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.

   

New York City, USA: Youth Conference

     
FICA National Youth Conference
Youth in Action... Service Through Movement

Dates: June 12-13, 2010
Time: Saturday: 10am-5pm and Sunday: 10am-3pm

Venue: The Children’s Storefront
Location: 70 East 129th Street in New York City
(Between Park Ave and Madison Avenue)

Hosted by FICA – NY

Join us for a weekend of capoeira, music and dance workshops. Meet young people from around city and across the globe. Learn about leadership, have fun and give back to the community.
It is our great fortune to have both:

Aloan - FICA Bahia
&
Treinel Cris - ACANNE Bahia

Over the course of two days, we will have:

capoeira workshops
panel discussions led by local youth activists, themed - i.e. "how can we, as young people, actively serve our communities"
demonstrations & arts workshops, again led by local youths and youth workers
programs for all ages, 6-17
community service project
breakfasts & lunches provided
our intention in creating this event was to provide a forum for the youths of our communities to find and develop resources through which to focus their tremendous energies in positive ways.

space is limited, we will only be receiving 50 students in total so please register your kids early. the idea is "each one, teach one." hoping that our young ones, as ambassadors, will go back to their own groups with new knowledge and share it, inspiring their groups at home.

along with this, we very intentionally kept the cost to participants extremely low. the idea being that we hold something where parents weren't barred from sending there young ones based on financial barriers. as well, the event being one where the group chaperones would be active guides and facilitators during all of the programs.

i hope you all will feel free to give puck or myself a call if you have any questions, suggestions, requests or have any help to provide. in the meantime, gather your youths and look for registration forms coming to your group very soon

Early registration deadline: April 30, 2010
$15 per child / $10 per group leader

Late registration deadline: May 29, 2010 $18 per child / $10 per group leader

Walk In Registration $25 (weekend), $20 (day) per child / $15 per group leader

*Registration fee non-refundable after May 29, 2010

-njoli- #551 574 0644
-puck- #917 971 7980
     

Call for Designs for Upcoming Youth Conference

    
As always, FICA-NYC brings us another innovative event - and you can be a part of it. This looks great!

New York Youth Conference Design

FICA New York is planning a youth conference in 2010. The theme of the conference is youth empowerment through activism. We will be providing capoeira workshops, dance and music classes, and a service project for the youth in attendance.

We are calling all artistically inclined individuals for image submissions for the conference. The selected image should convey the theme of the conference in a fun and exciting way. Remember our audience will be youth interested in capoeira. We expect to use the image on shirts and posters for the event. Let your creative side loose.

Send your works and questions to ficany[at]gmail[dot]com.

Good Luck!

Get your design on, friends!

And check back for more information on the event. Its going to be great for the kiddies.

Thanks to Njoli.
     

FICA-NY Website Re-launch

  
FICA-NYC has been busy re-designing its website. Check it out!

sometimes it's necessary to renew and revitalize the energies, to reevaluate our sense of purpose. rolling into yet another year here in new york, we've decided to take a good long look at the things we'd like to highlight, the things which make us special and a vital part of our smaller and larger communities. being here in such a cultural hub, nyc, we realize ourselves as strong devotees to the arts and see FICA NY as a wonderful forum to exhibit all of the arts which truly strive to propogate our values, the importance of culture, kinship, community, family and home.

as well, having a group full with educators, our dedication to youth work is a sort of given. we're trying, in every mode, to find new ways of addressing the hopes, aspirations and needs of our local young people and are "burning the candles" to maintain a presence in the public schools (elementary through high), universities, and co/extra curricular programs. we are, as well, currently in the midst of developing and designing the FICA Youth Conference.

all this being said, a viewable expression of these aspects needed to be designed in order that we might share the excitement we feel for all the up and comings. so here we are. as of saturday, december 5th, FICA NY - Study Group will re-launch itself with a new and inspired website (special thanks to our remarkable web team puck and shayna), complete with blogs, videos, photos. only a week later we will release some of the collaborative video work we've been putting together with local artist, benton greene. and yes!!! just one week later!! we'll be opening our new online art gallery, with the sole purpose of featuring some of the remarkable artisans within the FICA family. the gallery will be a venue for relevant photos, sculpture, paintings and visual arts of all sorts which represent the heart and sentiment of this socio-cultural movement (we hope you will put us in contact with anyone you think we might want to show).

we will also soon be releasing a special students section (password protected for FICA students) which will carry portuguese language learning resources, diasporic history materials, etc. we would love your input on things you would like to see included in this portion. the idea was to create this as a tool and incentive to those new and old FICA students looking to expand their knowledge and ability.

we thank everyone for all the support they've given us over the past few years and hope that the new old FICA NY can continue to put as much into the pot as it takes away.

Sincerely,

FICA NY - Study Group

  

NYC, Philly & DC: M Valmir's East Coast Tour

  
Get your recommended dose of Bahian axé (and probably a whole bunch of rasteiras and cabeçadas to boost your immune system) this winter.

Mestre Valmir of FICA-Bahia is in the United States and will be traveling around, visiting various schools, giving workshops and leading rodas.

M Valmir will preside at rodas to be held in the following cities at the following times on the following dates:

November 29
noon - 3 pm
FICA-NYC
six harmonies martial arts
232 7th av (between 23rd & 24th)
manhattan

December 12
noon - 4 pm
FICA-Philly
MLK Recreation Center
22nd and Cecil B. Moore Av
Philadelphia

December 13
9 am - noon  
FICA-DC
733 Euclid St, NW
Washington, DC

enjoy!
  

New York City, USA: Kids Roda in December

    

FICA NY - Youth Roda
a special roda for youth and their families. all groups, all ages, all levels are more than welcome. you are especially invited.

FICA NY @six harmonies martial arts
232 7th av (between 23rd & 24th)
manhattan
sunday, dec 6th
noon-3

a short chat (bate papo) about the ritual and expectations of the roda along with some q&a, a couple hours of play and some snacks and post roda jams (of course) to round it all out.

i hope you'll all put this into your schedule. bring your kids, bring the neighbors kids and bring the best of your energy

feel free to call puck or myself with any questions...

njoli 551 574 0644
puck 917 971 7980

Also (posted earlier):

Mestre Jurandir
nov 16th @ 440 studios
440 lafayette (near astor pl)
manhattan
7pm-9pm

nov 17th @ six harmonies martial arts
232 7th av (between 23rd & 24th)
manhattan
7pm-9pm

Mestre Valmir
nov 23rd @ 440 studios
440 lafayette (near astor pl)
manhattan
7pm-9pm

nov 24th @ six harmonies martial arts
232 7th av (between 23rd & 24th)
manhattan
7pm-9pm

nov 29th @ six harmonies martial arts
232 7th av (between 23rd & 24th)
manhattan
roda
12pm-3pm

Thanks to Njoli for the information.
   

New York City, USA: Mid-November Events

Two separate mestre visits happening in New York City in mid-November. Have fun!

November 16 & 17
A rare opportunity to take advantage of a wealth of Capoeira Angola knowledge, history and practice. During this short visit to the states Mestre Jurandir will share his unique understanding through classes in music and movement

nov 16th @ 440 studios
440 lafayette (near astor pl)
7pm-9pm

nov 17th @ six harmonies martial arts
232 7th av (between 23rd&24th)
7pm-9pm

November 23 & 24
Mestre Valmir comes to visit us here in New York during one of his rare trips to the U.S. How lucky we are to have him with us here during the Thanksgiving holiday week. Through Salvador and beyond, Mestre Valmir is famed for his his musical ability, his grace, creativity and profundity. I hope you will all take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to connect with one of this period's great mestres of Capoeira Angola.

nov 23rd @ 440 studios
440 lafayette (near astor pl)
7pm-9pm

nov 24th @ six harmonies martial arts
232 7th av (between 23rd&24th)
7pm-9pm

Zebras in the City: Art & Capoeira in NYC

The creation of a banner representing a group or school is a significant undertaking. How does one create an image that encompasses hundreds of years of history, potential for the future, group history, group location, your native language (and some Portuguese if it is not your native tongue), an art form as rich and wide as capoeira (all those moves! all those instruments!), a bit of philosophy, plus perhaps an enthusiastic zebra or two?

Clearly, many decisions have to be made, but what you end up with should just about represent the essential of your group - its individual characteristics as well as its place within the larger community. Recently, FICA-NYC artists Duhirwe Rushemesa and Michael Loughlin developed a banner for their group. Group leader Njoli (who shares the responsibility with Puck) asked them to write a little about:

almost a year ago our two resident artists, Duhirwe Rushemesa and Michael Loughlin, designed a beautiful banner for the group and gave us all the opportunity to participate in its crafting. i asked them to do a short write up about the ideas and themes at work in the image and thought it would be nice to share with everyone.
thanks to you and to them,
-n-

FICA NY - Study Group Banner
A Brief Description of Its Themes by Michael Loughlin:

I believe the banner we created for fica ny is a call to arms, an image that lets people know that fica has arrived and wants to be heard in the great city of New York!

The iconic image of the empire state building is the center piece of the impressive new york skyline, hence it is used to symbolized that we are alive in the heart of this city. The fica logo is indeed iconic in its own right thus it is symbolized as being larger than the city for all to see and bring attention to the group that has established itself here.

The use of zebras in the foreground is to represent animals from the birth place of Capoeira Angola, Africa, and to demonstrate just how far the art has migrated. The zebras seem out of place yet blend into the city. The fica logo also shares the image of the zebra as if it were playing along with the capoerista. Thus it is an image that solidifies that we are all animals roaming this interesting city and planet.

The overall style was created to look loose and fluid. The buildings are not square and no line is truly straight, they are there yet transparent. The city is obviously new york yet it is done in a gestural style that gives it movement and life, not rigid and grounded. The stylized quality used is to mimic the beauty and fluidity found at the heart of capoeria.

The colors used in the banner are that of the typical colors used in Fica unifying our group with a global society that is interested in enriching the lives of many throught the spirit of dance and sing! The color blue is used as a mark of uniqueness, a slight touch of hand that signals a sense of life and artistic freedom to accent. The color is sharp and vibrant in hopes of catching the eye and enlivening the surrounding.

The banner was created to give a sense of pride and spirit to those who train, play and sing in front of it. To establish a voice and pay homage to the art and beauty of Capoeira!

Many thanks to Duhirwe and Michael for their artwork, and to Njoli for passing it along. I have noticed over the years that Njoli really challenges his group with exercises like this - beyond just learning the movements and the music - that require reflection upon your growth as an individual within capoeira as well as your place in the capoeira community. That's really cool.

What does your logo, banner, or even group name say about you and your school? Its something interesting to consider.

New York City, USA: Celebrating 4 Years

A note from NYC:

hello all,

i just wanted to send a reminder that fica-ny study group will be celebrating its 4th anniversary in just a few weeks. it would be great if you could post this in all the places appropriate and let your groups know as well. we would love to see everyone out here for the roda that sunday (oct 18th, noon-3pm) and, for anyone who can find themselves free, at the anniversary festa throughout the day on saturday (oct 17th, noon-9pm). as always, we have room for anyone who's interested in staying overnight and look forward to accomodating the family. as well, it being sunday, yet another opportunity to add your beautiful presence to mestre joao grande's roda directly after our own.

our details...

fica-ny:
@six harmonies martial arts
232 7th av (between 23rd & 24th st)
new york, ny 10011
roda: sunday, oct 18th noon-3pm

njoli's house:
1118 north wilson av
teaneck, nj 07666
getdown: saturday, oct 17th noon-until...

Ok, who is making the cake?

T Beto on East Coast Tour

T Beto, who leads the FICA-Chicago group and who helped organize an amazing conference last summer, is going to be on the East Coast of the USA. If you are in the area, take advantage!!

March 26 - 28, Washington, DC
March 29, New York City workshop from 11 am - 2 pm

If you want more information about the NYC workshop, contact Puck at: fica_ny (at) yahoo (dot) com

enjoy, folks!

New York City, USA: End of the Month Workshops

WORKSHOPS WITH CONTRA-MESTRE CHORÃO

When: Jan. 31 - Feb. 1
Where: African Services Committee
429 West 127th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10027
Contact: 212-222-3882

Schedule:
Sat. Jan 31
10am-Noon - CM Chorão (capoeira)
Noon-2pm - Lunch
1pm-2pm - Tom Armstrong (pandeiro)
2pm-4pm - CM Chorão (capoeira)

Sun. Feb 1
10am-11am - Sheri Clentano (yoga)
11am-1pm - CM Chorão (capoeira)
2pm-4pm - Roda

Registration fees:
Both days $75
Sat. only $45
Sun. only $35

Please contact us for more information or to pre-register.

Thanks to ShaynaM for the information.

New York City, USA: The Final Roda of the Year

Pictures from the last roda of the year at FICA-NYC, with special guests from Mestre João Grande's school, FICA-DC, FICA-Oakland, and Contramestre Chorão from Acupe de Brotas, now close by in Boston.

Thanks to Merle (FICA-NYC) and T Gege for the photos.

If you have pictures from a roda that you would like to share with the international Capoeira Angola community, please send them (or a link) along to: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com

New York City, USA: Beginners' Session this January

Never done capoeira before? Then these classes are for you! Come learn the basics of capoeira movement, music, history and philosophy with FICA New York.

You get 10 sessions (plus a T-shirt) for $95... all ages, fitness levels, and physical abilities welcome!

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-7:30pm
Beginning THURSDAY, January 22

Where: 232 7th Ave. btw. 23rd and 24th Streets
2nd Floor

Wear: Comfortable pants, shoes, and a T-shirt that can be tucked in.

Please contact us for more information or to pre-register.
website

New York City: Workshop with M Jurandir

A note from FICA-NYC:

This Sunday, Mestre Jurandir will be coming to New York for a workshop and roda.

Date: Sunday, September 14th
Workshop: 10am to Noon
Location: ??

Roda: 2 pm
Location: Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre Joao Grande,
104 W 14th St # 3 (@ 6th ave.)

Mestre will be bringing Birimbaus for sale as well as some capulans (traditional Mozambican fabrics than can be worn as wrap skirts or for any other purpose) to sell in order to support the group in Mozambique.

Axé,
puck

FICA-NYC: Workshops & Open Roda

An upcoming event with the FICA group in New York City:

We welcome all Capoeiristas from any Group or Style to join us during the week of June 12th - 15th.

Special Guest Treineu Gege from FICA-DC ( student of Meste Cobrinha) will be here for a two day Workshop, and Open Roda.

About Treinel Gege:
Maria Eugenia Poggi, known as Treinel Gege, started training Capoeira Angola under the guidance of Mestre Cobra Mansa in 1995 and was part of FICA when it was founded in 1996. Since then, she has participated in various international conferences; she was invited to participate in the 2003 Angoleiras event in Rio de Janeiro and the First Angoleiras Encounter in Europe in 2006. In 2003, she received the Treinel Title during the International FICA Encounter in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. That same year, she moved to Lima, Peru where she led workshops with different groups. In 2005, Treinel Gege returned to Washington DC, where she lives now with her husband and two children.

Thursday: June 12th
6:30PM - 9:30

Friday: June 13th
7:00PM - 10:00PM

Sunday (Open Roda): June 15th
12:00PM

Workshop fee:
$45 for both days

Location:
232 7th Ave
2nd Floor
btw 23rd and 24th Sts

Closest Trains:
1 to 23rd Street
C;E;PATH to 23rd Street

For more info visit our website or email us at: fica_ny (at) yahoo (dot) com

Have fun!

(Not So Lazy) Sunday in New York City

Njoli & Adrian.

See more pictures here!

FICA-NYC hosted its monthly roda this weekend. Present at the roda were capoeiristas from Mestre João Grande’s school, Grupo Quintal, FICA-Philadelphia, FICA-DC, Grupo Novo Kilombo (Boston), FICA-Oakland, and some other groups. FICA-NYC were great hosts, and provided lots of food and drinks to keep our energy up. The bateria was great and there were a lot of fun games.

Following the end of the roda, we packed our stuff and walked down to Mestre João Grande’s school where the roda was already rolling. Again, we had a >blast< and enjoyed seeing all our friends who train at the Capoeira Angola Center. We dragged ourselves away from the roda at 8 pm (we had a four hour drive back to DC!) and it was still going strong.

Post FICA-NYC roda photo.

Next time you are in NYC on the third Sunday of the month, be sure to stop by the FICA-NYC roda at Six Harmonies Martial Arts Studio at 232 7th Avenue, between 23rd & 24th, 2nd floor.

And if you are in NYC on any given Sunday, don’t miss the roda at Mestre João Grande’s school, starts at 2 and goes til it ends. The school is located at 104 W 14th Street, 3rd Floor.

Thanks to Orlando from FICA-NYC for the pictures.

FICA-NYC 2008 Schedule

A note from the FICA group in New York:

for those of you who are interested, just thought i'd keep you updated . . . .

starting january, this is what our schedule is looking like:

tuesdays 6:30 to 8:30 pm beginners, 7:30 to 9:30 pm advanced
thursdays same
fridays 7 to 9 pm mixed class
*third sunday roda 12pm

cost: $15 drop-in

the address:
six harmonies martial arts academy
232 7th av, 2nd fl
(between 23rd & 24th)

subway:
1 to 23rd
F/V to 23rd

feel free to pass this along if you like. this info should all, soon be updated on our website as well.
peace,
-njoli-

M Jurandir in New York

Mark your calendars...

Mestre Jurandir will be doing a weekend of workshops and rodas in New York City, October 19 - 21. FICA-NYC is still working out the details, but here is the schedule so far:

Friday, Oct 19th: Evening Training
Saturday, Oct 20th: Open Roda (10:00 am-1:00 pm) & Afternoon Training
Sunday Oct 21st: Training, and MJG's roda afterward

First Official Roda for FICA-NYC

Taagen and Aaron open their game. T Fabio, T Baba, Njoli, & Feijão on the bateria.

FICA-NYC hosted its first official roda on June 16th. People from all over showed up-- a bunch of students from M João Grande's school and Capoeira Angola Palmares (Mestre Nô), some of us from Washington, DC, and Kevin all the way from Mexico (technically, he's in NYC for the summer). It was a lot of fun-- you just have to get there on time. The roda starts at 10:00 am and ends a little before 1:00 pm. Afterwards everyone headed to the park for a post-roda picnic.

Student from M Nô's school shows off his moves with Ella, the coolest capoeirista around.

Streeeeettttch!

See you on July 21!

More pictures on the Portuguese side of the blog.

FICA-NYC Rodas Start in June

For more than a year, FICA students Puck, Aaron, Ferro Velho, and, more recently, Njoli have been training together in New York City. All of them came from FICA schools from other parts of the world (Oakland, Atlanta, Olympia, and Seattle, respectively).

They are going to start holding rodas at their space every third Saturday of the month, starting in June:

FICA NYC (Study Group)
Invites you to the group's first roda on
JUNE 16th, SATURDAY, 10am – 1pm

And EVERY 3rd Saturday thereafter

The Roda will be at 440 Studios, 440 Lafayette St., Manhattan

Take the 6 Train to Astor Place
or N, R, W to 8thst./NYU

Please send an e-mail to fica_ny(at)yahoo(dot)com if you plan on visiting/need housing

FICA New York (Study Group)
-njoli- 551 574 0644
-puck- 917 971 7980

Have a capoeira weekend-- stay through Sunday and go to the roda at Mestre Joao Grande's, too.

Thanks to Orlando C for the information.