The Quilombo Experience: Community Workshop (Samba de Roda & Ilê Aiyê)

This workshop explores Samba de Roda—a traditional circular dance from Bahia—and the powerful rhythms of Ilê Aiyê, Brazil's first "bloco afro." Participants will engage with movement and history in our public showcase, celebrating resilience and cultural unity through collective dance and music.

is a multidisciplinary arts project exploring resilience, liberation, and unity. Grounded in the cultural heritage of Brazil, the project draws inspiration from historical Quilombos—communities formed by enslaved people who reclaimed their freedom. Through meticulously crafted costumes, traditional dances, and live music, we create a space for cultural reclamation and community building.

Luana Dias David (Artist, Choreographer & Cultural Educator) is a Brazilian multidisciplinary artist and choreographer with over 20 years of international experience bridging tradition and innovation in Afro-Latin dance. Originally from São Paulo and currently based in the Berkshires, her work is a vibrant intersection of Samba, Capoeira, and Latin forms, shaped by a career that has spanned 25 countries and included performances for world leaders and on national television (RAI Uno, Rossiya 1).

As the founder of and a 2025 MASS MoCA artist-in-residence, Luana is the visionary behind The Quilombo Experience—an immersive project exploring Afro-Brazilian resilience and liberation. Her artistry is deeply rooted in cultural preservation; she has been a practitioner of ancestral costume design and Brazilian embroidery since age 14 and serves as Board Director for the prestigious Samba school G.R.E.S. Tigre Dourado in Brazil.

A dedicated collaborator with institutions like Jacob’s Pillow and Berkshire Pulse, Luana uses movement and storytelling to foster community and celebrate belonging. As she often shares: “I create to celebrate belonging and to honor everything that brings us closer to one another.”

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Registration: Free
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Venue Accessibility: We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event environment for all attendees. We strive to provide an event that is welcoming, accommodating, and supportive of diverse accessibility needs.

Our venue is wheelchair accessible. Accessible parking spaces and restrooms are available. And wheelchair accessible seating is available upon request. Please contact us at [email protected] or 413.232.5222 for accessibility coordination.
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Parking is limited at the venue so please utilize the three public parking lots in Town. One is across from the Post Office, one is behind Berkshire Bank and the other is just off Main Street. They are clearly marked. Do not park at Trúc Orient Express Restaurant or the Post Office or you might receive a ticket.

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This program was possible thanks to the generosity of

• Jacob’s Pillow (Fiscal Sponsor)
• Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF) Equity Initiative
• Berkshire Black Economic Council (BBEC)
• Milltown Foundation
• Blackshires
  as well as thanks to the generosity of Community Partners
• The Foundry
• Berkshire Community College
• Katunemo
• Zion Lutheran Church of Pittsfield

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