Grupo Folclórico Mar Bravo

da Casa dos Açores de Hilmar

Fundado em 3 de Outubro de 2003

Somos um Grupo de Baile Folclorico Portugues com actuacoes ao som da nossa musica tradicional Portuguesa. Pode contactar-nos para os vossos eventos.

Grupo Folclórico Mar Bravo dos Açores de Hilmar is a Porgueuse Folkloric group that performs to the sound of our traditional Portuguese music from the region of Minho, Portugal. We love to dance and have a good time all while sharing our traditions and culture with our community. Our group originated in October of 2003 and is currently still ran by its original members. Currently, our group consists of 28 members ranging in age seven on up.

In the first four years of Mar Bravo’s existence, we danced in black and white homemade costumes; nowhere near traditional. It wasn’t until 2007 after fundraising and doing donation based performances that we were able to buy our first set of ‘REAL’ costumes from the region we represent. And then, for the first time in four years, we debuted on stage at Folklore Festival in Turlock.

Mar Bravo likes to encourage the participation of youth in the community to help keep our Portuguese culture alive. We’ve been a very active part of our community dancing at numerous festas throughout the years. We were even fortunate enough to take on the experience of hosting the 28th Annual Folklore Festival in 2010.

Our Mar Bravo family has gone through thick and thin, big and small, but somehow we always find a way to pull together. Unfortunately, on June 26th tragedy struck our group hard with the sudden passing of Michael Sousa. Michael was an original founding member of our group as well as held a spot on our Board of Directors. He was one of our key dancers who made it to every performance and was well known by all everywhere we went. As our motto goes, and in the words of Michael, “The show must go on!” and this year, we go on for you Michael. We’ve made it this far and today we dedicate our performance to you and continue on in your memory. We miss you dearly and love you unconditionally. Forever in our hearts, please continue to watch over us and guide us and dance with us in Heaven. Rest in Peace Michael!

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