Samba in Miami

The Brazilian culture served as the theme for the Miami Art
Museum’s “Jam at MAM” this Thursday, Feb. 15.

“We do this to get our name out there,” said Angela
Oxenburg, MAM’s membership manager. “People come for the event and then they
might come in and look at the art.”

Every third Thursday of the month, the MAM throws a happy
hour from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a theme that may correspond with the month,
the inauguration of an exhibit or the closest holiday.

Because February is the month of carnival in Brazil, that
was the theme chosen.

“Last month we celebrated our 10th anniversary,”
Oxenburg said. She and the other museum employees (excluding security) were
able to relax and enjoy the festivities.

The Jam featured two Brazilian bands, one of which was accompanied
by two female samba dancers who picked members from the audience to samba in a
circle. In between the bands, a group of “capoeiristas,” or students of the
Afro-Brazilian martial art, presented the sport disguised as a dance.

While the MAM hosted the happy hour, Gene de Souza, a radio
broadcaster of Brazilian Jazz on WDNA 88.9FM, presented the entertainment. De
Souza as well as other local personalities and businesses contribute and donate
to the MAM so that Miami-Dade county will continue to sustain the museum.

It’s a small two-story museum separate from but sharing the
foundation with the Historical Museum of South Florida and a Miami-Dade County
Public Library.

Most of the people attending the Jam had a membership with
the museum and were allowed to join the fun for free.  Non-member paid $10.

“I had so much fun tonight,” said Ericka Dries, a first-time
visitor. “I’m glad I came.”