Performers from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Rio de Janeiro's samba schools vied for the title of the year's best in an over-the-top, all-night-long Carnival parade at the city's iconic Sambadrome. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Performers from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Rio de Janeiro's samba schools vied for the title of the year's best in an over-the-top, all-night-long Carnival parade at the city's iconic Sambadrome. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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The mythical jester figure who reigns over Carnival, King Momo, is represented by the the crowned and costumed Milton Rodrigues Junior who arrives for the official kick-off ceremony flashing a thumbs-up, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. An estimated half million visitors to the city of 6 million people are expected to attend the pre-Lenten festivities. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes, left, gestures to the mythical jester figure who reigns over Carnival, this year's King Momo; the crowned and costumed Milton Rodrigues Junior, as he holds the key of the city at the official ceremony kicking off the five day bash, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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The mythical jester figure who reigns over Carnival, this year's King Momo; the crowned and costumed Milton Rodrigues Junior, center, holds up the key of the city that was given by Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes, left, at the official ceremony kicking off the five-day bash, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia jokingly wears a wig to impersonate former tennis player Gustavo 'Guga' Kuerten of Brazil during their exhibition match in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to former tennis player Gustavo 'Guga' Kuerten of Brazil in their exhibition match in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays in an exhibition match against former tennis player Gustavo 'Guga' Kuerten of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Young Brazilian dancers wow visiting Royal Ballet
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) —
Young dancers performing to Afro-Brazilian music put on an energetic show Saturday to close out an educational visit by representatives from London's
Royal Opera House and its Royal Ballet company.
The show at the Afro-Reggae cultural center in the Vigario Geral shantytown impressed Royal Opera chief executive Tony Hall as well as the London ballet troupe's principal dancer, Roberta Marquez, herself a native of Rio.
"I'm very proud to be Brazilian right now. It's a beautiful project and I get very emotional to see those little kids doing ballet," Marquez said after watching a ballet turn by 20 girls in green tutus. "It's a wonderful feeling," she added.
This past week, Marquez and other Royal Ballet dancers and teachers shared their knowledge and advice with promising artists during a symposium put on by the company and Afro Reggae.
Educators from both organizations exchanged ideas on how arts can influence child development and self-esteem, helping keep youngsters off the streets and away from a life of crime.
"I profoundly believe in how arts and culture and music and dance can have a profound effect, I mean a profound effect, on people's lives and on communities," said Hall, who is becoming director of British Broadcasting Corp.
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