RE-CAP of the Successful Music Intensive Workshop with Master Artists Boa Voz and Professora Gigi of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!
ACSF started the year off with a unique cultural workshop series led by guest artists of ABADÁ- Brazil.From January 24-27, 2014 master percussionist, Boa Voz led five intensive music workshops for the ABADÁ-Capoeira community at ACSF. Joining and supporting Boa Voz was Professora Gigi, also of Rio de Janeiro who is a leading female capoeirista and renown for her vocal talents.
The workshops were part lecture and part practice and focused on the prominent instruments used in capoeira including the Berimbau, Atabaque drum, and song traditions. Lectures covered historical and cultural background information; story telling; practical application; construction and general care for the instrument and voice; and introduced the various rhythms unique to these instruments. Workshops also provided time for students of all levels to learn some of the prominent rhythms.
This was the first time ACSF hosted a workshops series that solely focused on the instruments and music of capoeira. Music is an essential element to the art, and a leading contributor to its survival through multi generational teachings of history and stories through songs. ACSF’s Artistic Director, Mestre Márcia commented that hosting this intensive music workshop series was an important investment in the organization and our community of students and instructors. The information shared is critical to maintaining the cultural and artistic integrity of the art.
ACSF students and instructors, as well as students and visiting instructors from various nation-wide ABADÁ affiliates traveled to SF to attend the event.
Students of all levels commented after the event series about the enormous wealth of information Boa Voz shared and the amount left untouched. We plan to try to implement an annual or bi-annual workshop series with master artist Boa Voz in order to continue to build on the knowledge shared!
Huge shout-out to Aimee Fribourg who did a tremendous job as the event translator. And, thank you to all those who traveled, volunteered, and to those who completed the participant survey. Much appreciated!!