“Marcha das Comunidades” (Communities “São João” Dance)

The Presidency of the Regional Government of the Azores, through the Regional Department for the Communities organized a “Marcha” (“São João” Dance) which was presented during “Sanjoaninas 2004” Festivities in Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island.

The “Marcha das Comunidades” was made up of 70 people, 35 pairs, coming from the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Brazil, Uruguay and the Azores.

The Regional Department for the Communities invited several Associations and Folklore Groups, with the objective of gathering a wide geographic representation of our communities residing abroad.

Thus, from California came the Portuguese Cultural Group “Recordando Portugal” (Remembering Portugal) from Chino; the Holy Spirit Association from Artesia; the Folklore Group “Tempos the Outrora” (Ancient Times) from San Jose; and the Folklore Group “Saudades do Bravo” (Missing the Brave - “Bullfight Traditions”) from the Portuguese Centre of Evangelization and Culture from Tulare.

The East Coast of the United States was represented by some members of the Portuguese School of Cambridge and Somerville, Burlington and by the Children’s “Império” (Holy Spirit Chapel), in Massachusetts and the Communitary Centre “Amigos da Terceira” (Friends of Terceira) in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Bermuda was represented by the Folklore Group of the Portuguese Cultural Association and Uruguay by two members of the Civil Association “Los Azoreanos”, accompanied by several other representatives of San Carlos Community, where each day the interest, “rescue” and divulgation of Azorean culture become more and more important.

From Canada came the Folklore Group of Casa dos Açores in Winnipeg, the Folklore Group of Santa Cruz Parish, London; the Cultural Association “Amigos do Pico” (Friends of Pico), from B.C. and the Folklore Group of the Portuguese Cultural Centre in Mississauga.

Finally, Brazil was represented by the State of Rio Grande do Sul, namely by Casa dos Açores and a “Grupo Universitário” (University Group); by the State of Santa Catarina with some members of the Folklore Group of the city of Florianopolis and the Group “Arcos Pró-Resgate da Memória Artística e Cultural de Biguaçu”. Eight members from Casas dos Açores in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro also participated in “Marcha das Comunidades”.