Basta on Samba

Last Monday at Sagg Main Beach in Sagaponack, the event featuring Brazilian band Escola de Samba BOOM was shut down by Southampton Police. The drumming began at 6:30 p.m. and by 8:00, this popular, casual, community- and family-friendly event had attracted a crowd of close to 300 dancers, singers, capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial art dance) performers, and fire jugglers. The Police asked the drummers to bring things to an end around 8:30 p.m., just as the sun set and the children began to dance and play with their glow sticks. Escola de Samba BOOM, which has been playing every Monday night at Sagg Main Beach, didn't have a special event permit. According to Southampton Town Parks and Recreation Dept., between 6 and 11 p.m. crowd gatherings of more than 150 people have to be approved by the by the Town Board as a special event. - VC

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