Wassup Family!!! I want to talk to you guys about a very special Arts Event that Happened about a month ago, just days after summer ended.
But first, I need to tell y'all a story. I was told not to tell this story on my blog when it happened, but since we had 2 of these events, and what I'm about to tell you happened over 9 months ago anyway, I don't think anybody will mind.
It all started with a dinner after a RODA.
It was the first Sunday of this year. After an AMAZING RODA hosted by CECA Los Angeles, Jelani Ticum Lateef invited Charles Williams, Gregory Bickham and his wife Delilah, Ian Trujillo, and myself (Well, I actually was just along for the ride), out to a restaurant in LITTLE ETHIOPIA (you know what? I didn't know L.A. had a little ethiopia) to discuss something that was on his mind.
You see, as I said many times before, the style of capoeira We practice is Capoeira Angola.
in an effort to show everyone out there the beauty of this wonderful Martial Art, Jelani reaches out to the greater Capoeira Community here in L.A., and in other places, going to their rodas, and taking part in their events, like this one...
And they always receive him well. Even though at these events, they usually put aside some time for an Capoeira Angola Roda, what's usually played in these rodas is NOT Capoeira Angola. Now allow me to repeat myself here.
The style of capoeira we play is CAPOEIRA ANGOLA...
Which, has an entirely different look and feel to it than Capoeira Regional, or Contemporanea (Although there are many variations of how Capoeira Angola Mestres play and train).
I'm not hating on the other Capoeira Styles. In fact, I love all styles of capoeira. However, just because you slow down the music, play slow and close to the ground, don't allow people to BUY THE GAME, and occasionaly call a CHAMADA doesn't mean you're actually playing Capoeira Angola.
There's much more to it than that.
And on the flipside, just because I, as an angoleiro, start playing upright, and start throwing high kicks really fast, Doesn't mean I'm all of a sudden playing Capoeira Regional.
But anyway, Jelani was talking about how he enjoys going out to these events, and was lamenting on how the Capoeira Angola schools around here didn't have any similar events, and the fact that in this country, and in L.A. specifically, the Capoeira Angola community is quite small and fragmented, and there's not much unity among Angoleiros here. (at least that's what I got out of the conversation)
And then, he talked to us about this idea he had, about a Capoeira Angola event, a straight-up slumber party that combines a Capoeira Angola workshop with multiple art forms like music, poetry, etc. A way to introduce traditional Capoeira Angola to everybody who wants to learn it.
And around him, were the people who could help him make it happen.
Gregory and Delilah Bickham owned a WAREHOUSE in DTLA which could house the event, and could help teach the Capoeira Angola Workshop.
Charles Williams, as host of FREEDOM OF SPEECH THURSDAYS, knew some poets and entertainers who could do shows there, and he could help in the exercise portion of the Capoeira Workshop, while Jelani could teach the Capoeira Angola movement(The techniques and fighting strategy) portion of the workshop.
And last, but certainly not least, Ian Trujillo, a DJ and a graphic designer, could make flyers for the event, and be the DJ.
And so, long story short, out of that conversation, The CAPOLOCK24 was born. And after 3 months of planning and preparation, (And me keeping silent about what went on in that dinner conversation), everything was ready, and it was on!
So, What is capo-lock?
Capo-lock24 is an artist collective slumber party that combines Capoeira Angola and multiple art forms for 24hrs. Various teachers and group leaders from the Capoeira Angola/Afro Brazilian community will conduct workshops covering movement, dance, and music, in an open forum setting for all styles and levels.
Saturday evening, the event will extend into a nightlife celebration consisting of: spoken word, music performances, art installations, live art, healing arts, multiple DJs and a dance party. Vendors will also be present with food and merchandise.
People attending the event are encouraged to stay the night, bring your sleeping bags and tents. (There's ample amount of room in the warehouse)
Now the picture above was a flyer and schedule for the SECOND Capo-Lock, hence the name, "Capo-lock24 x2". There was one before this one, but I'm not gonna talk about it, because basically, the things that happened in the first event, also happened in the second event.
BUT CLICK HERE IF YOU WANNA CHECK OUT SOME COOL PICTURES FROM CAPO-LOCK24 X1
Yes I know. I should've blogged about the first Capolock a long time ago. But I didn't. In fact, there's a lot of events that I wanted to blog about this year.
But I didn't
And that's all I'm gonna say about that.
Now this time around, they had some sponsors for this event, which allowed them to expand a little bit.
SOL ADVENTURERS is a non-profit founded and operated by Roseanne Ware that helps disenfranchised youth find their vision through art education and mentorship in the United States and Jamaica. Proceeds from the event will be donated to help with Sol Adventurers mission. For more information, check out their web site at http://soladventurersfoundation.com/
MICHAEL MAITRE is a Leading Certified Professional Coach, public speaker, author and CEO of Purpose Health Consulting that has reached hundreds of executives, professionals and industry leaders with his dynamic message of living authentically and with purpose in the corporate marketplace and in personal life.
Now I've been wanting to blog about this guy for a while now, and I will.
But for now, if you want to know more information about him, check out his web site at http://michaelmaitre.com/
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT CAPO-LOCK24, CLICK HERE
Now all that being said, let's talk about Capo-lock24 x2.
SATURDAY!!!
The picture above is of a yoga class led by MARDHAVI SAKUNTALA at the beginning of Capo-Lock. It was a hour-long class where she led us through different postures. People might look at this and think we were being tortured... but it was not. It was painful, but our bodies were stretched, and our minds became calmer.
Which was essential for what came after her class...
And check out the class picture. After almost every workshop we had one of these.
Thank You Mardhavi. Your class was a wonderful introduction to this event.
After Mardhavi's class, We had an African Dance Class led by Jahanna Blunt and her group, LE BALLET DEMBAYA.
She showed us several dance forms from west africa. They were all fast and highly energetic. I was sweating like a pig throughout that class, but it was so much fun!!!
And here are her brothers, who not only played the drums for the class, but held it down for most of the night, even during the After-Party... But I'm getting ahead of myself here.
During the drum playing, some of us got up and got our dance on, and played and danced with each other for a little while, until about 8:00.
And that's when the Capoeira Roda started.
It was a nice Roda, with Capoeiristas from around the L.A. area, and as far away as Utah.
One of the Capoeiristas from Utah, was actually born in Brazil. And I got to play with her!
Her name is Mandingueira, and she, along with her friends, were out here in L.A. visiting local capoeira schools, and attending Capoeira events in the area, like Capoeira Brazil's 2015 Batizado, which was happening that week.
She was also featured in a recent CAPOEIRA PODCAST.
Season 2, Episode 2: Riding in Cars with Girls, to be exact.
Now after the Roda, there was a After Party, with live DJ's, musicians & poets, a Magic show, Bands, a dance floor, even a Bar.
There were many great acts that performed that night. Here are only a few of them. The amazing singer, SHELDON BOTLER, showed us some of his amazing singing skills. If you get the chance, you should definetely check him out, and buy one of his CD's.
And yes, LE BALLET DEMBAYA was on fire!
And MARDHAVI SAKUNTALA, who taught the yoga class earlier, performed an amazing belly dance.
And there weren't only great performers playing there, there were also a masseuse, vendors selling really cool stuff...
And this oxygen bar! If anybody out there has a chance to, Y'all should DEFINETELY try one out!
And let's not forget the photo booth...
Now, you may be wondering, "If this is a Capoeira Angola Intensive, why all the after party, musicians, poets, singers, etc.
Well, the answer is simple. It's to show how Capoeira Angola fits in with all of these art forms.
You see, Capoeira Angola is a way of life.
It's an ancient tradition brought to brazil by african slaves, but it's not a relic of the past.
It's a dance, but it's much more than that.
It's a deadly martial art, but it's much more than that.
It's singing and playing music, but it's much more than that.
It's a philosophy, but it's much more than that
It's Art, but it's much more than that.
In fact it's all those things, and more. And even though certain aspects are emphasized more than others at certain moments, depending on when we need them, it still has all those elements in it together.
Bira Almeida aka. Mestre Acordeon writes in his book, "CAPOEIRA: A BRAZILIAN ART FORM" , that a venerable capoeira said to him:
"I wished to be a dancer and I could not be. Today I dance in capoeira. I wanted to be a fighter, so I fight in capoeira. Because I want to be an artist and express myself, have self esteem, and be a real human being, I am a capoeirista."
So you see, Capoeira Angola has a deep connection to all of the other art forms that was showcased there that night, and the promoters wanted to show that.
But anyway, the After Party went on until around 2:30 A.M., and then, those of us who staying over for the night turned in, and went to sleep.
SUNDAY!!!
The photo below, is Greg Bickham conducting a caxixi workshop.
However, there were only 2 people in this workshop, me and this other guy, because well, everybody else was asleep. However, everybody else woke up around the time the caxixi Workshop was finished. I didn't get to finish mine, and I wish I could have taken it home to finish it, but I forgot all about it until the next day.
Now the guy who was making caxixi with me and greg, was also the Yoga instructor for the day, and right after the caxixi workshop, he led us through an hour of yoga. And I hate to admit it, but I couldn't do the whole hour.
And yes, another class picture...
Now after the yoga class, there was a Capoeira music class. We went over the basic berimbau toques Angola and Sao Bento Grande, and sang some songs. Now I know some of you don't like pictures, so click HERE if want to see a small clip of the class.
Now after the music class, we broke for lunch. (As a side note, I'd like to point out that there's a lot of good places to eat within walking distance of the warehouse. I personally recommend TACOS GAVILLAN).
After lunch, there was the Capoeira Angola workshops. The 1st was the conditioning workshop, led by CHARLES WILLIAMS. He basically led us through variations of the ginga, negativa, and the role. It doesn't sound like much, but you try doing it continuously for about an hour. And, it was a great preparation for the next class.
The next class was a Capoeira Angola movement class with Jelani Ticum Lateef. Although I have no pictures of the class to show you, click HERE if you want to watch a video clip of the class.
Click HERE too
Now in case you're wondering why there's no traditional Capoeira Music played during those video clips, well the beautiful thing about capoeira is that it can be played to any music that can move your soul.
After the music class, we all sat down and had a little panel, where we were asked basically, what can be done to make any future Capo-Locks better? And a few suggestions were made (And I hope to see some of them in the future).
And after that, we had our final roda of the day.
And yes, here's one final class picture. I love these peeps!!!
O.K., I would like to thank Aluz Sun, Sipho The Great Photography, Arianna Basco, and Lilah Bickham for taking the photos I used for this blog, and I would like a big shout out to the 5 people below, Ian Trujillo, Greg Bickham, Jelani Ticum Lateef, charles Williams, and Martha Castillo of HEART ON. without whom, this event wouldn't be possible. (Oh, and if you liked the Capo-Lock X2 t-shirts, you can thank Martha for that too).
You know, whenever I see this picture, it reminds me of that dinner from the beginning of this year. To see and witness this all come into fruition from one dinner conversation, is a very beautiful thing.
Even though the only thing I could do to help out is write a little blog about it...
Oh yeah.
And the next time we eat at that ethiopian restaurant, I'm ordering something with some meat in it!
Capoeira Angola, an ancient martial art of African origin, is one of the many cultural weapons used to break the chains of enslavement in Brazil. At one time, Capoeira was outlawed, with death being the penalty paid by those caught playing Capoeira during the slavery era. For almost 400 years Capoeira Angola was taught and practiced in secret, and only in the 1930's did this African martial art become legal to teach and practice.
We who practice Capoeira Angola owe it to all those who fought to keep it alive in the past...
To learn, practice, preserve, and show this beautiful way of life called Capoeira Angola to the world.
And, to pass it on to the next generation.
And I would also like to give a special thank you to Mestre Joao Grande. the man who has been doing just that for over 50 years.
Mestre João Grande, one of the top students of MESTRE PASTINHA, is a highly respected figure in the world of capoeira, and has received numerous awards.
These include a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Upsala College in East Orange, NJ in 1995, and in September of 2001 he was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is one of the most prestigious awards for practitioners of traditional arts in the US.
The video below is of a Award he received at the White House...
Now this last video clip is of charles playing in Griffith park. Now there will be another Capo-Lock next year, and me and charles talked about maybe getting this AMAZING SINGER AND HER FRIEND to come out and perform there.
And in case you're wondering if she's any good, she wrote the beautiful song that was playing in the video below.
And who knows, maybe we can get her, and a certain spoken-word artist we all know and love to do a replay of THIS SONG.
Anyway, just a little wishful thinking...
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT CAPO-LOCK24, CLICK HERE
I apologize for making this blog a whole month after this capo-Lock, but well, like the blog title says...
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