Samba dancers draw backlash at Rovaniemi Christmas opening

Samba dancers marching alongside Santa Claus at Rovaniemi’s Christmas season opening drew criticism from people who said the performance did not fit a traditional northern Christmas, Yle reported.

Rovaniemi samba school Samba de Aurora led Saturday’s parade with Santa and Mrs Claus. Some viewers called for more traditional Christmas figures, including elves and reindeer, and criticised the dancers’ costumes.

The negative comments prompted Likiliike, an association of local businesses involved in organising the event, to speak out. Its chair, Sari Poikajärvi-Mustonen, said there should be no place for spiteful remarks, adding that no one had questioned whether a performance by Darude at Santa Claus Village the previous year belonged at Christmas.

Samba de Aurora founder and dance teacher Maisa Kader said the comments had been upsetting for the group. The school had been invited by the organisers to bring colour and energy to the event, she said, and had also received many supportive messages.

Kader rejected claims that the dancers were nearly naked, saying they wore red Christmas-themed costumes over flesh-coloured thermal layers made for figure skaters. The costumes had taken considerable time and money to prepare, she said.

The parade had not featured samba dancers before. Kader said some people may have objected because the performance differed from their idea of a traditional Christmas, but she believed the two could share the same event. The school has 60 dancers and its own percussion group, and dozens of performers took part in the opening.

The school changes its theme each year and plans to wear the Christmas costumes again. Likiliike urged people to respond kindly and said anyone could apply to perform or join the parade. The association said Christmas should be about joy, spending time together and kindness.