Masters ProjectProfessional Development Component1/15/11

Brazilian Festival at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts at the Adrienne Arsht Center

Why is attending this particular event valuable to my professional development?This event is relevant to my thesis project. I am creating a health club located in Rio de Janeiro; it is therefore important for my research and to better understand the Brazilian culture that I attend events like this that will help me achieve my goal.

What activities are taking place at this event that are helping me in my research?11:30 am – Samba Academy12:10 am – Brazilian voices featuring Brazilian Voices Kids12:45 pm – Capoeira Luanda2:00pm – Bale Folclorico da Bahia

What do you hope to learn from this particular event? I hope to be immersed in an event that highlights the Brazilian culture and be inspired and gain knowledge that will help further me along in my process.

What attempts have you made to maximize the learning experience this event will bring you?

I have contacted a Brazilian citizen who lives in Miami; her name is Talita, to make her aware of this event since upon speaking with her last night she told me she is eager to reconnect with Brazilians living here in Miami. Through this individual I hope to gain further insight into the Brazilian psyche.

What are you going to be doing during this event to maximize the learning experience?I will be taking notes and photos so that I may later review and reflect on this experience.

Events Highlights:

See attached pamphlets.

Samba Academy/Samba Dance Show Brazilian Voices/Vocal Ensemble

Performer with my son Advertisement for Bale Folclorico da Bahia

Capoeira demonstration for kids Instructing kids in Capoeira

Brazilian Voices/Vocal Ensemble Capoeira Demonstration

On Saturday January 15th I attended a Brazilian festival taking place in the plaza located in front of the Arsht Center. This well attended event highlighted Brazilian culture. The Samba Academy was the opening act performing various musical numbers of the Brazilian tradition. They were later joined by the vocal ensemble Brazilian voices, a group pf women who sang typical Brazilian songs. This group also performed a few songs with a Brazilian children’s choir. All around the plaza there were booths offering information and activities. At 12:00 pm I attended the kids workshop for Capoeira. According to the Miami Capoeira web site: Capoeira Culture/History

Capoeira is an Afro- Brazilian martial art that blends elements of ritualistic fighting, music, cunning and playful creativity with precision attacks and defenses, break dance-type floor movements and stunning acrobatics.

Participants don’t “spar,” they “play” Capoeira in a circle (roda) of clapping, singing “capoeiristas” who combine the vitality of song and dance with circular and evasive attacks and defenses.

Slaves brought from Africa to work on the plantations of Brazil started Capoeira in the struggle against their oppressors. They disguised the martial techniques from their masters by mixing them with dance during gatherings or ceremonies.

Though Capoeira originally took its shape in the bubbling cauldron of Brazil, it is gaining in amazing popularity throughout the United States, with hundreds of academies from coast to coast.

The roda is a celebration of life in the face of everyday struggle. It develops confidence, combined with a strong feeling of center and balance. Still truly evolving and much more than a “martial art,” Capoeira is an art-of-life, bringing together our best human resources.

Cais Dourado, named for the famous section of São Salvador, Bahia where strong and creative capoeiristas historically came to play, is the first branch of the United Capoeira Association (UCA) on the east coast of the United States. Mestre Acordeon, along with mestre Rã and mestra Suelly lead the United Capoeira Association, one of the premier capoeira groups in the United States. These three mestres embody all that is fantastic about capoeira. They are the inspiration at the root of Cais Dourado, Miami, FL.

Later on a local Capoeira group performed a demonstration and its spokesperson told of this 500 year old arts movement brought to Brazil by the African slaves and how their particular school is celebrating teaching Capoeira here in the U.S. for the past 35 years. It was an enjoyable informative event to attend that will help me in the progression of my design project.