Youth in Action in NYC

   

Njoli from FICA-NY send this write up about their June event for kids:

June 12th-!3th, 2010.

It was the Youth in Action: Service through Movement Conference in NYC. A really beautiful event with workshops taught completely by volunteers from around the city, country and the world. It was a wonderful thing to have such a variety of workshops: african & african brazilian percussion, capoeira movement & music, yoga, health & nutrition, art & the environment. Young people of all ages were with us and the energy was vibrant. Family and friends were there to support and to learn. There were struggles and obstacles (as there are with all events) but in the end, we were so glad for the outcome and look forward to all the opportunities to bring more events like this to the young people in our worldwide capoeira community.

We want to give a huge thanks again to all of guest instructors:

•Treinel Kamau - FICA Philly
•Atlanta Amado Forsyth - Samba
•Aloan Damasceno - FICA Bahia
•Karen Nicely - Yoga
•Stephen Dahmer MD - Health & Nutrition
•Ted Gousse L.Ac. - Health & Nutrition
and to our Mestres for their support and guidance.

Check out our website for even more pictures of this exciting event.

Be well.

   

Barcelona, Spain: 12 Years of Filhos de Angola

  

12th Anniversary
Filhos de Angola Barcelona
Mestre Laércio, Contramestre Pezão, Contramestre Gato Preto
November 26 – 28, 2010

Get the details here (in Spanish).

Special Guests: M Laércio, Mestre Valmir, Contramestre Pezão, Contramestre Gato Preto, Contramestre Dirceu, Treineu Gege and others!

Release of new cd: “O jogo da malicia”

Contact: Anderson, (00 34) 651 81 89 89
-----------------------------

12º Aniversario Filhos de Angola Barcelona
MESTRE LAÉRCIO, CM PEZÃO, CM GATO PRETO
26, 27 y 28 de Noviembre

Toda la información la encontrareis en nuestro blog.

Con la presencia de:
MESTRE LAÉRCIO (GCFA)
MESTRE VALMIR (FICA)
CONTRAMESTRE PEZÃO (GCFAB)
CONTRAMESTRE GATO PRETO (GCFA)
CONTRAMESTRE DIRCEU (GCALV)
TREINEL GEGE (FICA)
y otros invitados por confirmar…

Presentación de nuestro nuevo CD : "O jogo da malicia"

contato: Anderson,(00 34) 651 81 89 89
  

Capoeira in Recife: the Tough Guys & the Troublemakers

   
We know much about the history of capoeira in Rio de Janeiro thanks to work of Jair Moura and Carlos Eugênio Líbano Soares. Likewise, we have a lot of information about its history in Bahia thanks to the research of Frede Abreu, Antonio Liberac Cardoso Simões Pires, and others. However, there is significantly less known capoeira's past in the city of Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco, despite being one of Brazil's largest metropolitan areas and a major port city.

Bernardo Alves, a researcher who wrote a book about capoeira in Pernambuco discussed his findings in an interview with the group CICA (Centro de Instrução de Capoeira Angola) that was published in their journal, Biriba, in April 2002.

In the interview, Alves touches on many different themes: the various identities of capoeiristas of early twentieth century Pernambuco, the consequences of the lack of organization, and the "ethics" of capoeira.

Here is an excerpt of their conversation:

CICA: The fact that the maltas came together to fight, this rivalry between them, shows us that there was not solidarity around this work, but only a shock. Do you think that this also determined the lack of development of capoeira in Pernambuco?

Alves: I don’t believe so. It was more like partisanism. So, there were those that supported the more famous groups of the 4th Infantry Battalion and the guys that supported the other one that was famous, the band of Pedro espanhol, the Espanha. There were the criminals doing security for the officials. They would go there cheering and the capoeiras in the front were doing security work. In truth, they weren’t interested in doing security. They wanted to play. If you took out the capoeiras who were supporting this group, the others would come in and make trouble, breaking it up with clubs. But I will answer your question. So, there was this partisanism. In Bahia, capoeira was preserved because the Bahian preserved capoeira in the academies. If the academies had not been created, the same thing would have happened there that happened here [in Recife]. Those from here were expelled and those from there stayed around. A large majority of capoeiras from Bahia stayed there. So, they transformed this thing into a dance, or something; they disguised it; there was this disguise that did not happen here. I believe that they stopped passing capoeira from generation to generation and it ended. There wasn’t this passing down between generations, and there in Bahia this happened because of the existence of academies… you always have those guys that say no, this is a thing of the people, it has to be spontaneous, it can’t happen in the academies. But if there had not been academies, it would have disappeared in Bahia as well.

CICA: Did you not find any references to organized groups? Be it on the stage or in fights?

Alves: It was a neighborhood thing. The capoeira from Madalena didn’t enter in Coellos. He wouldn’t go under any circumstances. They are tribes. This is a very primitive thing.

CICA: Without a system nor an academy, capoeira here was more about malandragem… So, in the past the only people who practiced capoeira were the tough guys and bullies?

Alves: Yes. Remember that there were these two currents of capoeira in Pernambuco. That this here was the tough guy, and this here was the troublemaker. The tough guy was the guy who was more ethical, had more scruples. And the troublemaker was the guy who wanted to create trouble. He arrived and started fighting. But the tough guy, no. The tough guy was more dangerous than the other. It wasn’t a technical dispute. It was a fight to really knock the other out. Nascimento Grande was a very interesting guy. He was funny, that is, he would knock the other guy down and afterwards, he would carry the guy on his shoulders to the hospital and say, “Look, take good care of this friend of mine, here is some money, ok?”

CICA: Was there any kind of ethics between the capoeiristas in hand-to-hand combat?

Alves: Among the tough guys.

CICA: And among the troublemakers?

Bernardo: Among the troublemakers it was anything goes and a little more.

Extremely interesting! Would you be as genteel as to carry on your shoulder and pay the medical bills of the person you knocked down?

We'll be presenting works that highlight the history of capoeira in other cities over the next few months.

Do you know anything about the roots of capoeira in your city (perhaps you are the roots - especially if you are reading this side of the blog!)?

The whole conversation (in Portuguese) can be found in the FICA-DC archives.
  

São Paulo, Brazil: Celebrating São Cosme e Damião

   

4th Festa de São Cosme e Damião
September 26 at 2 pm

Candy and games
Caruru and samba de roda

Rua Conselheiro Ramalho, 945
Bela Vista – São Paulo – SP
website


This has to be the best poster ever.
   

Salvador, Brazil: Celebrating 21 Years of Acanne

   

Acanne presents

O SABOR DO SABER ANCESTRAL
November 16 – 21, 2010
Salvador, Bahia
Brazil

An autonomous body within capoeira
To redefine: this will be the objective of the workshops led by Mestre Renê.

Where, through exercises of corporal un-conditioning, we will look to stimulate the construction of an autonomous identity within capoeira.

Cost: 100 reais, includes feijoada and a place to sleep at the Acanne space.

Location: Rua do Sodré nº48 Dois de julho, next to the Sacred Art Museum

You may register by email. Contact:
mestrerene (at) yahoo (dot) com
acannezion (at) hotmail (dot) com

Telephone contacts:
(71)3321-7496
(71)9146-5999
(71)8728-8318

For a complete schedule of events (in Portuguese, but you’ll understand), which includes classes, lectures, frescobol on the beach, rodas, and parties, click here.
   

Helsinki, Finland: Workshops with M Valmir

   
FICA-Helsinki presents

Workshops with Mestre Valmir

November 5 - 7

Schedule:
Friday: 18:00-22:00
Saturday: 11:00-18:00
Sunday: 11:00-18:00

Place:
Zodiak, Kaapelitehdas
Tallberginkatu 1
Helsinki

Price:
70 euros (60 euros paid before 22.10.)
or
Friday 25 euros
Saturday 35 euros
Sunday 35 euros

Information & registration:
tapani (at) capoeira-angola (dot) fi
+358-50-3780292
   

Bogotá, Colombia: Enconter with M Valmir

   

Mandinga en Colombia 2010
4th International Capoeira Angola Encounter

Mestre Valmir
October 11 - 18
Bogotá, Colombia

Grupo de Estudo
FICA - Bogotá
Fundação Internacional de Capoeira Angola

ficabogota (at) gmail (com) com

website

Thanks to Fabricio for the poster.
   

Boston, USA: 16th Annual Roots of Bahia Encounter

   
"Mestre Bimba meets Mestre Pastinha"

October 29 - 31

Presented by The Brazilian Cultural Center of New England and Mestre Deraldo Academy João Pequeno de Pastinha, Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola.

Invited guests: Grand Mestre Joao Grande, Mestre Deraldo Ferreira, Mestre Laercio dos Angos Borges, Mestre Pe de Chumbo, Contra-Mestre Iuri Santos, Mestre Amen Santo, and Mestre Efraim Silva (full bios below).

The Dance Complex
536 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA
USA

Schedule

Friday, October 29
Studio 1
5:00-6:00pm Capoeira Angola
6:00-7:00pm Capoeira Angola
7:00-8:00pm Capoeira Angola
8:00-10:00pm Roda

Saturday, October 30
Studio 1
1:30-3:00pm Capoeira Angola
3:00-4:00pm Maculele
4:00-5:30pm Capoeira Angola
5:30-7:00pm Capoeira Angola
7:00-9:00pm Roda

Studio 2
1:30-3:00pm Capoeira Angola
3:00-4:30pm Afro-Brazilian Dance
4:30-6:00pm Capoeira
6:00-7:00pm Capoeira

Sunday, October 31
Studio 1
12:30-1:30 Capoeira Angola
1:30-2:30 Capoeira Angola
2:30-3:30 Capoeira
3:30-6:30 Roda

Studio 2
1:30-3:00 Afro-Brazilian Dance


Price List:
- Friday only: $60
- Saturday only: $90
- Sunday only: $80
- Afro-Brazilian Dance Workshop only: $20
- Full encounter before October 15th: $170 (includes Halloween dance party**)
- Full encounter after October 15: $190 (includes Halloween dance party**)
- Encounter T-shirts: $12

**The Halloween Dance party will be with live Brazilian music and dancing. Groups Samba Tremeterra and Raizes do Forro will perform Saturday night at Ryles Jazz Club - 212 Hampshire St, Cambridge.

--------------------------------------------------
Mestre Deraldo Ferreira is Founder and Artistic Director of The Brazilian Cultural Center of New England, one of three Brazilian Cultural Points in the US, designated by then Brazilian Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil. A Mestre (official master) of Capoeira Angola, Mestre Deraldo brings a 35-year tenure in Capoeira, Samba drumming and dancing, musical composition and choreography. Mestre Deraldo began studying Capoeira at the age of 14. He founded the Academy of Capoeira in his hometown of Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and he became a certified Mestre of Capoeira in 1984. Deraldo studied Capoeira Angola with Grand Mestre João Pequeno de Pastinha, student of Grand Mestre Pastinha, the "father and protector of capoeira" from an early age in Brazil. Grand Mestre João Pequeno graduated Deraldo as a master of Capoeira Angola in 2004. In the 1990’s he founded the Brazilian music and dance ensemble Samba Tremeterra. Mestre Deraldo is a featured music and dance soloist with Osvaldo Golijov’s 'La Pasión Segun San Marcos' in running performances worldwide. He was one of the first to bring Capoeira and Brazilian samba to North America. Over the past 25 years, Mestre Deraldo has taught regular classes at Amherst College, Hampshire College, MIT, Smith College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, numerous dance and music studios, Canada, and Italy.

Grand Mestre João Grande was born in 1933 in Itagi, Bahia. Grand Mestre Pastinha accepted João as a student at age 20, and made him a master in 1968. After Grand Mestre Pastinha passed in 1981, Grand Mestre João Grande stopped playing Capoeira. Persuaded by Mestre Moraes he returned in the mid-1980's. In 1989 Jelon Vieira invited him to the U.S. and he returned in 1990 to present Capoeira Angola in Atlanta and New York; he has been teaching in New York ever since. He received a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Upsala College in 1995, and the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2001.

Mestre Laércio dos Anjos Borges was born in Salvador, Bahia, in 1966, and started learning Capoeira in 1978. Mestre Laércio is a founding member of the Grupo Filhos de Angola (1984) and the Associação Brasileira de Capoeira Angola (1991). He currently lives and teaches in Berlin and gives workshops throughout Europe. He is keenly dedicated to teaching the art, knowledge, philosophy and awareness of Capoeira Angola in Europe in a dynamic manner.

Mestre Pé de Chumbo, born in 1964 in Floresta Azul, Bahia, began practicing Capoeira at age 10. In 1981, he began training with Grand Mestres João Grande and Grand Mestre João Pequeno, who graduated him as a mestre. Mestre Pé de Chumbo continues to remain close to Grand Mestre João Pequeno (93 yrs old) and is committed to teaching the traditional Capoeira he learned under this great Capoeira Mestre. He has established schools in Brazil, Europe, Mexico, the U.S. and in Germany, where he now resides.

Contra-Mestre Iuri Santos grew up immersed in the rich Afro-Brazilian culture of Salvador, Bahia, where he learned the art of Capoeira Angola. In 1998, he moved to Indiana and founded North Star Capoeira. Iuri teaches Capoeira at Indiana University, IUPUI, in Bloomington and in Indianapolis.

Mestre Amen Santo, born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, is a mestre of Capoeira and master drummer and dance teacher. He began Capoeira with Mestre Waldemar da Paixão and Mestre Avila. In 1989 he founded the Brasil Brasil Cultural Center and the Capoeira Batuque Academy, in Los Angeles. He has been honored in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and as a pioneer by the World Sokeship Council.

Mestre Efraim Silva was born in 1964, in Guaruja, São Paulo. He learned Capoeira under Mestres Trindade and Humberto. He moved to the U.S. in 1989 and received a Master of Capoeira certificate from the São Paulo Federation of Capoeira in 1994. He teaches at Yale among other schools and is the Artistic Director of Afro-Brazilian Performing Arts of CT and Ginga Brasileira Dance Company.

Call 617-388-8403 or 617-407-6525 to sign up and spread the word!
    

Hamburg, Germany: 7th International Encounter

         

7th International Encounter
Hamburg, Germany

September 23 - 26

Mestre Robson Bocao - Grande Pequeno Sou Eu
Contra Mestre Silvinho - Capoeira Angola Mae
Contra Mestre Moreira - Escola Mukambu

Professor Charel - Angoleiros do Mar
Professor Geyson - Escola Mukambu
Professor Papagaio - Ginga Camará
Professora Moranguinho - Grande Pequeno Sou Eu

Treinel Ceguinho - Grande Pequeno Sou Eu
Treinel Cabecao - Grande Pequeno Sou Eu
Treinel Angolinha - Grande Pequeno Sou Eu

CENTRO CULTURAL ALABÊ presents...

25 years of Capoeira: MESTRE ROBSON BOCÃO.

Like every year in September - as a tradition of our group, a workshop will take place on this festive occasion besides to celebrate a birthday at the same time. A 'get together' of mestres, professores and various other guests - invited from all over the world of Capoeira!

Special guest:
MESTRE LITO [Colorado - Paraná - Brasil]
Mestre Bocão's first and always honoured teacher in Capoeira.

This weekend we celebrate not only more than 25 years of life dedicated to Capoeira approved as an always faithful companion - it is also the perfect chance to get deeper into this fascinating, inspiring and sage art of lived culture by encountering the intensive spiritual energy of Capoeira at this 'convivência' [live together].

"Beyond the aspect of martial arts Capoeira is understood as a vivid philosophy of life manifested in rhythm, movements, music and chant."[Homepage]

In this spirit...

Axé para a Capoeira!

--
If you want to participate the workshop send a message to either:
Bocaoangola (at) web.de
or
moranguinho (at) email.de

For planning this event accordingly - please register yourself as soon as you know you will be part of!

Fee: 120,- EUR.

For more information just give us a phone call! +0049-(0)40-415 496 78 or +0049-(0)40-413 507 53.

website
... or visit us on facebook...
   

São Paulo, Brazil: Batendo Tambor with Lots of Mestres

  

4th Encounter

Escola Cultural Zungu Capoeira

“Batendo Tambor”
September 16 - 19

Rua Almirante Marques Leão, 787
Bela Vista
São Paulo, Brazil

Mestre Ananias & group

Invited guests: Mestre Bigo (Francisco 45), Mestre Cobra Manas, Mestre Móa do Katendê, Mestre Russo de Caxais, Mestre Lua Rasta, MEstre Barrão, Mestre Negoativo, Mestre Ray

For more information, call:
(11) 23081306
(11) 81788486 (Cacá)
(11) 84165234 (Cabeleira)
   

Inglewood, California, USA: Workshops with M João Grande

   
Workshop with Mestre João Grande
Presented by Capoeira Angola Center Ngolo Arts

October 8 - 11, 2010

Chuco’s Justice Center
1137 E. Redondo Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90302

Capoeira icon and master teacher Mestre João Grande will be teaching movement, music and song of the the ancient African-Brazilian tradition of Capoeira Angola in the tradition of his teacher, Mestre Pastinha. Everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of experience, style, school, gender or age!

There will also be Samba and other arts taught and exhibited at this event. We will keep you all posted.

Register early for workshop discounts:
$150 for Friday thru Monday, $50 per day up to October 3, 2010
$175 for Friday thru Monday, $75 per day, $40 half day after October 3, 2010
$20 for each roda (Friday, Saturday, Sunday evening)
Youth under 18 can participate for free!

To preregister, make out money order or cashier’s check to Ngolo Arts Preservation Society and send to:

James Simmons
Capoeira Angola Center Ngolo Arts
P.O. Box 431368
Los Angeles, CA 90043

We hope you will all take the time and collect your dollars, dimes, nickles and quarters to take advantage of learning from this great elder of this beautiful art.

If you can't make it to New York, L.A. is the place to train with Mestre João Grande!

Call Uncle James at 424-200-4968 for more information.
   

Philadelphia, USA: Beginners' Session

   
Hey folks, if you have a friend in Philly who is interested in capoeira, let them know about this great class!

Interested in Afro-brazilian music? Culture? Dance? Martial Arts?

Then come join us for our Fall 2010 Beginner's Session!

When:
September 20 - October 20 (10 classes)
Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Where:
MLK Recreation Center, 22nd and Cecil B. Moore Avenue

Cost:
$90 (includes class t-shirt)

This program of 10 classes will focus on the basic movements, philosophy, and instrumentation of Capoeira Angola.
   

Chicago, USA: Workshops with M Valmir

   
Workshops with Mestre Valmir
of FICA-Bahia

September 7 - 12

Quilombo Cultural Center
1757 N. Kimball Avenue
Chicago, IL

Classes will be as follows:

tuesday: 7pm to 9:30pm
wednesday: 7pm to 9:30pm
thursday: 7pm to 9:30pm
friday: 7pm to 10pm
saturday: 11am to 1pm & 3pm to 6pm
sunday: 1pm to 4pm RODA

Classes are open to all. Not recommended for first timers.

Investment: $20/class
$45/3 classes

Questions: info (at) quilombocenter (dot) org
or call 773.227.8879