EDVALDO CARNEIRO

"BRASIL TROPICAL" owes its existence to a group of young Brazilians - among them Edvaldo Carneiro - who used to meet in Salvador, the Capital of the Eastern Brazilian State of Bahia, to practice the "Capoeira", a dashing game of skill, highly popular among Brazilians.
In this form of combat, it is essential to show strength, speed, cunning and acrobatic dexterity. Carneiro soon won the highest accolade of the "Capoeira", the Lilac Shirt, called "Camisa Roxa" in Portuguese. From that comes his nickname of "Camisa".
Camisa was born in Salvador, in the State of Bahia, the cradle of the oldest culture of this immense country where Brazil's history began and where were born many of its most distinguished statesmen, poets an musicians.
Of all Brazil's Cities, Salvador remains to this day the most renowned, the most loved and the most celebrated in song, even more than Rio de Janeiro. Its young people are to a great degree born artist and it is not only in their religious life that the people of Bahia, and especially those of Salvador, pay honour to their Gods with drum beating, singing and dancing (which includes the mysterious and grandiloquent rhythm of the Afro-Brazilian "Candomble-Ritual"). On the basis of this, Camisa soon collected round him a group of first-class musicians, singers and dancers. He then engaged DOMINGOS CAMPOS, who was responsible for the choreography of "Brasiliana", and thus an original show not yet seen in Europe and elsewhere, saw the light of the day. Its participants were young and beautiful artist, born and bred in Salvador, like today's members of this great and famous Ensemble.

DOMINGOS CAMPOS

At the age of 17, Domingos Campos - later Ballet master and choreograph of BRASIL TROPICAL left the Mato Grosso, a state in the heart of Brazil, for Rio de Janeiro to study dance. Domingos, with a great deal of South American Indian components in his blood, owes to his ancestors his thick blue black hair, his fair brown skin, his subtle light movements and his calm and gentle personality. A year after he arrived in Rio, Miecio Askanasy discovered him and gave him his first engagement. Soon after, Domingos became on of the leading dancers of the Brasiliana-Troupe, and as a soloist, toured for five years throughout Europe, North and South America.
On his return to Brazil, Domingos continued his training with Eugenia Feodorova and Nino Vertschinina of the world-renowned Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and became a highly versatile dancer. After having worked as a choreographer for several companies and for Brazilian Television, Domingos was again engaged by Mieco Askanasy for "Brasiliana", but this time as choreographer for the 1966-67 saison.
In conjunction with the composer JOSÉ PRATES, Domingos created some of the best scenes in the show, which, during the next following years won a huge success all over the world. He also had the fortune to live in Brazil at a time when a new generation of dancers was emerging and Edvaldo Carneiro invited him to come to Bahia for mould his athletes and folklore dancers into real stage performers. During a Latin American Dance Festival in Buenos Aires, Domingos Campos received the Award of "Best Dancer of South America".

JOSÉ PRATES

In conjunction with the composer José Prates, Domingos created some of the best scenes in the show, which, during the next following years won a huge success all over the world. He also had the fortune to live in Brazil at a time when a new generation of dancers was emerging and Edvaldo Carneiro invited him to come to Bahia to mould his athletes and folklore dancers into real stage performers. During a Latin American Dance Festival in Buenos Aires, Domingos Campos received the Award of "Best Dancer of South America".

In 1973, the group left Brazil for a tour of Europe. Following great successes, the Ensemble toured many countries in the world thereafter. Mr. Campos later returned to Salvador and opened a dancing school from where new Artists for "Brasil Tropical" are drawn continuously.