Having Hips and The Delights of Dancing!

I grew up loving dance. My mother is from the state of Bahia, in the Northeast of Brazil, where the influence of Africa culture is very prominent. Bahia is an artistic area, where music and dance are heard and felt everywhere. When I was young I lived there. When you walk down the street in this tropical land, you are greeted by Afro-Brazilian rhythms floating out of the windows and doors you pass. Any time of the day you will see women of all ages dancing spontaneously in the streets with a sweet abandonment, while rejoicing in the moment.

When I was young I took ballet classes and as a teenager I studied modern and contemporary dances of Brazil. When I went to college to study journalism, dance classes helped me cope with the pressure of sitting at my desk for long hours doing research. Many of my friends in college led sedentary lives, disconnected from their bodies. They seemed locked inside their heads. Since I was involved in theater and dance, I started to see the connection between thought and action, mind and body. I discovered that being inactive makes our bodies as well as our souls rigid, and blocks the flow of authenticity. A sedentary life lacks spontaneity!

The dictionary definition of the verb dance is: -to move the body and feet rhythmically, especially to music. At the heart of dance is rhythm! I believe we all are born with rhythm: we just have to open ourselves to it. All it takes is practice and patience. From my experience as a dance instructor, I can tell you that people who appear to have more rhythm were encouraged as children to move and express themselves rhythmically. Like everything else in life, rhythm can be cultivated!

I have been dancing my entire life, first as a young student and now as a teacher for over a decade. I have seen many of my students' lives, not just their bodies, transformed by the power of movement. Many people start dancing to get in shape, but in the process dance challenges and free their minds as well. In learning to dance, you must overcome obstacles of physical stiffness, lack of coordination and inhibition. Dance is an education for the body and mind in freer expression and flexibility.

Brazilian dance emphasizes playfulness, enjoyment and pleasure. You are encouraged to move your entire body, shaking your shoulders and moving your hips. In many cultures we women have been trained to suppress our sensuality, tucking our pelvis and keeping our hips square, thus hiding the power that our curves express! Even having curves is not embraced in contemporary culture! When you turn on the TV or open a magazine today, all you see is size 2. There’s nothing wrong in being size 2 if you are not starving to death. The problem is when you start to believe that you are only beautiful and worthy of love if you are that size. Most of us are not and never will be. We come in many sizes and as long as we are taking care of our health we should be celebrating our bodies.

Unfortunately, any acknowledgment of female curves in the mainstream media comes with sexual connotations. Sensuality and sexuality are very different. Sexuality is only about sex. Sensuality is about sensitivity; it’s about awareness and presence. Sensuality is the way you feel about yourself, not only your body, but also your power as a woman and a human being.
When you move your hips, you allow yourself to explore your sensuality; you open doors to self-discovery. I have received many letters from students saying that taking my dance classes exposed them to parts of themselves that they had not been aware of. By moving their bodies, especially their hips, they were able to connect with a sensual side that they had kept hidden from themselves and others for years. Through the power of movement, negative feelings about their bodies started to disappear. Many of those students say they felt lighter and even a little “high” when, after some months of practice, they were able to find a new freedom, joy and strength.


When I move my hips all self-doubt dissolves to reveal my true being; it is sensual and sacred at the same time. For me to dance is to say yes to life, since dance embraces beauty, pleasure and creative expression. When you dance you expand, releasing energy and unblocking ecstasy!

So, here is a toast to our curves and to the power we girls all possess, whether we know it or not! May you embrace yourself today with joy! May you dance in delight by celebrating your curves with self-confidence!

COMING SOON OUR NEW HIP BRAZIL SHOW!

Coming soon our new Hip Brazil By Vanessa Isaac Show and site. Our site is in the process of being redone. I'm very exicited to share with all of you our Hip Brazil "vibes". I will keep you posted. I can let you know that you'll find information on dance, music, fitness, culture and lifestyle! You'll even be able to take a dance class online, really cool! Please keep spreading the word about it!

CARNAVAL IN BRAZIL

Anastasia Brush Hipbrazil Dancer/Photo by Stephen Hospodar

Carnival has it's roots in the pre-Christian era as the spring festival like the Roman New Year Celebration of Saturnalia or even the previous Greek Cult of Dionysus. Its character has always been a celebration of the earth's energy, the mixing of social classes and the release of the built up energies of the winter season. It survived in Christian Europe as Entrudo. It was a pre-Lenten observance when the acceptable rules of behavior were interrupted and people would celebrate with parties (such as the Feast of Fools).

The Portuguese brought with them to Brazil this tradition of the Entrudo. And at the end of the ninth century the masked balls that were in fashion in Europe became popular in Rio and costumed balls and parades became usual. Today, Brazilian Carnival owes its high energy and infections rhythms to Central and West African Traditions.

In his book, Dancing - The Pleasure, Power and Art of Movement, Jonas Gerald says: "Out of this mix came the so-called 'samba schools', neighborhood-based social clubs whose principal purpose is to organize Carnival processions. At first, the authorities in Rio discouraged the participation of samba schools from the city's poorer black neighborhoods; in the early years of this century club-swinging police often broke up rowdier processions. In 1935 the samba schools were organize as official Carnival organization: in return, the schools agreed to abide by the city regulations governing the use of musical instruments and the allegorical themes around which the pageants had to be structured. From this agreement Rio's modern carnival, a highly organized event that leaves room for individual 'acting out' was born."

Each school has as a goal to win the first prize in the officially sponsored samba contest. They are judged by a jury that it is appointed by the Government. To participate each school must create an original song that honors a historical event or person. The costume, samba song and floats must relate to the theme chosen.

The Brazilian Carnaval it is a mix of European and African influences. Rio's carnaval is not the only Carnival on the country. The whole country celebrates it. I have to mention here the great carnaval in Recife and Olinda that is celebrated to the sounds of frevo rhythms. Bahia, on the Northeast of the country, is the mother-land of all Afro-Brazilian traditions. There, many rhythms are created and each year more tourists come to be part of the Carnaval celebration. Bahia is also the land of Re-Africanization, a growing black consciousness movement.

i-pod sounds!

None of those Cds are new releases. I found myself enjoying them last week and
and they are great!

Ney Matogrosso Interpreta Cartola
Ney Matogrosso has a beautiful and unique counter-tenor voice. In this CD
Ney pays tribute to legendary composer, musician and poet Cartola. Cartola is one of the most important
Samba artists. Here Ney sings the classics as "As Rosas Não Falam", "O Mundo É Um Moinho", "Sim" e "O Sol Nascerá",
"Desfigurado" e "Senões". Highly recommended!

Universo ao Meu Redor: Marisa Monte
Marisa's productions are always immaculate. In this cd she truly marries samba and pop in
an elegant and melodious way. Beautiful album!

Whaa! Zuco 103
Zuco is a band that has great dance tunes and always something to say.
Mixing samba, hip hop, electronic, trance, and traditional world beats
Zuco is very "cool"

Forro is for All!

I went to a party a few day ago! I'm telling you this because was amazed by how everyone was into Forró! That was the dance music of choice for this very international group that included Americans, Argentineans, Japanese, Italians and of course, brazilians! They were dancing and singing and making me feel I was in Recife. Recife was, in a summer long gone, where I learned to dance forró!

Forró is rhythm and dance style that originated in the Northeast of Brazil. By now, you may have noticed that many of the contagious music from Brazil sprang from this culturally rich area. Some researchers claim that Forró is derived from the word “for all”. English companies in the early 1900 would organize parties for their workers and would advertise it as “for all”, including the general populace. Another theory is that Forro is a derivative of the Portuguese word forrobodó, which refers to “great party” and “joyful gatherings”. Forro is a style of music and dance created by the most humble and poor part of population in the “sertão nordertino”, the semi-arid region in Northeastern Brazil. This dusty interior area receives very little rainfall and sometimes endures sad, long-lasting droughts making life for the “sertanejos” extremely difficult.

Musician Luiz Gonzaga was the most significant promoter of fórro and the northeast music to the rest of Brazil. Gonzaga was born in 1912 in the Northeastern town of Exu, Pernambuco. As a young boy he would play in festivals and small towns balls with his father, the musician Januario Gonzaga. He joined the army at the age of 18 and played in military bands for almost a decade. After leaving the army in 1939, he decided to stay in Rio de Janeiro. Though his brilliant career Luiz Gonzaga sung about the struggles, longings and nostalgia of the Northeastern Sertanejos that due to their homeland drought and lack of jobs were obligated to migrate to larger cities in the south. He praised the interior life becoming one of the symbols for the reality of life in the sertão, giving voice to this simple brazilian population.

"When the green of your eyes spread
over the dead plantation
I promise you that,
Please don’t cry because,
Then I'll be back, dear
Then I'll be back, dear
Then I'll be back."

The traditional Forró is also known as Pé-de Serra. It has as main musical source the instrumental trio of accordion, zabumba and triangulo. This style is well alive specially in the interior and cities like Recife in the state of Pernambuco. Forró music has enjoyed a revival. Young people in Brazil, and even International audiences, have been captivated by it’s contagious rhythms. Forro Universitario is the style associated with bands as Rastapé and Falamansa. It receives this name because of its link to the college kids and bands. Their music is a bit softer then the traditional Forro but still centers around Forro’s instruments and rhythms.

Definitely, Forró is danceable music. Forró is danced in pairs. To dance it well you have to keep pelvis close together, interlock you tights moving in unison and feeling the beat of the zabumba. Zabumba is the great drum that marks the complex rhythms of Forro! Danced in clubs, street festivals and relaxed balls any time of the year in Brazil, this dance receives great attention during Festa Juninas, brazilian festival that happens in June around Dia de Sao João (Saint John's Day)!

When the next invite for a Brazilian Party arrive, if you decide to go, there is good chance that you will be dancing Forró instead of Samba! Forró is for all and is, everywhere!

Music: Mangue Bit Beat!

The other day when I wrote about the tradition of Maracatu I mentioned to you Chico Science. Below I post a couple of CDs names just in case you want to check them out!.

Many of Brazil's great musicians come from the Nordeste (northeast) of Brazil. Pernambuco is one of the largest states of this region (over 3,800 square miles). The city of Recife is the state's capitol. I will be writing more about Pernambuco's beautiful and rich culture in my blog in the future. I want to mention here the Mangue Movement.

In the 1990's a new sound and musical boost came out of Recife called Mague Bit! Chico Science and Nação Zumbi is one of the most famous bands, being one of the founders and promoters of it. With strong rhythmic feel, mixing of traditional with electric instruments and social message, their music is impressive in many levels! It was not only another fusion type of music but an original sound that evolved from a rich cultural tradition and contemporary realities. Chico Science died in 1997 in an unfortunate car accident during canaval season at the young age of 30.

Listen to: da lama ao cais (1994/Sony). This was Chico Science and Nação Zumbi highly successful debut Cd!

Another principal band of this movement is Mundo Livre founded by Fred Motenegro, who uses his nickname of Fred04, and his brother, bassist Fabio.

Listen to the CD: Guentando a oia (1996/ Deckdisc label) and Por pouco (2000)

I will write more about their contributions and influences soon! For now enjoy the music!

To Drink Or Not (To Drink)! A Caipirinha Recipe!

I'm sitting here at my house, a bit bored with my evening, and I just decided to make a caipirinha! No rehearsal for me tonight, but, its not that I don't have things to do! I actually have more to do than I can handle! I have a pile of papers to review, thousands of people to e-mail back and a new DVD to produce. And those listed are just the most urgent business matters. I thought about other fun possibilities too! I can take a walk or go visit a friend. I can also go bug my husband by saying I'm bored. Just like a five year old kid in need of stimulation and attention. But I do this too often! I'm starting to feel guilty to interrupt his not so bored life! So I decided to make a caipirinha. Yes, Brazil’s famous national drink!

I know what you’re thinking. Caipirinha is not a drink that you should drink alone! Caipirinha invites parties and celebration. Caipirinha is usually drank in a night out in Rio de Janeiro ...or a nice evening at Pelourinho, the historic square in Salvador Bahia. For sure you would share this drink in a fancy club in São Paulo where beautiful people meet or, the best moments, in backyard family gatherings in your Brazilian hometown.

Believe me, I know! I haven't ever made a caipirinha to drink all by myself. I can start by explaining to you that I'm too far from Brazil! Yes, I can go out here in my California city with a couple of friends and for sure ask for a caipirinha. But remember, I'm bored! I'm bored and worst, lazy! No chance of me going out tonight! So, I decided to make a caipirinha and drink all alone. Accompanying my cocktail will be some Brazilian tunes. I think Caetano will go well tonight. Now understand, its not that Caetano is music for bored people. Caetano is music for the one in need of inspiration!

Now that I clarified myself I will share my recipe with you. Just in case you are bored and in need of some laid back inspiration too!


CAIPIRINHA!
This is a drink made with the Brazilian cachaça, a distilled alcohol made from sugar cane. You may also use vodka or light rum instead of the cachaça. If you use vodka, its called caipiroska, for rum you say caipirissima.

1 lime
1 tablespoon of sugar
2 onces of cachaça
4 large ice cubes or 8 smaller one


Quarter the limes and then slice them in even smaller pieces. Place the sliced limes in an old fashioned glass. Add the tablespoon of sugar. Mash it until the sugar dissolves. Pour 2 onces of cachaça (rum or vodka). Add the ice cubes. Stir well and enjoy!

Maracatu Traditions!

From the state of Pernambuco, MARACATU is a cultural manifestation that mixes elements of theater and music. Its origins goes back to the Reis do Congo (Kings of the Congo) procession that existed since the Brazilian Colonial era until the slavery abolition in 1888. Acting as an intermediary between the Portuguese Colonizers (or the Brazilian government) and the black slaves, the King of Congos were required to maintain the peace among “his people”. In the churches, as custom, the king and queen, elected by their people, were cultured. The slaves celebrated by playing their drums, singing and dancing right after the sacred ceremony. From this tradition the cultural manifestation of Maracatu developed in Pernambuco. There are two varieties of Maracatus: Maracatu Nação and Maracatu Rural. Both have in commom its Afro-Brazilian origins.

The Maracatu Nação also called MARACATU BAQUE VIRADO has visible religious traces and overtones. The music style is lively and dramatic. The ensemble usually consists of percussion and a procession that has as primary figures the “king” and “Queen”. They are encircle by costumed consorts and protected by a canopy.

Maracatu Rural also called as Maracatu de Baque Solto ensembles sugarcane workers and its rooted in the interior. It has afro-indigineous origins. It advanced from the fusion of pre-existing forms of Carnival merrymaking.

Maracatu rhythms influenced successful contemporary fusions as the Mangue Beat movement and Chico Science's music. Chico Science was one of the most famous musicians of the last decades. He were greatly inspired by the Maracatu tradition!

Samba!

Whenever I hear the samba groove I can never seat still. Something inside of me starts to spin and I feel the rush of energy in my veins. Samba can communicate happiness and sensuality. It also can articulate my sadness, my passions and my desires. As the great composer Vinicious de Moraes wrote “ samba is like a prayer”. Samba is expression of the immense cultural wealth of Brazil! Samba is Brazil's soundtrack, the most popular of all Brazilian rhythms and dances!

Do you know the instruments used to make a good Samba Enredo?
Samba Enredo is a samba-song composed specifically to be sung during Carnival times by the competing Schools of Samba
In Rio De Janeiro. Below, I listed the instruments used to make a great samba-enredo swing. Shall we play?

Surdo de Primeira: It’s the bass drum. It is the foundation and base of the music
Surdo de Segunda: It "responds" to the calling of the Surdo-de-Primeira
Surdo de Terceira-It is played in between the surdo-de-primeira and Surdo de segunda. It gives the samba the great swing feeling
Caixa de guerra: It adorns the samba, helping the surdos maintain the rhythm and giving power to the groove
Repinique: It’s the pedal of the Caixa de Guerra. It helps the samba to sway. It "answers" the Caixa de Guerra beat.
Tarol: It is like the caixa but it has a different tuning although some Samba Schools use the Caixa-de-Guerra with the same tuning of the tarol.
Pandeiro, Ganza and Reco Reco – It seasons the samba infusing the rhythm with the soft sounds.
Tamborim, Cuica and Agogo – With a sharper sound they also add spice to the samba!

Singers

I have got e-mails from people wanting to know who are my favorite Brazilian singers. This is a list I had put in my site months ago. I added a couple of artists here. To tell you the truth this is a small list of what I love. There are so many great Brazilian singers... I thought this is a good start, I will be posting specific songs later this month. The singers below are very well known so I also will make a list of not so famous brazilian singers that I love.
Of course, I'm always adding to the list:

Marisa Monte- she is the queen!
Céu-really cool and wonderful voice!
Cibele and Bebel Gilberto- I think both are very creative!
Caetano, Djavan and Gil- They are the icons of Brazilian music. I love Caetano's voice!
Milton Nascimento- I love his melodies first! Milton is another icon! Great voice!
Lenine- I'm a fan!
Daniela Mercury- I think the tone of her voice is just gorgeous! Brazilian dance music queen!
Rosa Passos- One of Bossa's top singers!

And, of course Elis Regina. I actually had forgotten about her until my friend Clarissa read this list on my website and pointed it out to me. I know, don't kill me here! I love Elis Regina! She is actually considered one of the best, if not the best, brazilian singer that ever existed. How marvelous her musicality, voice and overall artistic skills are. I have to say although I love her I still say that Marisa Monte is the queen, at least in my life! Maybe because Elis is not from my generation and Marisa served as the soundtrack to my life since I was a teen.

I will be posting more as I remember all the names. Above is just a few of them.
I'm always discovering and rediscovering artists that touch my soul and
bring joy and depth to my life!

Dancing!

Movement. Dance is much more than high art, folklore or consumer pop! Dancing is also about joy. It is joyful. It is about having a good time. Dance nourishes the soul. Dance is celebration!

When I always growing up I always loved to dance. My mother is from the state of Bahia, in the Northeast of Brazil. In Bahia the Africa influence is very prominent. It is also a very artistic area. Music and dance is simply everywhere in Bahia. When I was very young I lived there.

When I moved to Goias, a beautiful country area of Brazil, I would return almost every year to visit relatives in Bahia, since my mom's sister and many of her aunts and uncles still live there. Sometimes I would return with my parents sometimes, my favorite times, I would go back with my grandmother. I still have those early memories of seeing people dancing in the streets at "carnaval" time. I remember the celebratory feeling in the air. Everybody moving together. Yes, everyone smiling!

When I as very young I took ballet classes. As a teenager, I began taking dance classes again. I took modern, contemporary and popular and traditional dances of Brazil. And when I went to college to study journalism at 17, dance classes helped me cope with the pressures of the long hours sitting in my desk doing mental work and researching papers. I remember many of my colleges leading a sedentary life totally disconnected of their bodies. They seemed trapped in their head. It was the first time that I made the link between mind and body, intent and action.

Since I was involved in theater and dance, I started to see the connection between thought and action. It is no surprise for me that physical exercise has been proved to be a natural medicine to help or cure depression. Most of us know that physical exercise alleviates stress. But why? In my opinion inertia blocks the flow of spontaneity it make us stiff both physically and emotionally.

All that I am talking here, of course, is from a very personal experience. A life dancing has given me more that career but a path of leaning, integrating and healing. The Reader's Digest dictionary describes dance as: 1-to move the body and feet rhythmically, especially to music. So dance is rhythm! And we all are born with it. We just have to open ourselves up to it. All it takes is practice and patience. In my observation people that looks as having more rhythm was encouraged as a child to move and express themselves rhythmically. Yes, like everything else in life, rhythm has to be cultivated!

So, what happens when one cultivates rhythm? I had dance students tell me that when they regained their own rhythm it gave them the freedom to listen to their own spirit. Almost like opening a magic door. They could express themselves in a way that they cannot truly be expressed through words.

I have been dancing all my life. I have seen not just bodies transformed by the power of movement, since a lot of people start dancing to be in shape, but I have seen minds. When the mind is transformed then the life is transformed. Movement challenges you. When you move, there are obstacles of stiffness and coordination. Movement is an education. It pushers the body and mind toward greatness. As the great dancer Pearl Primus wrote: "Dance is strong magic. The dance is spirit. It turns the body to liquid steel. It makes it vibrate like a guitar. The body can fly without wings. It can sing without a voice. The dance is life!"

I believe everyone can and should dance. Dance for the joy of it as a child does and you will be rewarded with a lifelong gift of health and joy!


© 2007. No portion of this article may be reproduced without permission of the author!

Vanessa's photo above is by photographer Cil de Kolda