10/29/07

Capoeira Angola event in Colômbia


There will be a capoeira encounter in Bogotá, Colômbia at the end of the month. Here are the details:

What: 7th International Capoeira Angola Event
When: November 27 - December 2, 2007
Where: Bogotá, Colômbia
Invited guests: Mestre Lua de Bobo & Mestre Jogo de Dentro
Contact: info(at)fundacioncayena(dot)org
GRUPO CAPOEIRA ANGOLA VOLTA DO MUNDO
Calle 39 No. 20 -30. Barrio La Soledad
Bogotá – Colômbia
Tel. 57 1 5706951

No information on price, you'll have to contact the group for that.

Memories of the Old FICA-DC Space

At FICA-DC, we also have great photo archives that capture all the fun, friendships, and drama that we have shared over the years. To accompany Charisse's poem, here are some pictures of the old space, including some from the summer described in the poem. Enjoy!

M Cobra Mansa in the roda at the old FICA-DC space in the Takoma Park neighborhood.

Dale, Sheryll, Frauke (visiting from Germany), Iuna (visiting from Japan), Ama, Fabio, and a friend making caxixis.

Folks from Atlanta posing outside the space.

The poet herself (in blue) chilling with friends at the Grand Opening of the space.

As always, check out more photos on the Portuguese side of the blog.

10/24/07

Literary Edition: 4th & Butternut

4th and Butternut
by Charisse Williams

I showed up at 6:30 to work on the new space
and no one was there.
I always seem to end up at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Passed Fabio at the Metro as he was leaving
after waiting for 40 minutes.
As I sat waiting, I watched the people walk by
in shades of brown
I listened to the hum, rattle, screeches
of the buses as they passed and the
click clack click clack click clack
of the trains over the tracks
and the weeoo weeoo of the car alarms
and the Go-Go pumping from Jeep stereos.
I saw brothas exchange ‘what’s up, man?’
and handshakes in the park across the street
In fact, I can barely write this poem
for all the ‘how you doin’ today’s
from men who try real hard
to look me in the eye when they greet me
even though my skirt is way too short
for me to be sittin’ on this here stoop.
Sistas in suits
brothas in bowties
people pacing back and forth on cell phones
Ladies in Lexuses
winos with run over shoes
the stale stench of alcohol and summer funk.
I feel the rhythm and pulse
of this urban landscape with country warmth
in this community rich with culture
rife with contradiction.
I feel calm…
As I get up to leave I smile
as I look back
knowing
that the space will be there
tomorrow
and the next day
and the next.
Yeah…
FICA will be right at home here.
This poem, by the extraordinary mandingueira and singer Charisse Williams, was published in the first issue of FICA's literary magazine, Caxixi. It was written when FICA-DC moved into its first permanent space, at 4th and Butternut Streets in the Takoma Park neighborhood. She really captures well the energy of people and shops that inhabited that small square of the earth.

We have since moved on, but that space in Takoma -- always too hot in the summer and way too cold in the winter, lodged between the Jamaican market and the barbershop-- holds a lot of great memories, including conference rodas, visits from capoeiristas from all over the world, countless barbeques, parties, discussions, dance classes, poetry readings, and more. Tempo bom, tempo bom...

10/23/07

Mass & Roda in Remembrance of Mestre Leopoldina

There will be a mass said for Mestre Leopoldina on Saturday, October 27 at the Irmandade N.S. do Rosário e São Benedito dos Homens Pretos Church, located at #77 Rua Uruguaiana, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, at noon. Following the mass, next to the church there will be a capoeira roda.

Mestre Valmir in Philadelphia

Another reason to give thanks as we in the U.S. close in on the Thanksgiving holiday: Mestre Valmir is coming to Philadelphia for the week.

Monday, November 19 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Tuesday, November 20 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Friday, November 23 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Saturday, November 24 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
**Roda, Saturday, November 24 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm**

Cost: $15/workshop
Location: MLK, Jr. Recreation Center, 22nd & Cecil B. Moore Avenue
For more information, contact the group at: 215-500-5987, or info(at)icafphilly(dot)org, or check out their website

If you can't make it to the mid-Atlantic states, you can always see Mestres Valmir, Cobra Mansa, and Jurandir at the Pastinha/Zumbi Weekend in Chicago from November 8-11.

Thanks to Eva for the information.

**Word on the street is that everyone will head up to NYC for Mestre João Grande's roda on Sunday, November 25th.

10/22/07

Mestre Poloca Workshops in Berlin

Here is some information on an upcoming event with Mestre Poloca in Berlin. Besides movement and music classes, it looks like the storytelling workshops relate to an earlier post we did celebrating the "Malungos" event in Salvador in which we presented an article about M Poloca's work as an arte-educador. I hope we can do something similar in the U.S. while M Poloca is here. It is such a unique and creative way to get children interested in Capoeira Angola, especially for children outside of Brazil where there is little to no knowledge of Capoeira. Enjoy!

Mestre Poloca of Grupo Nzinga de Capoeira Angola de Salvador is coming to Berlin!!!

We're taking this opportunity to cordially invite all Capoeiristas from Berlin and everybody else interested.

When: November 23 - 25, 2007
Where: Academia Jangada for Capoeira Angola and Brazilian Dance - Torstraße
109, 10119 Berlin & A Livraria, Torstraße 159, 10115 Berlin for the presentation and discussion
Costs: Below, with payment information

Program

Thursday 11/22
5:00 pm - 7 pm: Story Workshop "When Queen Nzinga was a Child" with M. Poloca @ A Livraria

Friday 11/23
4:15 pm – 5:00 pm: Arrival, Registration, Change of Clothes
5:00 pm - 6:50 pm: Capoeira Angola Practice with M. Poloca
6:50 pm - 7:30 pm: Practice Roda
8:15 pm: Presentation and Discussion "The Process of Reaffirmation of Capoeira Angola in Bahia and around the World since the 1980s" @ A Livraria
Brazilian Snacks (Coxinhas) & Drinks!!!!

Saturday 11/24
9:15 am – 10:00 am: Arrival, Registration, Change of Clothes
10:00 am – 11.50 am: Capoeira Angola Training with M. Poloca
12.00 am – 1:50 pm: Contemporary Dance meets Capoeira with Ricardo de Paula
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm: Frevo e Maracatú with Carlos
3:00 pm – 4:50 pm: Capoeira Angola Training with M. Poloca
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Story Workshop "When Vincente Pastinha was still a Child" with M. Poloca
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Music with M. Rosalvo
7:00 pm: Roda

Sunday 11/25
10:00 am - 11:50 am: Musica with M. Poloca
Contemporary Dance meets Capoeira with Ricardo de Paula
12.00 noon - 1:50 pm: Capoeira Angola Training with M. Poloca
2:00 pm - 14:50 pm: Frevo e Maracatú with Carlos
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Roda
5:00 pm: Brazilian Bean Stew Feijoada!!!!

Costs:
Before 11/16
Friday - Sunday: 65.00 €
Saturday - Sunday: 55.00 €

After 11/16
Friday - Sunday: 75.00 €
Saturday - Sunday: 65.00 €

One Day Only: 35.00 € / 40.00 €

Participation for Children at the Story Workshops: 3.50 €

Electronic Wire:
Capoeira Angola e. V.
Postbank Berlin
BLZ 100 100 10 [routing n#]
Kto-Nr. 67 22 33 107 [account #]
Please indicate purpose of payment: "Workshop M. Poloca"

Details:
Don't forget your instruments, clothes, and clean shoes to wear inside.

If you're from outside Berlin and register by 11/16 we can arrange a
place for you to sleep. Don't forget your sleeping bag and foam sleeping pad/air mattress.

Reception of your payment counts as registration. Early registration is recommended, because there is a limited number of spots for participants.

We'll be selling tickets for the feijoada on Sunday for 3.50 €.

Program is subject to change. Please check the following websites for updates and more detailed information.

Grupo Vadiação

Grupo Filhos de Angola

Grupo N'Zinga

Or, contact:
CM Susy, Grupo Vadiação, T 4495738 or info(at)jangada(dot)com
Tina, Grupo Nzinga, T 691 34 18 or tina.schenck(at)gmx(dot)de
Trenél Andrea, Grupo Filhos de Angola, T 78891720 or andreafanger(at)gmx(dot)de
A big thanks to Lars for the translation German->English.

Here's the deal in the original:

MESTRE POLOCA (Grupo Nzinga de Capoeira Angola de Salvador) kommt nach BERLIN!!!

Wir nutzen das als Anlass, freundschaftlich alle Capoeiristas aus Berlin und alle Interessierten zusammen zu bringen.

Wo und Wann
23. – 25. November 2007
Academia Jangada für Capoeira Angola und bras. Tanz, Torstr. 109, 10119 Berlin
A Livraria, Torstr. 159, 10115 Berlin für den Vortrag mit Diskussionsrunde

Programm
Do 22.11.
17.00- 19.00 Geschichten-Werkstatt "Als die Königin Nzinga ein Kind war" mit M. Poloca
In "A Livraria".

Fr 23.11.
16.15 – 17.00 Ankommen, Anmelden, Umziehen
17.00 – 18.50 Capoeira Angola Training mit M. Poloca
18.50 - 19.30 Trainings-Roda
20.15 Vortrag mit Diskussionsrunde "Der Prozess der Reaffirmation der Capoeira Angola in Bahia und in der Welt ab den Achtziger Jahren".
In "A Livraria".
Brasilianische Snacks (Coxinhas) und Getränke genau dort!!!!

Sa 24.11.
09.15 – 10.00 Ankommen, Anmelden, Umziehen
10.00 – 11.50 Capoeira Angola Training mit M. Poloca
12.00 – 13.50 Contemporary Dance meets Capoeira mit Ricardo de Paula
14.00 – 14.50 Frevo e Maracatú mit Carlos
15.00 – 16.50 Capoeira Angola Training mit M. Poloca
17.00 – 18.30 Geschichten-Werkstatt "Als Vicente Pastinha noch Kind war" mit M. Poloca
18.00 - 19.00 Musik mit M. Rosalvo
19.00 hs Roda

So 25.11.
10.00 - 11.50 hs Musik mit M. Poloca
Contemporary Dance meets Capoeira mit Ricardo de Paula
12.00 - 13.50 hs Capoeira Angola Training mit M. Poloca
14.00 - 14.50 hs Frevo e Maracatú mit Carlos
15.00 - 17.00 hs Roda
17.00 hs Brasilianisches Bohnengericht Feijoada!!!!

Preise
Bezahlung bis 16.11.
Fr – So: 65,- €
Sa – So: 55,- €
Ein Tag nur: 35,- €

Bezahlung nach 16.11.
Fr – So: 75,- €
Sa – So: 65,- €
Ein Tag nur: 40,- €

Banküberweisung
Capoeira Angola e. V.
Postbank Berlin
BLZ 100 100 10
Kto-Nr. 67 22 33 107
Verwendungszweck Workshop M. Poloca

Details
Vergiß nicht deine Instrumente, Sportsachen und Hallenturnschuhe, gelle?

Für Leute von außerhalb Berlins:
Wenn du dich bis zum 16.11 einschreibst, wird für dich bei Bedarf ein Schlafplatz organisiert. Denk bitte an Schlafsack und Isomatte.

Einschreibung gilt ab Geldeingang auf das Konto. Vorzeitige Anmeldung wird empfohlen, wegen begrenzterTeilnehmerplätze.

Feijoada am Sonntag: Bon-Verkauf am Samstag (3,50 €)

Programmänderungen sind nicht ausgeschlossen. Zur Orientierung, Aktualisierung und detaillierten Information über Akteure und Angebote:

www.jangada.com
www.filhosdeangola.de
www.nzinga.org.br

Kinder
Teilnahme an der Geschichten-Werkstatt 3,50 €

Organisation
CM Susy, Grupo Vadiação, T 4495738 info(at)jangada.com
Tina, Grupo Nzinga, T 691 34 18 tina.schenck(at)gmx.de
Trenél Andrea, Grupo Filhos de Angola, T 78891720 andreafanger(at)gmx.de

10/19/07

Mestre Jurandir in Mexico

   
A message from FICA-Mexico:

Centro Cultural de Capoeira Angola FICA-México
3rd Anniversary Celebration featuring Mestre Jurandir

On behalf of Contramestre Rogério Teber and FICA-Mexico you are cordially invited to join us November 2nd,3rd, and 4th for our 3rd Anniversary celebration featuring workshops with Mestre Jurandir!

Schedule:

Friday, 2nd
Open Roda 7:30 - 9:00

Saturday, 3rd
10:00 - 12:00 Movements workshop
14:00 - 15:30 Discussion on Capoeira
15:30 - 17:00 Music workshop

Sunday, 4th
10:00 - 12:00 Movements workshop
14:00 - 18:00 Roda

Where: Centro Cultural de Capoeira Angola FICA-Mexico
Contramestre Rogério Teber
Calzada de Tlalpan 1188
Entre el Metro Portales y el Metro Nativitas
México, D.F.

Cost: 350 pesos

Please see our website for more details.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us me at kgiddens22(at)gmail(dot)com or our school at ficamexico(at)yahoo(dot)com

We hope to see you here!

Kevin of FICA-México

   

10/18/07

Mestre Leopoldina Remembered


On October 17, 2007 at 4:30 pm, Mestre Leopodlina (Demerval Lopes de Lacerda) passed away in the city of São José dos Campos, São Paulo.

Born in Rio de Janeiro and considered a model malandro, M Leopoldina was well-known for his capoeira and his stylish dress. You can learn more about him, including a documentary that was made about his life, here.



Here is a ladainha written by M Leopoldina.

Alguém me disse
Que pareço Ganga Zumbi
Óia lá, foi o Rei lá dos Palmares
E outros já me disseram
Que na outra encarnação
Eu era rico, muito rico
Eu tinha muita fazenda
E grande canavial
E eu era bom patrão
Só mulher eu tinha nove (bis)
Com idades variadas
E hoje, o que eu tenho?
Nem sequer tenho casa pra morar
Nem dinheiro pra gastar
Mas tenho a Graça Divina
Que é minha companheira
Óia, eu tenho a capoeira
E essa grande amizade
Dentro do meu coração, camará...
Iê! Viva Leopoldina!

R.I.P.

Celebrating Brazil in the UK


II Rhythms of Life: Celebrating Brazil in the UK

Kabula Arts & Percussion Event
When: October 27-28
Where: The Thanet Center, Herbert Street, London (Nearest Tube: Chalk Farm)
Invited guests: Mestre Cobra Mansa & Pedro Lima (percussionist from Rio)
Cost: £15 per class; £20 for 1 day; £35 for the whole event

Saturday
11:00 am – 1:30 pm: Capoeira class with Mestre Cobra Mansa
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Percussion class with Pedro Lima

Sunday
11:00 am – 1:30 pm: Percussion class with Pedro Lima
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Capoeira class with Mestre Cobra Mansa
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Capoeira Roda

For more information, including confirmation of the venue on Sunday, contact Kabula at: info(at)kabula(dot)org, or call 07903 803 149 (Rajesh) or 07832 198 372 (Arantza).

Have fun!

10/14/07

The ABCs of Capoeira Angola

This is a great ladainha for Capoeira Angola beginners. It was written by Mestre Pastinha.

Eu vou lê o B-A-BA
O B-A-BA do berimbau
A cabaça e o caxixi
E um pedaço de pau
A moeda e o arame, colega velho
Está aí um berimbau
Berimbau é um instrumento
Tocado de uma corda só
Pra tocá São Bento Grande
Toca angola em tom maior
Agora acabei de crê, colega velho
Berimbau é o maior, camará

Film & Lecture at FICA-Bahia

We all know that Capoeira Angola is more than simply movements and music, but also philosophy, knowledge, history, malícia, and a responsibility to the greater community, among many other things.

In this spirit, FICA-Bahia and the film club CINEMAFRO have been presenting a series of films and lectures at the FICA-Bahia school that deal with Africa and the African diaspora. Here are the details for 2 events in Ocotber:

The film club Cinemafro in partnership with the Fundação Internacional de Capoeira Angola (FICA) will present and discuss the film A Negação do Brasil by Joel Zito Araújo. This documentary film analyzes the presence of black actors on Brazilian television.

Date: October 19, at 7:00 pm
Place: Av. Carlos Gomes, Ed. Esther Moura Franco, nº 111, 5th floor – Centro
Tel: 71 3321-7365
Free admission


The film club Cinemafro in partnership with the Fundação Internacional de Capoeira Angola (FICA), presents L'envol d'un Masque?, by Phillippe Cassard, produced in Burkina Faso. The film deals with the relationship between tradition and modernity through the fable of an African mask. Following the exhibition, there will be a discussion with the anthropologist Maria Paula Aldinofi.

Date: October 21, at 7:00 pm
Place: Av. Carlos Gomes, Ed. Esther Moura Franco, nº 111, 5th floor – Centro
Tel: 71 3321-7365
Free admission

10/6/07

Mestre Lua Rasta & the old mestres

Here is a bit of an interview done by the magazine Nossas Referências that was put out by the Quiolmbo Cecília organization. In the article, M Lua Rasta talks about his childhood, his first encounter with capoeira, and his Friday night rodas at the Terreiro de Jesus, where sometimes the ghosts of the old mestres come out to join in the fun.
Nossas Referências: How was living with the old mestres, something that is already distant from the young generations?

M Lua Rasta: Man, life in those days, it was the old mestres who maintained this resistance, a resistance that was at times even naïve. But they were our role models. Waldemar, Mestre Canjiquinha, Mestre Bimba, Mestre Bobó, these guys were our leaders, they were the guys that, damn, idolizing has nothing to do with it, but we believed in them!!! Canjiquinha was a hero for me. He was a capoeirista who participated in a ton of films. You see a film like Barravento or O Pagador de Promessas, and the whole theatrical part, the performances , the culture, the production crew left it all in his hands; he was the one who gave the flavor of the popular culture to the film… Mestre Caiçara was another guy who was really good, in the era when Bahia had a lot of mysticism. Even this has been lost…Mestre Caiçara of Oxossi, damn, the guy was of Oxossi, which at the time was something strong, understand? Oxossi, the orixá of the forests. It was great to live with Mestre Caiçara in day-to-day life and see his way of being. Mestre Caiçara was a totally radical guy, totally rebelling against society, the system, the police system. All this was very important for people today who are 45 and 60 years old- resistance, you know? Real political resistance! Today a lot of people say, “Ah, but the old mestres played by the system’s rules.” No, but it was different, today it’s we who play by the rules of the system,in that era it was the system who played by their rules…

Thanks to ShaynaM for the translation. You can read her entire translation (the original was done in Portuguese) at her website.

The whole thing is available for your further enlightment in our archives.

**If you have an interview with your mestre or teacher that you would like to see posted, please email it to us. We can do the translation English <-> Portuguese.

Events Calendar Round-up

Here's what we have on our calendar for the next few months:
October
5 – 8, Los Angeles: Capoeira Angola Center Event “Let the Circle be Unbroken”
5 – 7, Helsinki: M Valmir Workshops
5 – 7, Philadelphia: M Cobra Mansa Workshops
12 - 14, Washington, DC: M Cobra Mansa Workshops
12 – 14, Atlanta: T Baba Workshops
19 – 21, New York City: M Jurandir Workshops

November
8 – 11, Chicago: Pastinha/ Zumbi Weekend
13, Anniversary of M Pastinha’s death
20, Brazil: Zumbi/ Black Consciousness Day

December
30, Salvador: Roda in Honor of M João Pequeno
Let us know if your event is missing! Email: ficadcarchives(at)gmail(dot)com

10/5/07

Roda with Mestre João Pequeno & Mestre Ciro


Its never to early to get out the word!

Here's details on a roda celebrating 90 years of Mestre João Pequeno, hosted by Mestre Ciro and his study group.

When: Sunday, December 30, 2007 4:00 pm
Where: Praça Artur Lago, Pernambués, Salvador da Bahia
Contact: M Ciro, rascirolima(at)hotmail(dot)com, (tel) 34315161

Yay! Love that picture.