The dance of the sacred and the profane

How did you spend Carnival this year?

Dandara Modesto: Mostly at home, with my daughter, listening to Brazilian Carnival music. We also watched some carnivals from different parts of Brazil: Afro-Blocos from Salvador, the parade of samba schools in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, or Maracatus and Galo da Madrugada in Pernambuco. To get us in the mood, we visited the children's carnival on Bullingerplatz, where Borumbaia, a Batucada group from Zurich, also performed. It was great to feel that carnival also releases the children's energy!

What does carnival mean to you?

Freedom. Dream. Creativity. Peace. Magic. The power of the collective. Carnival has a deep cultural and historical significance. It is the dance of the sacred and the profane. It is an Afro-Indigenous expression of richness and diversity. It is also political: Carnival has always been a platform for social and political activism, with Afro-Brazilian and indigenous communities using the festival as a means of resistance, empowerment and cultural affirmation. It is a time when people come together to express their creativity, joy, identity and belief in life.

In Zurich, the Brazilian carnival celebration only takes place on 24 February.

As I said, carnival is a dance between the sacred and the profane. It takes place beyond any authorisation. I would even say that the celebration is urgently needed here. It's a place to celebrate life, to set yourself free, with good music, with joy and glitter!

You perform with the Banda Tropikaos and interpret carnival classics. A one-off thing?

A two-off thing at least! We teamed up for Carnival at Moods last year - and it worked so well that we all wanted to do it again. I get to play with a bunch of highly talented musicians.