VIVER BRASIL INSTITUTE
June 29–July 31, 2010

Update: July 6 - This week’s Viver Brasil Institute includes:

Viver Brasil Institute Intensive #1 begins with Vera Passos. And Dona Cici arrives!

July 6-9, 1-3pm: Vera conducts master dance classes

@ Universal Dance Designs, 6009 Pico Blvd, LA 90036.

Vera introduces her interpretation of the Silvestre Technique, Afro-Contemporanea with elements of Orixa Dance Movement. This is a magical and unique opportunity to study Afro-Brazilian dance with Bahia’s extraordinary dancer/teacher! Dona Cici and Mainha will join us for some of the classes to add their axé!!!

Class cost: Package: $100. Drop- In $35.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 8-10 pm:
Vera teaches orixa dance movement in Badaró's class with special guests, Dona Cici and Iyalorixa Mainha

@ Dance Arts Academy, 731 S. La Brea Ave., LA 90036.

Class in the big studio at DAA

Class cost: $20. + a donation to the drummers.

Saturday, July 10, 2010: Vera teaches orixa dance movement in Kimberly Mullen's Afro-Caribe class

@The Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice 90291
10:30am-12 noon
Class cost: $20. + a donation to the drummers.

VERA PASSOS is considered one of the most elegant and eloquent of contemporary Afro-Brazilian dancers. “It’s like honey when you watch her dance,” one critic has observed of her technique, which seamlessly encompasses modern dance, classical ballet, Dança Afro, Jazz, and Traditional Afro-Brazilian. Passos has danced for companies such as Africa Poesia, Jorge Silva Dance Company and the acclaimed Bale Folclórico da Bahia. Passos began dance training at the Cultural Foundations’s Escola de Dança at 14 years old. She received a certificate of completion in the Escola de Dança’s Pre-Professional training program in 1991 and will receive her BA in Dance from the Federal University of Bahia in 2010. Passos began studying the demanding Silvestre Technique and Symbols in Motion Process with creator Rosangela Silvestre in 1992 and soon became the protégé of ST; Passos has taught the technique since 2002 at Escola de Dança in the preparatory dance program to both dancers in training and professional dance students. She is Director of Silvestre Link in Salvador, Bahia. She has performed internationally in venues in North and South America, Europe and Africa. With Silvestre, Passos was also a principal in a music-dance collaboration with the eclectic American musician Steve Coleman on his tours of Europe in 2002 and 2003. Passos choreographs for Grupo Contra, which she directs along with her husband, Nei Sacramento; for the Orchestra Popular da Bahia, directed by the pioneer ethnomusicologist/folklorist Emilia Biancardi; for Tocandomblé, which produces experimental performances of Afro-Brazilian dance and music; and she choreographed “Terra em Transe” to music by Italian musician Aldo Briddi. Passos also danced in the Opera “Lidia de Oxum,” choreographed by Carlos Moraes.

Special Viver Brasil Institute Notes:

INSTITUTE dates: June 29–July 31, 2010 -- Look for updates on Institute classes, faculty additions, and special events, as we welcome four additional master guest-artists from Bahia, including….

… Mainha … who will be available for cowrie shell spiritual readings on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Saturday, 12-4pm. Please email lkyudin@mac.com for an appt.and further details.