"Carnival intensifies the vivacity of human experience in a way that no commonplace experience can" (Lowell Lewis).

"Carnival turns the world upside down" (Mikhail Bakhtin).

'Back to the Streets' was our Arts Council funded, carnival development initiative focussed on the Lord Mayor's Street Procession in July 2009 (LMSP09). The aim of the project was to put together a high quality entry into the procession, with the development of local artists supported by nationally and internationally renowned carnival artists. The project also sought to challenge ideas and develop a number of new elements.

Back to the Streets has been a huge success with over 400 people taking part - learning how to make carnival costumes, how to stilt walk, how to dance salsa, samba and hip hop and how to make giant puppets and floats! The project culminated on Saturday 11th July as the lead entry in this year's Lord Mayor's Street Procession in Norwich and was enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience of approximately 25,000! The entry won second prize in the City Council's 'Spirit of Carnival' awards.

For Back to the Streets we took a Brazilian carnival style approach of an overall theme, divided up into a series of sub-themes (or Alegrias). Each sub-theme incorporates a number of elements Ð music, dancing, costumes, floats, puppets, stilt walkers and street theatre performers. The Back to the Streets block, which led the LMSP09, consisted of three sections: Brazilian, Cuban and English, each showing different styles and ideas. The overall theme was loosely based on the Orishas, mythical ancestors enchanted and metamorphosed into forces of nature. These characters, drawn from African origins, express many of the archetypes that can be seen in mythologies the world over and here refer to the set of deities that were worshipped in African-based religions, brought to the Americas by slaves of the West African, Yoruba people. There is a strong link between the Orishas in Brazil and Cuba, and we explored how these sorts of archetypes might be translated into English mythology.

Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/norca/sets/ to see the photos of the 'Back to the Streets' entry in the Procession.

The Orishas and Characters

Key Orishas were taken as the drivers of design and performance work, feeding into costumes, puppets and floats. These also formed the basis of the character work for the performance element.

• Eshu (Eleggua) - A contradictory character, Eshu is the messenger between the human and divine worlds. He is happy, playful, and likes to play tricks, hide objects, tell lies, and direct people the wrong way. He loves to shock people, is untidy, and loves to disrupt parties.
• Oxala (Obatalá) - arch-divinity, father of humankind, divinity of light, spiritual purity, and moral uprightness, he likes order and cleanliness.
• Xango (Shango) - A warrior deity, divinity of thunder and fire. Paladin (knight) of justice, he punishes with lightening. An obstinate and physical character, he represents male power and sexuality.
• Oxossi (Ochossi) - Hunter and scout of the orishas, he is solitary, mysterious and very beautiful. His impulsiveness makes him a complicated character.
• Oxum (Oshún) - Deity of love, feminine beauty, fertility, and art, she is very beautiful and attractive, and often pursued by the opposite sex. Smiling, happy and intelligent, she refuses nothing and gives all. Wife of Xango, who stole her away from Oxossi.
• Iansa (Oyá) - A warrior deity, goddess of sex and love, she relates to all the elements of nature (storm wind, rain and lightening). Does not like housework and seeks adventure and passion.
• Ogum (Ogun) - Deity of iron, war, politics, and technology, he is agressive, impulsive and arrogant.
• Yemanja (Yemaya) - Divine mother, goddess of the sea, she is imposing, majestic, possessive and very jealous.
• Oba (Oba) - Deity of marriage and domesticity, Oba is the jealous and neglected wife of Xango. Strong-willed and possessive, she is long-suffering but vengeful.
• The Green Man - the Green Man is often linked to nature deities, springing up in different cultures throughout the ages. Primarily he is a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each spring.
• Merlin - Mythical wizard and sage of Arthurian legend, mentor of the king and schemer. Merlin is linked to the spirits of the woods and of nature.
• King Arthur - Legendary British leader, who wielded the sword Excalibur, and brought together the Knights of the Round Table. Arthur embodies the idea of chivalry and the noble quest, through his seeking of the Holy Grail.
• Guinevere - Beautiful wife of Arthur, who has an affair with Lancelot leading to the downfall of the kingdom.

Brazilian Section

Led by Mariana Pinho

The Brazilian section was designed by international artist, Mariana Pinho, and supported by local artist, Ali MacKenzie.

Mariana Pinho from Samba Caramba is a dance teacher, choreographer, costume designer and producer of cultural exchange programmes between Brazil and the UK. Mariana has performed in the UK, Greece, Algeria, Germany, Scotland and Brazil. Highlights include: choreographer for the BBC's Strictly African Dancing, Glastonbury 2005, Thames Festival 08 (with Cardboard Citizens), Womad 08 and choreographer for the Young Vic's production FESTA!

Mariana returns to Brazil at least once a year to keep up to date on the latest dance steps and music. She is passionate about preserving and carrying on the traditional rhythms and the dances that go with them, such as Maracatu and Coco from Pernambuco, Samba Reggae and Ijexa from Bahia, and Samba from Rio de Janeiro.

Ali MacKenzie from Tin House works as a freelance artist, designer and sculptor. She is a director of Tin House, a Norfolk based community/participatory arts company that specialises in engaging both groups and individuals in workshop scenarios, transforming ideas and imagination into practical, creative reality, whilst employing a wide range of skills, materials and artists.

Ali's experience over the last twenty years has led her to work for organisations as diverse as the BBC, Welfare State, English National Opera, Emergency Exit Arts, Channel Four, the Museums Service, Bridgewater Arts Centre, Norwich City Council, The Forum Trust (Norwich), Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership, and at many different festivals.

Live music for the Brazilian section was provided by a 50-strong bloco made up of Norwich Samba, Samba Magdalena (Great Yarmouth) and three High school bands (The Hewett, Dereham Neatherd and Sprowston High). Singing with the group on the day was Fabio Alman from Monobloco, alongside Ben Cann (Rabo de Foguette). Directing and teaching of the bloco was led by Marcus Patteson, Hej Jones and Jon Cann from Norwich Samba, with support of Monobloco.

The community groups involved in this section, making the costumes, learning the dances and taking part in the processions were: St Michaels VA Junior School - Julian Housing - Marlpit Massive - Norwich Samba Band - Hewett High School Samba Band - Sprowston High School Samba Band - Neatherd High School Samba Band - Norwich Samba Dancers - Samba Magdalena - plus many individual participants.

www.myspace.com/sambacaramba
www.norwichsamba.org

Cuban Section

Led by Damarys Farres

The Cuban Section is designed by international artist Damarys Farres and supported by local arts groups Fruitful Arts and Chilli con Salsa. Damarys Farres, orginially from Havana, Cuba, is the director of The Cuban School of Arts in London, and is the UK Cuban Salsa Champion. She is an extremely charismatic and passionate dancer, choreographer, artistic director, teacher and researcher. She has a broad background in dance, including classical ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Reggaeton, traditional and popular Cuban styles, Folk dance, as well as other Latin and modern dances. Damarys promotes and works to integrate Afro-Cuban culture, dance and traditions into the UK, as well as overseas.

Fruitful Arts delivers high quality arts education projects in communities, galleries and museums. They strongly believe in the power of visual arts to increase motivation, creativity and personal development in anyone. The company has worked closely with over 800 children and young people, through practice-based projects in Norfolk and thousands more at local events, substantially increasing access and participation in the contemporary visual arts.

Chilli con Salsa is an event and promotions team focussed on bringing Latin culture alive in Norfolk. They have acted as liaison and organisers for the Cuban section. They hold many events locally, showcasing the best dancers in the UK, along with teachers from Brazilian, Colombian, Spanish, French, Dominican Republic and Cuban backgrounds. Chilli con Salsa seek to bring world class Latin musicians to Norfolk, and whatever your age and experience they have something to offer you.

The community groups involved in this section, making the costumes, learning the dances and taking part in the processions were: New Routes International Friendship Group - Connects & Co Young Carers - The Phoenix Centre Carnival Group - Bridges - and Chilli con Salsa dance members - plus many individual participants.

www.cubanshool.co.uk
www.fruitfularts.com
www.chilliconsalsa.com

English Section

Led by Pat Howe

The English Section was designed by Pat Howe from Spectrum Crafts and supported by local arts groups Spirit of Carnival and Jankie D's Community Workshops.
Pat Howe has been involved Community Carnival Arts, and all that goes with it, since 1976. She has helped hundred of groups design and construct costumes, encouraging them to participate in events not only in Norwich and Norfolk, but all over the UK and abroad. For example, Notting Hill Carnival, Isle of Wight Carnivals and a little further afield in Tobago. Alongside regular collaborator, Linda Blakeway, Pat is one of the founder members of Spirit of Carnival.

Spirit of Carnival is a voluntary, multi-cultural community arts project, based in Norwich. Founded in 2000, the project encourages community participation and broadens cultural understanding through the promotion of Carnival Arts. They seek to enable individuals and groups from disadvantaged communities to come together and share experiences through the provision of carnival arts workshops and events.

Jankie Di's is a social enterprise that offers workshops for people of all ages and abilities in arts, crafts and textiles. Jankie D's also organise and support community events, such as carnivals, in which workshop participants can showcase what they have made or learned. Central to Jankie D's ethos is the belief that the Arts can have a positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities. Long term projects based on developing learning, skills and self-confidence are very much on Jankie D's agenda. The company strives to continue to work in the fun, relaxed and innovative manner which has seen it build up strong local support from communities and organisations.

The dance element for this section was led by Stephen Knights. Stephen runs a successful dance group, known as Knightshift Dance Company, performing at festivals and functions throughout the country, and regularly staging professional catwalk shows for local Norwich boutiques. Recently Stephen was responsible for choreographing the TV commercial for Chapelfield Shopping Centre.

The community groups and local businesses involved in this section, making the costumes, learning the dances and taking part in the processions were: Buy Local - The Red Cross - Norwich International Youth Group - Clare School - Harford Manor - Chet Valley Festival Group - Cobholm Youth Group - Great Yarmouth Adult Carnival Group - plus many individual participants.

www.jankied.btik.com

Elements Feeding into All Sections

Characters

London based theatre company, Dende Collective, was created in 1999 and most of their work to date has had a strong Brazilian flavour. Dende is the Brazilian name for Palm Oil, and like the dishes cooked with Dende Oil, Dende Collective's performances are a feast with an international feel, bringing together a rich mix of styles and visual elements. As well as their performance work, Dende also produces educational programmes aimed at enhancing and encouraging the involvement of communities and young people in live theatre. They run educational activities in schools, arts centres and community projects. Dende returned to Norfolk after 2008's C-Attack, for the Out There Festival in Great Yarmouth, to present their latest piece of street theatre work, specially designed for the Back to the Streets project, bringing the Orishas to life.

Stiltwalking

Local company, Twisted Entertainment (Jess Morris and Carrie Mansfield), offer stilt workshops, walkabout acts, face painting and drama workshops. They have performed at the Glastonbury Festival for the last eight years, at Latitude in 2008 and 2009, and can regularly be seen at Norwich City Council events, including past Lord Mayor's Celebrations. Twisted Entertainment love to inspire young people through their workshops, giving them confidence, a sense of achievement and the chance to perform and express themselves. Fifteen young people trained to take part in the parade, with costumes made by Holly Sandiford, Georgina Huggins and Karen Whiterod (a local recycled materials artist who was commissioned to make four of the costumes from recycled plastics).

Floats

The floats, put together for the project by Dominic Patteson, were one of the breakthrough areas of the project for us. The LMSP, traditionally, has a large number of lorry-based floats and what we showed was that you do not have to rely upon lorries for large PA's. These person propelled rigs had large, battery powered PA's, providing enough noise to be heard over the 50-strong Samba Bloco. Dom is a maker based in Sussex. An expert in the design and construction of camera obscura, Willett and Patteson's Amazing Camera Obscura has toured to Japan and Australia (and is available for hire).

Puppets

Spectrum Crafts, Tin House and Fruitful Arts were all commissioned to construct the amazing puppets and populated the block, in keeping with the particular section they were working with. In addition, Ali MacKenzie and Kate Hodges were commissioned to make the puppets of 'good' and 'bad' plastics. Kate is a local sculptor, installation artist and workshops leader.

www.dendecollective.org
www.amazingcameraobscura.co.uk
www.footprintarts.co.uk

Project Partners

A key partner this year was Recycle for Norfolk, who had a message they wanted to get across and were interested in getting involved in the carnival to achieve it. The message Ð you cannot just put any old plastic in that recycling bin. Artists Ali MacKenzie and Kate Hodges created the puppets of good and bad plastic, who paraded alongside the waste warriors, on their stilts.

www.recyclefornorfolk.org.uk

As part of our development work we have involved groups from Great Yarmouth, Diss and Loddon, thanks to the support of Seachange Arts and South Norfolk Council. Elements from Back to the Streets will be taking part in both the Out There Festival (19th Sept 09) and Chet Valley Carnival (24th Oct 09).

Acknowledgements

Our grateful thanks go to our funders - Arts Council England, Norwich City Council, Norfolk County Council, Norfolk County Council Recycling Team, Seachange Arts, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, South Norfolk Council and Spirit of Carnival.

Special thanks goes to all the lead and local artists involved, and all the volunteers and participants who helped and took part in making the project happen.

We would like to offer our thanks to the following for their invaluable help and support in making this project a success:

All the community groups and local businesses who took part;
each and every of the 50 volunteers;
Peter and Colin at the Phoenix Centre;
NWES and the Henderson Business Centre, who were our home for the five months of making;
Targetfollow, for the use of space at the Bally Shoe Factory;
Holly Sandiford, Maureen Cullum and Georgina Higgins;
The Talk;
Norwich City Council Parking Services;
Norwich City Council Events Team;
Chantry Hall;
The Cap & Gown Pub;
The Boundary Bakery Van;
All those who donated plastic;
And anyone else we have forgotten.