Viver Brasil Travel Programs 2011

BAHIA TRAVEL PROGRAM: Roots and Contemporary Development of Afro-Brazilian Dance & Music Workshop

TRIP DATES: August 6-22, 2011
Package Price: $3500
Flyer (pdf)

Viver Brasil Dance and Music Programs (VBDMP) has designed an intensive 15 day trip to Salvador, Bahia, offering nine days of classes in which participants may choose to study Afro-Brazilian dance or percussion.  All participants attend song class for dancers and musicians. The program is enhanced with visits to Candomblé ceremonies, concerts, festivals, day trips and encounters with many of Bahia's most unique dancers, musicians, visual artists, researchers and culture makers.   You will have time to do your own exploring, sample Afro-Brazilian cuisine, have a cowry shell reading, relax at the beach, shop for instruments, gemstones, art and enjoy the magic of Salvador, Bahia. 

Salvador, Bahia– in the Northeast of Brazil–is the center for traditional and contemporary Afro-Brazilian culture.  Bahia is known for its Candomblés, Capoeira, Blocos afro and Afoxés–carnival groups that fill the streets with thunderous percussion and dance ensembles.  These artistic and religious (or spiritual) groups are the foundation of an important social movement in Brazil, educating Brazilians and visitors about Bahia's African roots.

This workshop includes nine days of dance or percussion classes in the dances and rhythms of the Candomblé orixas (sacred traditions); Afro-Brazilian contemporary dance and music ( afro-contemporanea), elements of Silvestre Technique; and a variety of folkloric forms including Samba de Roda and Maracatu; and carnival dances and rhythms such as samba reggae and samba afro.

The classes will be taught by many of Bahia’s top dance and music instructors:  Gilmar Sampaio, Mestre King, Rosangela Silvestre, Vania Oliveira, Tatiana Campos, Jose Ricardo Sousa, Vera Passos, Amelia Conrado, Amilton, Lino, Daniel Sousa, and other special guest instructors.

Our itinerary in Bahia includes various trips and events that enrich participants' understanding of the history and context of these expressive forms such as:

  • City tour of Salvador, Bahia including the Afro-Brazilian Museum
  • Visits to Candomblé ceremonies (Ketu and Angolan temples)
  • Performances of Dida Female Percussion Ensemble
  • Lectures with Candomblé dance, music and history specialist, Dona Cici, from the Pierre Verger Foundation  and Dida Female Percussion Ensemble Artistic Director, Vivian de Jesus
  • Attendance at performances of the Balé Folclorico da Bahia and the Vila Velha Theater
  • Attend the São Lazaro Festival in Salvador, Bahia
  • A visit to to Bloco afro Ilê Aiye's dynamic cultural center
  • Visit visual artist extraordinaire Jose Cunha’s studio
  • Gemstone visit
  • A visit to Terreiro Axé Opô Afonjá to meet Dona Detinha, orixa doll maker and storyteller from one of the most revered Candomblé Ketu houses
  • Travel to Cachoeira for the Festival of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte
  • Participate in a traditional samba party at the home of Joselita da Silva.
In addition, many of Salvador's beautiful beaches are just a short walk and/or bus ride from our hotel. Hotel Marazul in Salvador, Bahia is located in the Porto da Barra neighborhood directly across from the beach and a 15 minute bus ride to the Pelourinho, our workshop location (State of Bahia’s Dance School).  The hotel offers a delicious buffet breakfast included in the package price.  Each room has a telephone, a mini-refrigerator, an air conditioner, a TV, and the hotel offers wirelss internet and laundry services, and has a patio area with a pool. Taxis and buses make regular stops in front of the hotel. Internet cafes and favorite Portal do Mar restaurant and a great kilo restaurant are close to the hotel.



VIVER BRASIL STAFF:

Linda Yudin, co-leader, is the artistic director of Viver Brasil Dance Company and is a Los Angeles based dance ethnologist with two decades of experience studying, researching and working in Bahia.  She has developed a deep professional and personal involvement with its arts and spiritual community.  This is her 14th trip leading programs to Brazil.   

Rosangela Silvestre, co-leader is a world renowned teacher, dancer and choreographer who has developed the Silvestre technique of contemporary dance training.  This is Rosangela's 9th trip as a co-leader with VB and is enthused to share her native Bahia and its cultural traditions.

Luiz Badaró, co-leader is master dancer, choreographer and percussionist and is the co-artistic director of Viver Brasil. He is the alpha teacher of traditional Afro-Brazilian dance for Viver Brasil and has taught and performed throughout the world for the last 30 years. He is equally enthused to show his native Bahia to VB travel participants.

Paula Santos is considered one of Brazil’s most sought after tour guides.  Paula has been with VB since 2001.  Her approach to cultural tourism and the study of Afro-Brazilian culture and history is intelligent, sensitive, creative, informative and socially and educationally engaging.

Viver Brasil Travel Programs was created by Linda Yudin. VB is committed to providing its participants with a unique opportunity to experience Afro-Brazilian culture outside the usual tourist context.  Since 1997, more than 600 people have taken advantage of this opportunity and many return year after year. 

Registration for the travel program is available through Viver Brasil. Package price includes travel from LA, NY or Miami to Brazil, airport transfers, all course-related activities and events, translators, double occupancy accommodations (upon availability) and breakfast. If you are traveling from a city other than LA, Miami or NY, you will be responsible for flight costs from your departing city.



Travel Visas: A tourist visa (cost NOT included in package price) is required to travel to Brazil. American travelers will need a valid passport and will need to apply for a tourist visa to Brazil at a Brazilian consulate. Participants will be charged directly for all visa costs by the issuing Brazilian consulate.  Please visit www.brazilian-consulate.org for new visa instructions.

REGISTRATION PROCESS:
Please complete the registration form below and submit it with a $500 deposit.  Registration is not complete until the deposit is received.  Upon receiving your registration, we will send you an information package that will include general travel information, program itinerary, list of Brazilian consulates in the US, and flight information.  Please note that the itinerary is subject to change if necessary.  Some activities listed as "optional" on the itinerary are intended to supplement the established program.  An additional fee payable to the activity site may apply.

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM:

PACKAGE COST:

$3500 based on double occupancy (upon availability). Hotel single supplement is available for an additional cost of $500. 



PAYMENT DUE DATES:
Deposit due upon registration (paypal, check or money order). 
Deposit is non-refundable.
Full payment due by June 15, 2011


Due to fluctuating travel costs and to insure the best air fares, participants may be asked for additional installments prior to the full payment due date on June 15, 2011.

PAY DEPOSIT NOW via PAYPAL:

$500 plus 4% Pay Pal fee ($20) =
$520 TOTAL

PAY TRIP PACKAGE BALANCE NOW via PAYPAL:
TRIP Balance Amount of $3000 plus 4% Pay Pal fee ($120) =
$3120 TOTAL



PAY TRIP PACKAGE BALANCE with HOTEL SINGLE SUPPLEMENT NOW via PAYPAL:
TRIP Balance Amount of $3500 plus 4% Pay Pal fee ($140) =
$3640 TOTAL


How To Reach Us:
Linda Yudin, Director
Phone:  323/465-4762 or 323-804-1466 (Pacific Time)
Fax:  323/465-4741
Monday–Friday:  9:00am-6:00pm (Pacific Time)
Week-ends: 12 noon- 4pm (Pacific Time)
lkyudin@mac.com
www.viverbrasil.com

Mailing Address:

Viver Brasil, 2141 N Gower Street, Los Angeles 90068
Viver Brasil Travel Program
 
"So if you have read "Eat, Love, Pray" this trip is for you. Dance, Eat, Love is on the itinerary every day of the trip. Viver Brasil trip is not just a vacation it is a life experience. Thanks to Linda Yudin's intimate relationships with the people in Salvador we were able to try on the culture in a way that would normally take years to develop. You leave with more than a tan, a very small bikini and sweet kisses, you leave Bahia feeling saturated in the musical and graceful rich culture of Salvador, Bahia and it never leaves you.."

Sarah March, dancer/educator/2x participant

  
 
"My trip to Brazil and participating in Viver Brasil's program was one of the most amazing experiences I have had in my life. This experience not only opened my eyes to Brazilian culture, but left an everlasting impression on my life. In fact, I have gone to Brazil and have participated in the program twice. I cannot wait to do it again when my schedule permits. I was impressed at the many doors that were opened to our group. The dance and song classes were led by first class master teachers and really led us through the cultural aspect of the traditional Brazilian dances; it was truly a spiritual process and most enlightening. Not only did Linda and staff provide us with such wonderful, uplifting and unique dance and song classes; she found the perfect tour guide who led us through the colorful history that is Brazil. If you are looking for a trip that will leave you with the feeling that there is something truly bigger than yourself; I suggest you enroll in VB's program. This trip goes way beyond the typical tourist experience."

Cynthia Guedea/dancer, culture enthusiast/2x participant


  

 
“I was familiar with samba/bossa before attending but I had NO IDEA what I was getting into. I could truly never express how enriching and eye-opening this program was for me. I sing the songs that I was taught on a daily basis...and I attended over a year ago!!! I cannot express my gratitude to Linda and Viver Brasil for a life-altering experience.”

C hris Burton Jácome (Flamenco Guitarist)


  
 
“As a seasoned traveler, I was very excited, impressed, and surprised with the uniqueness of this trip. Linda Yudin organizes a spectacular adventure while sharing her energy, knowledge, and dear friends with everyone. The places, people, and events that Linda exposed us to was more than any traveler could do on their own."-

Margrethe Schibig , Dancer/Librarian


  
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© Viver Brasil Dance Company 2007 - All Rights Reserved / Photos: Jorge Vismara