VIDEO: The ballet school for under privileged girls from São Paulo favelas

Discover the ballet project teaching girls from one of Sao Paulo´s most brutal districts and offering hopes and dreams to children who could otherwise face exposure to crime, drugs and early pregnancy.


The dance studio in São Paulo is a world away from the neighbouring favelas most of these girls were born into. Here, they find a temporary refuge through a children's dance program.

A futuristic tower for downtown São Paulo

Projects for towering, modern skyscrapers abound in new cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. However, when proposed for Latin American metropolises, they're often taken with some skepticism and/or criticism. In fact, they rarely materialise. And when they do, it’s not always plain sailing.

Even projects in Europe such as The Shard in London and Agbar Tower in Barcelona have love-hate relationships with their host cities. São Paulo has already seen a few megalomaniac projects proposed and this time around, it is architect, Eduardo Camarena, who proposes a highly modern "vertical city" for a gritty part of downtown São Paulo, known as Praça da Bandeira.

Though only a concept, the tower would encompass indoor public spaces, a pay per hour capsule hotel, as well as offices, theatres and a rooftop domed garden. We’re not sure if the project will ever become reality, but it's certainly an eye-catcher!

The rooftop Garden of Eduardo Camarena's project

What do you think? Would it improve São Paulo’s centro or would it be a waste of money?

VERTICAL CITY // SAO PAULO from eduardo camarena on Vimeo.

The Dozape, a skate crew from the East side of São Paulo

Meet The Dozape, a seven-skater crew from the Eastern neighbourhoods of São Paulo. Their friendship goes back a long way and they've been skating together for the past 10 years opening up a skate shop and launching a clothing brand along the way

The video below has them showing off some tricks and explaining where their name comes from:

 

Vila Zelina; the neighbourhood you should have heard of by now but haven't

Residents of Vila Zelina

São Paulo is known worldwide as one of the major destinations for immigrants during the early 20th century. It's said to be home to the largest population of Italian, Japanese and Lebanese ancestry out of each of these home countries.

But while Bixiga is well known for its cantinas and Liberdade is famous for its sushi and karaoke, a small neighborhood in South Eastern São Paulo called "Vila Zelina" gets very little attention.

For the last 80 years, it's been the home of Russian, Lithuanian, Ukranian and other Eastern European families that came to São Paulo to flee WWI and the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. Despite living in fear of repression during the Brazilian military dictatorship, the community is alive and well and making efforts to revive its home culture through popular dishes, music, costumes and festivities.

You would be excused for thinking this scene was far from São Paulo

Just as the large Jewish and Arab communities in São Paulo get on relatively well, despite recent conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, local residents in Vila Zelina get along very well. Visitors to the neighborhood can find peace and quiet is the middle of this bustling metropolis, shop for Matryoshkas (traditional Russian dolls) or even try Varenykys, smoked herring and other Eastern European dishes.

Photo of the Day: Way back when

Post by Discovering São Paulo.

Meet Letícia Bufoni, pro skategirl from São Paulo

Born on the 13th April 1993 in São Paulo, Letícia Bufoni e Silva, is a young Brazilian skater who is taking the skating world by storm.

She moved to live in the US at 14 to be close to her sport and although she spends a few months a year in Brazil, most people back in her home town of São Paulo have never heard of her depite her impressive skate record.

She hit fame when she was shot doing the so-called rockslide, an already perilous-sounding activity involving skating down a stair hand rail, in high heels. Glamour magazine USA promptly hired her for their ad campaign in a replica skate shot. But even before that she had already won a bunch of tiles and boasts a high profile array of sponsors including Nike, TNT, Oakley and GoPro.

By the age of twenty one Leticia had already been ranked the #1 women’s street skateboarder by World Cup Skate for four years in a row. And in 2013, she became the only female athlete to win three separate X Games Gold Medals. In the words of the International Skateboarding Federation “Leticia is what the world of skateboarding has been waiting for. A kick-ass athlete that can hang with the best (including the boys), great looks and a magnetic personality.”

We think it’s about time she was known back in SP.

Below is a recent video she shot for Nike in which she describes her passion for skateboarding:

You can follow Leticia here:

Facebook: facebook.com/LeticiaBufoni
Twitter: twitter.com/LeticiaBufoni
InstaGram: LeticiaBufoni
YouTube: youtube.com/leticiabufoni

VIDEO: São Paulo is a Little Planet

São Paulo is a Little Planet is a short film by Idrone.tv, a pioneer in Brazilian drone filming. The company develops drones which are custom built for high quality filming from the air and include independent tilt, roll, and infinite pan functions. 

The drones they make are able to send video back to earth in real time and are operationally silent to eliminate vibrations during filming. 

Enough about the technicalities. Check out the clip below, we think it is the coolest video of São Paulo we've seen this year!

São Paulo is a Little Planet by Idrone.tv

GUEST POST: São Paulo Through the Eyes of an American: The First Impressions

After traveling to São Paulo for the first time I can say it is one of the most interesting cities in Brazil. It is a city filled with all the vibrancy of Brazilian culture as well as other international ones. It is a great place to get away from the tourist cities like Rio and Salvador and truly experience the hidden gems of a Brazilian megacity.

Before traveling to São Paulo I would say it is important to take a couple of steps to prepare. Since São Paulo is not a tourist destination, there is no guarantee that someone will speak English everywhere you go. In part my positive experience came from the fact that I took an hour each day to learn basic phrases in Portuguese. You'll be surprised how friendly the locals are if they see you took the effort to learn their language.

I would also advise others to do some research on Brazilian cultural customs. For example, as a girl the big one for me was realizing Brazilians and Americans see personal space differently. We, Americans, like 3 feet of personal space and get defensive if someone enters it uninvited. Brazilians on the other hand will hug and kiss someone they just met as their form of greeting. Keep this in mind when you think every guy is trying to pick you up because he is so close to you.Finally, contrary to what I read, most of the activities I did can be done on a budget. I stayed at a local hostel and the people were beyond friendly. It is nothing like staying in an American hostel.

Finally, contrary to what I read, most of the activities I did can be done on a budget. I stayed at a local hostel and the people were beyond friendly. It is nothing like staying in an American hostel.

Activities in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a livewire, a hub of activity. The best part is since it is not a typical tourist destination prices for activity are very low, if there is any cost at all especially the feet on the ground type tourism. After all, a quality conversation with a local costs you nothing.

If you are in to dancing be sure to check out Samba Saturdays. Samba is a traditional Brazilian dance and most bars play Samba music on Saturdays. A friend told me the best place for samba was Bar Samba so I went there and I had a blast. It was amazing to see how good the locals were at dancing.

The number of quality museums in Sao Paulo is testament to how Sao Paulo is a hub of Brazilian culture. Being an art lover, my favorite museum was Museu de arte de Sao Paulo (MASP). It has the largest collection of fine art in all of Latin America. The best part about my visit was I happened to go on a Tuesday and it was free!

Another great museum is the museu Afro-Brasil. This museum gave me a deeper appreciation of the Brazilian culture and African heritage.

For fans of soccer, or futebol as it is known locally, there is the museu de futebol. No need to say Brazilians take their futebol seriously. The whole country follows the national team every 4 years during their quest for the FIFA world cup. You can always find an informal “pelada” game going on at Parque Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo's largest green space.

The Latin American Memorial is yet another landmark Sao Paulo highlight. It is composed of several buildings all designed by legendary Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, which are works of art themselves. The buildings include a library, a research center, and the Brazilian center of Latin American studies. I spent a few hours here soaking up the struggles of the Latin American people and it gave me a new perspective on Latin American culture.

For those on a tight budget the beautiful and creative street art throughout Sao Paulo rival some of the best museums and walking the streets is always free. If you don't want to walk you can rent a bike and utilize the over 30km of car-free bike space to get around town although, be warned, you sometimes have cars encroaching on you!

The shopping in Sao Paulo was another thing that amazed me. You won't find any retail chain stores outside of shopping centres, but you will find several markets around town that sell anything you need. I had tons of fun browsing the markets for little hand-crafted trinkets and haggling with the sellers. I was thankful I took the time to learn the language a little bit so I was able to fully experience the markets.

Food in Sao Paulo

There are a ton of great places to eat in Sao Paulo. I could fill a whole article on the different restaurants I ate. What's important is experiencing the different styles of cuisine unique to Brazil.

The first is the Padarias, which is the Brazilian version of a bakery. Locals come here to enjoy fine Brazilian pastries while enjoying locally grown coffee to get their day going.

If you want cheap and organic produce and meats to make your own meals then the CEASA is a must-visit. It is the largest food market in Latin American at 7.5 million square feet. You'll find everything your taste buds could want there.

Another dining style unique to Brazil is the churrascaria. This is similar to the concept of the American buffet. You pay a flat fee to be seated and it is all you can eat. The difference is waiters bring you the food fresh from the kitchen instead of there being a buffet table. Oh, and there’s a lot of meat!

These are just a few of the dozens of things to do in Sao Paulo. I got the sense you can visit 3 or 4 times and still experience something new about the city. I found that doing things like going to the museums and the local markets were a cheap way to enjoy the city and gave me a richer experience than visiting one of Brazil's many tourist towns.

So, learn some basic Portuguese, familiarize yourself with the differences between American and Brazilian culture, and book your flight to Sao Paulo! It truly is one of Latin America's most underrated travel destinations.


Bio: Natalya Pobedova is a travelling nomad and backpacker from beautiful Brno Czech Republic. She is 27 and makes a living as a freelance web developer to support her traveling needs. She also runs a budget flight search website for backpackers as a hobby: http://www.travelsiders.com/. She dreams of visiting Cuba and speaks Portuguese fluently. She visited 14 countries already and most of them are in Asia and Europe.

Street Art in São Paulo Part 11 - ALEX SENNA

Check out the amazing street art by Alex Senna, an artist and illustrator from São Paulo. His pieces are very distinctive and can be found all over the city. His work has become an integral part of this citys`character and urban image of São Paulo. 

Alex`s work has already been featured during exhibitions and in galleries from Miami, Toronto and New York to Paris, London and Berlin. Follow Alex on Instagram (@alexsenna) and check out his website www.alexsenna.com.br.

Photo of the Day: SP from Space

Post by Discovering São Paulo.

Identidade SP creates a logo for every São Paulo neighbourhood

You may not have noticed before but although the city has a coat of arms, the neighbourhoods of São Paulo do not. Or at least, they didn't until now.

Identidade SP have now created a logo design for each and every São Paulo neighbourhood. The initiative aims to creatively, rediscover the city through neighbourhood pride and etymology.  It has its inspiration in Pedro Campos, a graphic designer and photographer who dared to wonder what the name of his neighbourhood (Butantã) actually meant back in 2009. Once he had discovered its meaning he wanted to reflect it in a logo.

Soon he began researching other neighbourhoods and creating an emblem for each one as well as a simple webpage sharing information about its history and naming. Sé was the first neighbourhood quickly followed by Santa Ifigênia, Moema, Santo Amaro, Jaçanã, Pinheiros, Itaim Bibi, Higienópolis, Mooca, Canindé, Liberdade, Cambuci, Casa Verde, Pacaembu, Limão e Vila Madalena.

Pedro and his wife now curate the project and look after the Facebook fanpage. They still have a lot of work ahead of them (there are no less than 450 different neighbouorhoods in São Paulo) but even so plan to give a more practical use to the newly created logos. This year they will create souvenirs and clothing branded with the neighbourhood badges so you can wear your neighbourhood with pride.

Check out some of the designs already done:

Learn Thai Yoga Massage in São Paulo

The traditional healing techniques of ancient Thailand may seem a long way away and indeed they are. But this February you can learn the secrets of Thai traditional massage right here in São Paulo and even get certified as a Level 2 practitioner.

Barbara Santos is a Brazilian therapist who lives and works in Thailand. In 2012 she founded Espaço Nibbana, a holistic therapy institution through which she aims to raise awareness of traditional Eastern therapies and in particular Thai Massage.

Although she now resides in Asia where she can live and breathe the traditional art of healing through massage, she regularly returns to hold seminars and encourage other therapists to delve deeper into Eastern holistic practices.

Thai Yoga Massage courses are coming to São Paulo

In February this year she will be returning to her homeland to teach some of her learnings via intensive weekend courses. Her schedule only allows for 3 Brazilian cities one of which, of course, is Sampa. In São Paulo, the course will be held at Casa Jaya in Pinheiros. Full details are available here or directly on Espaco Nibbana.

A great opportunity for those who wish to learn how to give a great professional and traditional massage!

Photo of the Day: SP by night

Post by Discovering São Paulo.

The site that maps São Paulo's hidden rivers

Rios invisíveis is a collaborative project launched this year which aims to map all of São Paulo's rivers and project them onto an online searchable graphic. It was born out of the EcoHack World, an environment-focused international initiative aiming to map, visualise and database environment related information.

Using official data from the municipality of São Paulo as a starting point, the aim is to get ordinary citizens to pool their collective knowledge of their neighbourhoods to further map where rivers run and where they used to run. As much of this information resides only in the memories of Paulistas and there are few other methods of recovering this historical information, the project has become known as invisible rivers or rios invisíveis in portuguese.

Are you a long time resident of your neighbourhood? Do you have a river to map? Just get in touch with the guys at Rios Invisíveis

Photo of the day: Threatening yet beautiful

Post by Discovering São Paulo.

Livraria Cultura wins award for Best Retail Interior of 2014

Livraria Cultura bookshop was recently recognised as the Best Retail Interior Design at an international design festival held in Singapore.

The store, which was conceived by Studio MK27, beat Harrods and a number of fashion concept stores to win the prize. 

São Paulo is not always associated with innovative buildings but there has been a shift towards more thoughtful constructions in recent years. This time Livraria Cultura brings us a whole new take on the bookstore concept incorporating areas for socialising, relaxing, events as well as the primary functions of reading and purchasing.

Rather than being a transactional place, what has been created is a a beautiful and inviting environment of a multi-purpose nature promoting a "stay and read " culture above purely commercial aims.

Below are some photos of the stunning interior (photos by Fernando Guerra)

And a very nicely executed video presentation:

Photo of the Day: Aerial Sunset in São Paulo

Post by Discovering São Paulo.

São Paulo Street Life

If you get a chance, go check out the work of Miguel Castello. The exposition called Memórias da Rua is going on right now at Estação da Luz. Miguel`s powerful photographs portray homeless people living in São Paulo. Admission is free, the expo runs until Nov 30th and is supported by the Fundação e Instituto Justiça Solidária.

Memórias da Rua Expo
Estação da Luz
Praça da Luz, 1
http://www.estacaodaluz.org.br

Miguel Castello on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/memoriasdarua