By Sarah Brown, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Friday, December 2nd, the ultra-trendy social venue, Clubhouse Rio, will host the Heartbeatz party, granting guests an opportunity to visit this exclusive, members-only club while experiencing one of the most popular parties in Rio.
The event has been organized by German expatriate couple, Sebastian and Nora Kerll, who had a huge success with their last Heartbeatz party in Vidigal. This time, the party will feature British house DJ Jody King, and all the proceeds from the event will go to Favela Phoenix, his charity project and school in Rocinha.
“After arriving in Rio last year we met Jody and loved his engagement with his English school in Rocinha,” explains Sebastian Kerll. “When thinking about how to support him, rather than just donating to him, to create awareness, me and my wife thought about organizing events and donating the proceeds to his organization.”
Kerll explained that their main goal is to combine a great time while contributing to a great cause. Clubhouse will donate ten percent of all drink sales from the event to various social projects.
“The largest share will go to Favela Phoenix,” says Kerll. “Apart from the philanthropic piece of the event we also like to enjoy a good party and as the last one was such a success we wanted to build on the positive feedback and maybe make Heartbeatz a more regular thing, maybe to support more charities at some stage.”
Kerll described how they found the chique Clubhouse as the venue for their party. “Almost a week before the party date, I was desperately looking for some place to do the party also as my wife’s birthday was on December 1st,” admits Kerll. “A Norwegian friend told me that Internations had done a get together at Clubhouse so I checked the place out and fell in love with it. Fantastic views, Great vibe, great location, easy access and nice people.”
He continues, “When I spoke to the owner, Kessey, she was very professional and after making sure that our program/name (Heartbeatz) exists she bought into the idea. Kessey worked at an NGO previously and fully supported the idea behind it.”
“Furthermore, he adds, “it is somehow integrated into a community and that also contributed to the original idea of Heartbeatz, to tear down some invisible walls of cliché and build comprehension and bridges between diverse people with very different opportunities and lifestyles.”
The venue will certainly help set a positive mood for the event. A remodeled mansion that is currently a private club, the warm and cozy environment has the ambiance of a private home, with a gorgeous terrace and a spell-binding view across Ipanema. Music will include atmospheric, deep, minimal and progressive electro music to help create a smooth and relaxed environment for social mingling with a crowd of young, interesting and well-travelled people.
The entrance to the party is free but includes a minimum consumption of R$40 for women and R$60 for men. There is also the opportunity to make a voluntary donation.
What: Heartbeatz party
When: Friday, December 2 – 8PM
Where: Clubhouse, R. Saint Roman, 184 – Copacabana – Tel: (21) 3586-0456
Entrance: FREE. Minimum consumption of R$40 for women, R$60 for men.