"Irrepressible... Brazilian to the core"
LA Times

Viver Brasil Dance Company was co-founded in 1997 by Co-Artistic directors Linda Yudin and Luiz Badaró, and is an award winning dance company firmly rooted in the traditional and contemporary forms and techniques of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.  The company specializes in bringing to life the beautiful and complex stories of the orixa, African sacred energies that are the engine of Afro-Brazilian culture in addition to presenting jubilant samba, contemporary Afro-Brazilian dance and carnival. In addition to training in Los Angeles with Luiz Badaró and with internationally renowned choreographer Rosangela Silvestre in her signature technique many company members make annual trips to Brazil to refine the company's repertoire, and to absorb and reflect the spirit and expression of Afro-Brazilian culture in Northeastern Brazil. Viver Brasil currently receives support from the City of L.A. Cultural Affairs grant (2007-2009), the L.A. County Arts Commission since 2003, received major support from the New England Foundation for the Arts/National Dance Project touring program for its 2006-07 thirteen city tour, received an Inter/Arts grant from the L.A. County Arts Commission to bring distinguished Brazilian artist Nancy Souza e Silva aka Dona Cici, and from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts Mentoring Program. Viver Brasil was selected for the Lester Horton Dance Award in 2000 for outstanding achievement in a company performance for non-western dance and nominated for Brazilian Press Award for best representation of Brazilian dance in the U.S., and Lester Horton awards for best achievement in music, dance, costume design, and company performance 2003 -2006.  Since its inception, Viver Brasil’s list of credits has grown impressively to include: a 10 city tour throughout New Mexico with consistently sold-out concerts including the Lensic and National Hispanic Cultural Center (2007); University of Oregon; Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO; Egyptian Theater, Ogden, Utah; Holiday Celebrations at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (2005, 2006), capacity crowds at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood (2003 -2007), the Hollywood Bowl’s Summer Sounds (2005), Walt Disney Concert Hall with Pink Martini (2004); the World Dance and Music Festival in Chico, CA (2004), Paradise Performing Arts Center, Paradise, CA (2004); UNC-Charlotte (2202), the Brazil-Africa Connection Festival at Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, FL (2002); Riverside Community College's World Dance Festival (2001-2002); Santa Monica Festival (2001, 2006); the L.A. Dance Invitational (2001); the California Choreographers Festival (2001), the Getty Center Family Festival (2000-2001), the World Music Festival/Brazil Nights at the Hollywood Bowl (1999) and the African Marketplace Festival in Los Angeles (1997-2002). 

The company is committed to increasing awareness of the rich history of Afro-Brazilian dance and music through performances and residencies in scores of elementary and high schools through school assemblies, interactive dance and music workshops and professional development opportunities for classroom teachers. Viver Brasil’s arts education programs are also available at the college and university level and include dance and music workshops, setting choreography on student ensembles, and lectures on Afro-Brazilian culture and history.