As it’s most common in my life, some of the best things that happen to me were not planned ahead. This is to say that I’m going to Brazil tomorrow and I would like you to come along with me. I’ll be posting about my friends’ work, about Mestres who have been supporting my work in Brasília, and of course about my own work there. Continue reading →
… I learnt that distance, as much as proximity, is essential to understand our relationship with both our counterparts and craft. … The message that follows was written to my Brazilian friends (even though some are living abroad) on my way back to Australia. But since I wrote it I realised it’s actually a message to all my friends and counterparts from all over the world, so I translated it to share with you all. I hope you enjoy it. Abraços e Feliz Ano Novo!!
This year, after 4 years without visiting Brazil I could come back and see many friends. While I was there matando as saudades*, (re)learning and refilling to keep up with the mission of working with my culture, I remembered many friends who live abroad and became ambassadors of the Brazilian culture working with music, Capoeira, dance… Some working with all these at once. I have learnt as much in Brazil as abroad, that everyone in love with Brazilian culture becomes an artist; that because we all put forward the message of Brazilian-ness, because we bring in our chest the scent of our land, the blood mark of our ancestors and the fight certainty of our living ones; as put by François Silvestre, o cantador. (Though this was said of Brazilians adrift around the world, I belive it goes with all those orbiting around Capoeira and Brazilian culture too, as we all share most of the same signs, symbols and meanings around these manifestations)
My relation with my friends and with Capoeiragem has changed a lot in these years. I learnt that distance, as much as proximity, is essential for us to understand our relationship with both our counterparts and craftsmanship**. These years of distance taught me that despite life’s turns, group flags or Capoeira orientation (the so called ‘styles’), the distance that make us apart or our own minor differences I learn a lot from you all. I’m, indeed, disciple of a few and maverick in relation to the work of others, but I’m always a discúpulo que aprende e mestre que dá lição.
Time was too short to make up for four years of distance and because of that I couldn’t see everyone or spend as much time as I would like with some. I really would like to bring you all with me everywhere always, but as I can’t, I keep the lessons and our friendship alive through my work, through the Capoeira I practice and teach, and, now, through the friendships extended to other lands. I would like to let all my friends know that you already have other friends in the places I have been travelling to, even though you haven’t had yet the opportunity of (re)meeting them.
Thank you all for our friendship, for the care and support you always show up with, even if from a distance.
I don’t intend to take this long to come back to Brazil again, but I would like to see everyone here in Australia too. My place is open and our new friends are waiting as well.
I hope that in this new year we’ll have more time to be together!
Grande abraço com muito axé para todos!!
Eurico
* – ‘killing the longing’ or catching up with missed ones, though such translation does not really meet the standards for ‘saudade’.
** – Actually the first time I heard about such concept, it was in Bauman’s book Identity (which I’ll reference here soon). Curiously this time in Brazil while talking to Mestre Danadinho, he also mentioned something similar, in the context that most people in Capoeira are very much into it, but miss the chance of taking a step back to look at it from a different perspective… To some extent I own this lesson to both Bauman (in my readings) and Mestre Danadinho (in my time learning from him) as well.
“Who is the most important person inside this room?” asked capoeira instructor Daniel Vallejo. “Me!” yelled the group of children from Jalazone refugee camp in reply.
Bidna Capoeira launched new activities in the West Bank on Tuesday with support from the Brazilian Representative Office of Ramallah.
Self-expression through physical art
Eight hundred Palestinian children have taken part in these Afro-Brazilian sport and art form since March 2011.
Speaking to the children, Ligia Maria Scherer, Head of the Representative Office of Brazil to the Palestinian Authority said: “One of our aims is to promote freedom of expression and help you cope with the harsh realities of occupation.”
According to the principal of the UNRWA boys’ school, Ahmad Assi, since last semester, there has been improvement in behaviour and learning among students that have participated in capoeira. “We targeted hyperactive kids and immediately noticed a positive change.”
Benefiting the community
Capoeira’s benefits extend to instructors and parents. Vallejo, or Professor Arame as his students call him, has been training in the refugee camps for the last nine months. “The occupation prevents refugee children from expressing themselves properly. This is where capoeira comes in. Here, we are brothers. The children even come by my house on my days off asking to be trained.”
Amina, whose daughter has taken part, expressed her excitement about the programme: “My daughter is always talking about capoeira. She loves the activities and her instructor.”
Bidna Capoeira puts a great emphasis on the participation of children. In fact, the organisation’s name, “came from children in refugee camps on the Syrian/Iraqi border,” said Tarek Alsaleh, Bidna’s managing director.
Capoeira has been an effective tool for creating solidarity and harmony among participants. “We’re like a family that works and practices together. Even kids that used to fight with one another are now friends. There are rules and we learn to follow them,” said 13-year-old Muhammad Nasser.
The following interview was given to the Programa Inclusão (Inclusion Show), a show produced by the Senate TV and aired all over Brazil. Like the preceding ones, this interview is part of our TV Clipping and tackles the interplay of our two main programs: Learning From Brazilian Culture, and Brazil and Abroad. This one, however, also counts with statements from students and other instructors, as it approaches our interdisciplinary take over our program’s classes and mission. Feel free to comment and share this post with socially engaged counterparts. I’ll be happy to hear your thoughts about our programs and ways we have been working.
It’s been almost 40 days, two chicken-pocks, and tree trips since I last wrote. Sorry for such a long absence, but these days were quite hectic. I’ll make it up in the following weeks catching up with all these events and visits in chronological order. Whenever possible I’ll also upload videos and slide shows of these activities. This way I can make sure I won’t leave anything behind.
Abraço e muito obrigado à todos que escreveram e comentaram pedindo mais artigos!
Eurico
In my chat with Solange
Transcript: Programa Inclusão (TV Show Inclusion)
Opening text with Reporter Solange Calmon:
Voluntary work is a growing trend in Brazil. It is capable of promoting great changes, based on the initiatives of people that are trying to retribute part of what they have accomplished in their professional and personal lives.
There is no age limit for being a volunteer, one must only believe that the meaning of life is in serving the other, uncross the arms and get to work, saving a few hours of the day or of the week, contributing, conquering trust and receiving as payment a beautiful smile.
In the Programa Inclusão (Inclusion Show) we will show common people helping to rescue their country’s culture; groups of volunteers in action on the streets, in the middle of the night, to put an end to the hunger of boys and girls in risk situations. People of good will that contribute to well being of all, examples that confirm: volunteer work is good for those who benefit from it and for those who are a part in it.
A Non Governmental Organization decided to bet in Capoeira to develop a project that stimulates cultural identity. The Students are boys and girls in social risk situation. The work is coordinated by a Physical Education teacher and capoeirista from Brasília.
To give back to those children and adolescents the joy and the pleasure that he feels when practising Capoeira – this is the desire of the President of the Cordão de Ouro Association in Brasília, Eurico Neto; who has been developing over the last 4 years a project for social inclusion of boys and girls in risk situation. He offers to those children the opportunity of having a better future, while listening to the sound of the atabaque, berimbau and a lot of ginga. Eurico promotes art and culture, the rituals and the identity of the Brazilian people.
Twice a week the children have history and citizenship classes along with physical activities. The boys and girls have the opportunity of integrating with capoeiristas from other parts of the world.
Eurico Neto:
We promote many exchange events within Brazil and with foreign countries. So they have classes with teachers from all over Brazil and contact with capoeira students from many parts of the world, who speak other languages. They have contact with a universe greater than capoeira, a universe of music and history.
Wesley Borges (15 years old student):
People that come from the United States, for example. We chat a bit, they speak English, but there’s always someone to translate. Then we can talk.
Solange Calmon:
Mestre Eurico decided to bet on the potentials of each on of these boys and girls living in the Aldeia SOS shelter. In order to implement the project he counts on the help of other Capoeira professionals.
Professor Ely Alves da Silva:
These children have a life experience that we don’t have. Many are orphans, some have parents that come to visit on the weekends. This bond strengthened in training and in extra activities allows the exchange of experiences.
We try to pass virtues to them so that they can become good people, having good behavior inside and outside Capoeira. With this work we go beyond the teachings of Capoeira to educate good citizens.
Solange Calmon:
In addition to the capoeira classes, the children get other lessons.
Erica Oliveira – 8 years old student:
I learned to be more polite, to be nicer to people and to have more education too.
Felipe – 12 years old student:
I found more friends and I am loosing my shyness.
Solange Calmon:
How long have you been practicing capoeira?
Felipe – student (12 year old):
For a year and a month, more or less.
Eurico Neto:
We began to develop with them the matter of cultural identity and the history of the country. Through that we manage to improve their self-esteem, we create an interest in the activity that we practice and from this relatively smaller universe, which is capoeira, with its rituals and activities, we transcend to a larger universe of teachings for the day-to-day life.
Adriano Santana (13 years old student)
Capoeira brought me many good things. I began as if it were a sport and I ended up liking it.
Solange Calmon:
But there is one prerequisite for these little fellows in order for them to participate in the Capoeira classes. All students must be enrolled in the public schools system.
Eurico Neto:
All of them live in the Aldeia SOS, a third sector shelter that takes care of children and promotes social inclusion through the homes. They promote education through social inclusion. This was the first place in which we started our projects.
Solange Calmon:
The idea of the project is to create more vacancies. But for that new partners and the help of volunteers are needed.
Eurico Neto:
We have to thank the support of the Workers Association of the Federal Senate and of the Federal District’s Fund for Culture Support. We also leave our web-site so that people can have more contact with our work and in case any new sponsors or supporters want to reach us. www.4capoeirathoughts.com
Solange Calmon:
The idea of the Group is to increase the number of children being assisted. After all, the experience has pleased not only the Master but also the students.
Wesley Borges:
I have more will to practice Capoeira, more and more… until I become a professional. Who knows?!
Robson Araújo:
This has been a very rich experience for us, in our personal relations, in the relationship that we have with these children, we’ve managed to become friends.
Solange Calmon:
Is this good for both sides?
Robson Araújo:
Yes. It is good for both sides, for sure!
Rafael da Silva:
I am happier practising capoeira.
“Who is the most important person inside this room?” asked capoeira instructor Daniel Vallejo. “Me!” yelled the group of children from Jalazone refugee camp in reply.
Speaking to the children, Ligia Maria Scherer, Head of the Representative Office of Brazil to the Palestinian Authority said: “One of our aims is to promote freedom of expression and help you cope with the harsh realities of occupation.”
