Up star João Brasil (check out his latest project here and James himself. Combining “the energy of carnival and the sound of the underground” as their website says, the night also features Big Dope P straight from Paris (soundcloud.com/doppie) and The Bumps (soundcloud.com/bumps).

And to get you into the mood here’s a mix Big Dope P put together especially for the occasion:

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Thursday April 12th, 8pm-1am, Free before 9pm, £8 after
Club Popozuda with Big Dope P, João Brasil and The Bumps
Floripa
91-93 Great Eastern Street,
London EC2A 3HZ
facebook.com/clubpopozuda

For £5 cheaplist email names to info@clubpopozuda.com

Taking place from Thursday 19th April until Sunday 22nd at the Ritzy in Brixton, the 1st Argentine Film Festival of London showcases the latest in Argentine cinema – as well as a couple of nods to the country’s film history. Opening the festival will be Chinese Take-Away, a heart-warming comedy starring Ricardo Darín (star of The Secret In Their Eyes). There will be three films that gained many admirers at the BFI London Film Festival last year, those being Las Acacias, Back To Stay and Medianeras, all of which we’ve seen and highly recommend.

Additionally, there will be Los Caprichosos de San Telmo, a documentary about murga full of some amazing real-life characters; the hugely original love story Absent; The Last Summer of La Boyita, which is billed as being much more than just a coming-of-age story; director’s showcase The Mugger; as well as a night showing Argentine silent films from the 1920s. All in all, it looks like a great few days for cinema and/or Argentina lovers!

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Thursday 19th April, 8.30pm (Opening Film)
Friday 20th April, 8pm
Chinese Take-Away (Un Cuento Chino)

Friday 20th April, 4.30pm
Las Acacias

Friday 20th April, 6.20pm
Los Caprichosos de San Telmo
Followed by DJ Sergio Schuchinsky upstairs at the Ritzy playing electronic cumbia and tango

Friday 20th April, 10pm
Absent (Ausente)

Saturday 21st April, 5pm
The Last Summer of La Boyita (El Último Verano de la Boyita)

Saturday 21st April, 7pm
Sunday 22nd April, 3pm
Back to Stay (Abrir Puertas y Ventanas)

Saturday 21st April, 9.05pm
Director’s Showcase
The Mugger (El Asaltante)

Sunday 22nd April, 5pm
Argentine Short Films from the Silent Era
Four short films:
Newsreel Film Revisa Valle
My Sorrel Horse (Mi Alazán Tostao)
Back To The Bulin (La Vuelta al Bulín)
Creole Mosaic (Mosaico Criollo)
Followed by live music upstairs at The Ritzy including demonstrations of different styles of tango

Saturday 21st April, 3pm
Sunday 22nd April, 8pm (Closing Film)
Medianeras
Followed by electro tango and a glass of wine for all ticket holders upstairs at The Ritzy

Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd April
Argentine Film Festival
Ritzy Picturehouse
Brixton Oval,
Coldharbour Lane,
London SW2 1JG
Tel: 0871 902 5739

More information on the films at argentinefilmfestival.com. Tickets can be bought from the Ritzy Picturehouse website.

Produced by La Linea, A Story of Latin Music in London (celow) charts how Latin music gained a foothold in the capital and has grown and grown in influence ever since, up to the point where there can now be Latin music festivals, events happening year round and publications like JungleDrums devoted to the genre. If you’re wondering what a storywheel is, it’s a mixture of photos and audio, but you should really just click ‘play’ below and find out for yourself.

La Linea 2012 features artists such as Céu, Curumin and Lucas Santtana [in a ridiculous Brazilian triple header that has us feeling especially moist!], Madredeus, Roberto Pla Latin Ensemble, The London Lucumi Choir, Juan de Marcos Afro Cuban All Stars, Morgan Szymanski, Amaral, Che Sudaka and Los Chinches. For all of the details regarding the festival click here.

The last time Mr Peterson went to Brazil it was Rio not São Paulo where he spent his time. He was booked to DJ at a private party to promote Britain in Dilma’s country (and consequently, to make the ginger Prince dance while sipping caipirinhas) on the top of one of Rio de Janeiro’s postcards, the Sugar Loaf.

But that was not enough and some of his local friends put on a party the next day at a small place in Lapa, the city’s bohemian neighborhood. Jungle was there and although it was the wrong venue (terrible sound-system and dance floor) the former BBC Radio 1 DJ (he left last month if you hadn’t heard) tried to show that even though he has spent a lot of his time lately flirting with Cuba, he still loves Brazil.

So it is appropriate that he is helping to kick-start SP #Feelings, a new night at Guanabara, and also helping to raise money for ABC Trust, an NGO that supports vulnerable street kids in Brazil

Helping him is Marina Gasolina, former Bonde do Role lead singer and now a London resident (check out her new project Madrid with former CSS member Adriano Cintra here soundcloud.com/madridmusic) and resident DJ Limão spinnig the latest Brazilian tunes.

The press release promises it will feel like a night in São Paulo. “The economic heart of Brazil is also the main nightlife hotspot, world famous for its clubs, busy 7 nights a week and always going till late. The top weekend’s resident DJs spin an ‘all night Brazilian party’ classic dancefloor rhythms, that make Brazilian music famous worldwide”, it says. Let’s just hope it does not bring also São Paulo traffic jam’s to Holborn.

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Thursday 19th April, £5 after 9pm
SP #Feelings Launch Night with Gilles Peterson (BBC1) + Marina Gasolina (DJ set) + DJ Limao
Guanabara
Parker Street (Corner of Drury Lane)
Covent Garden,
London WC2B 5PW
Tel: 020 7242 8600
gillespeterson.guanabara.co.uk

Tickets: bit.ly/HEKnFY