The celebration of São Paulo Special Day at the Shanghai Expo, on June 4th, is the most expected event at the world exhibition. Music, dance and the main representatives of the culture will show the world why São Paulo is a multicultural, multiracial and contemporary city. Between June 2nd and 6th a series of attractions promise to shake the Expo, in China.

The special programming begins this Wednesday, June 2nd, when São Paulo’s City Ballet will make a presentation at the stage of the Entertainment Hall to enchant the audience with a performance created especially for the event. On Thursday, June 3rd, will be the turn of the Brazil Pavilion to promote Brazil’s Day at Expo, with the presence of São Paulo’s delegation. The program, to be released later on, includes Carlinhos Brown among the attractions.

On Friday, June 4th, the program includes a special visit from authorities, businessmen and personalities from Brazil and China to the São Paulo Pavilion, located at the Urban Best Practices Area (Urban Best Practice Area - UBPA) in the Expo. The presentation of Sao Paulo’s City Ballet, at 10:30, officially opens the series of attractions. Almost thirty dancers will perform the choreographic show Dichotomy and La Valse. Founded in 1968, the Ballet is the official dance company of the city. The group was initially established to monitor the works of classical repertoire, but later on came to include contemporary dance trends and unite tradition and innovation. These characteristics mark the performances of this short season in China.

At 02:00 PM, it is Barbatuques’ turn to show the strength of their work based on the exploration of body sounds. It is indeed a real orchestra body and present it to world movements, rhythms, melodies and unusual and captivating choreography. Something that promises to enchant the audience.

Zimbo Trio will be on stage at Plaza UBPA to present to the Chinese tourists the rhythm that has captivated the West for so many years: bossa nova. It is further proof of the Brazilian cultural talent that crosses ever more distant borders. An eclectic repertoire will make the audience dance and sing! Nobody will stand still!

Concluding the program, Clube do Balanço shakes the Expo with a mixture of samba, rock, funk and soul: a global pace with a Brazilian accent. This musical group shows how Sao Paulo rescued the rhythm of samba-rock and became a success.

During the presentations, visitors will get gifts and briefing materials about the largest Brazilian metropolis. Games, and raffles with the public participation will also happen. The special programming will be opened by the Municipal Secretary for International Relations, Alfredo Cotait Neto, representing the mayor of São Paulo, Gilberto Kassab. A planting tree ceremony will symbolise the strengthening of relations between São Paulo and Shanghai, which are sisters-cities. Diplomats, dignitaries, political leaders and businessmen from Brazil and China will also be present. The unprecedented participation of São Paulo at Shanghai’s Expo 2010 is coordinated by the Municipal Secretary for International Relations (SMRI).

On Saturday, June 5th, São Paulo’s delegation will participate on events of Porto Alegre’s Day in the Expo. The capitals of São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul are the only Brazilian cities that have separate Pavillions. They were selected by Expo organizers for developing good urban practices: the project “Clean City” in São Paulo, and “Solidarity Governance” in Porto Alegre. The Brazilian delegation, composed by members of the federal government, state and city of São Paulo and Porto Alegre, will attend the events organized during this first week of June.

Officially opened on May 1st, the Expo brings together more than 190 countries, city and international institutions. With the 'Better City, Better Life "(Better City, Better Life) theme, the Expo hopes to draw attention to the need to join efforts in order to promote exchanges and develop actions that result in improved quality of life in urban areas . The universal exhibition runs until October 31st and hopes to attract over 70 million visitors. In this first month of the event, more than 80.000 people have visited São Paulo Pavilion.

Sao Paulo Special Day at Shanghai Expo - June 2010
Schedule:

* Wedneday June 2nd 2010
• Gala Evening - São Paulo’s City Ballet
Time: 6:00 p.m. - Venue: Entertainement Hall - Puxi - Expo - Shanghai - China (Admission free)

* Thursday June 3rd 2010
• Brazil Special Day (With São Paulo and Porto Alegre delegation)
Time: From 10:00 a.m - Venue: Expo - Pudong - Shanghai - China

* Friday June 4th 2010 - São Paulo Special Day
• Media Interview - Sao Paulo Pavilion
Time: 10:00 a.m. - Venue: UBPA - Case Joint Pavilion - B 3 - 1 - Blue Area
• Performance by the Ballet of the City of Sao Paulo
Time: 10:30 a.m. - Venue: UBPA Plaza
• Performance by Group ‘Barbatuques’
Time: 2:00 p.m. - Venue: UBPA Plaza
• Guided tour of Brazilian and Chinese authorities at Sao Paulo Pavilion
Time: 5:00 p.m. - Venue: UBPA - Case Joint Pavilion - B 3 - 1 - Blue Area
• Planting Tree Ceremony - Sister-Cities São Paulo-Xangai (TBC)
Time: 5:30 p.m. - Venue: UBPA
• Performance by Zimbro Trio
Time: 6:00 p.m. - Venue: UBPA Plaza
• Performance by ‘Clube do Balanço’
Time: 8:00 p.m. - Venue: UBPA Plaza
* Saturday June 5th 2010
Porto Alegre Special Day (With São Paulo delegation)
Time: From: 10 00 a.m - Venue: UBPA
 

For more Information:
www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/smri
www.saopaulonaexpo.com.br
http://en.expo2010.cn