Here is some feedback from the conference. It was a lot of work on the DC end, but knowing everyone had a productive and fun weekend makes it all worth it:
This women's conference was one of the most reflective and philosophical conferences I've ever attended. Thank you especially to Janja, Paulinha, and Cristina for the thoughtful teaching they inspired. I was also really impressed how calm took over even the most chaotic events, like being unexpectedly locked out of Howard. Gege and Paulinha as organizers kept such a sane atmosphere.
I also noticed how so many men, especially men with greater experience in Capoeira, who would ordinarily be solely focused on music/movement, were involved with child care. It seemed that everywhere you turned there was a baby on a man's hip while his/her mother was waiting to play in the roda. That left an impact on me, because this didn't just happen, women *made* it happen.
Thank you DC -- and to those not physically present, you were in spirit. I hope the lessons and teachings from this event carry over into many more. This is the meaning of that elusive word: community.
Axe e respeito,
Monalisa
Essa conferencia foi uma das mais pensativas e filosoficas em qu'eu ja participei. Obrigada especialmente a Janja, Paulinha e Cristina pela instrucao pensativa que inspiraram. O que me causou boa impressao foi a calma que reinou ate os momentos mais caoticos, por exemplo quando as portas do Howard estavam fechadas. Gege e Paulinha como organizadoras sustentaram um ambiente tranquilo.
Tambem percebi que muitos homens, especialmente homens com mais experiencia na Capoeira, que normalmente estam enfocados na musica/movimento, estavam ocupados com o cuidado das criancas. Por toda parte se veia homens carregando bebes ao mesmo tempo que a mae estava esperando um jogo na roda. Isso me fez um impacto porque nao aconteceu inesperadamente: as mulheres *fizeram*-lo acontecer.
Obrigada ao DC -- e as mulheres que nao estavam fisicamente presentes, estavam presentes sim!
Espero que levemos essas licoes as outras conferencias. Aqui se ve o sentido dessa palavra evasiva: communidade.
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Thank you all for putting together such a memorable conference. It was great fun and an incredible learning and growing experience. Thank you also for taking the time to capture the amazing moments in photos as well.
Axe
-Sharmily
FICA Atlanta
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Thank you to FICA DC, Mestres Janja, Paulinha and Cristina and everyone who brought their energy to the event this weekend. It was a beautiful conference. The women's conference seems to get stronger each year.
There were so many moments that will continue to make me smile over the coming weeks: Deepa and Ama singing in the roda, Andrea flying across M. Cobra in the roda, going to bed too late and waking up to train with M. Cobra at 6 AM, loosing my voice from too much singing and not enough sleep, and holding Linden and Marcos Antonio while their moms were off being angoleiras. Seeing old friends is of course always a highlight. These conferences really feel like a giant family reunion to me and although I've been blessed with a blood family that I love, I feel doubly blessed to have my Capoeira family that grows closer to me each year. You are all powerful and beautiful women that i admire and look up to. Your presence at the Conference is a tremendous inspiration for me to keep training and singing and playing!
Thank you Thank you!!
beijos abrazos e espero ver voces muito pronto!
Cassandra
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I, too, was really touched by all the children and the interactions going on outside of the roda that added so much to the roda itself. I remember being in Salvador this summer and seeing more children present in the rodas than in the past, and more men and fathers taking care of babies while their mothers played. I think this is one of the many postive effects that women have had in capoeira, and even in the short time I've been playing I think it has changed a lot, even outside of women's events. In relation to the discussion we were having about what might be 'lost' by including women in capoeira, I think this is an area where men have gained a lot by having their children present at the roda. Without this separation between home and the roda, between home and the street, between a woman's and a man's world, I think both women and men are more whole people, and are able to be seen more holistically by their community. All of us are both warriors and caretakers. So i especially thank all the women who brought their children for making the conference so amazing!
I was also really moved by the workshops - the deepness of the teaching, by the games in the roda, by the women on the bateria. I was grateful for the presence of the men there, I think every year there is a better balance of energies, a better ability to share space. I told Gege I was happy there were tons of workshops and roda, true to the theme - I came here to play!
My only suggestion for next year is that we try to only have women arming the bateria, because this is an integral part of capoeira that women are also under-represented in. I think one of the differences between an angoleira and a women who plays capoeira is an angoleira knows how to make and arm, as well as play her berimbau. We need to be passing on this knowledge to newer women as well, who may not be getting it from their teachers because it is typically a 'male' role in a capoeira group. I would like the next conference to focus more on instrument making and the complexities of the bateria.
Again, it was such a beautiful time, really inspired me to keep working, thank you so much DC for your hard work!! You should all feel satisfied and proud of what youhave accomplished!
Axe!
Bessa
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yes, all, I agree that this conference was the best yet. in spite of the hecticness added by having the little one, I had more fun at this conference than I have had in years past. The energy was beautiful and open. Instruction was so incredibly thoughtful, and the games were HOT!!!! I was particularly touched by everyone's willingness to help with Linden while I played capoeira or jumped on the bateria for a second... The significance of M. Jurandir, CM Silvinho, T. Fabio, and others holding Linden while I played was not lost on me - It appears that Capoeira Angola is changing for the better with everyone's participation. It is so meaningful to me that my brothers and sisters swoop in to help when my partner can't be around. This is community. I told M. Cobra Mansa years ago that I wanted to raise my children inside of FICA so they too can contribute to and benefit from the love, support, and challenges that have helped me to grow over the years. I am lving a dream come true...
thank you all for a wonderful time. Watch out for my little enrolado - he's coming up!
xox
Dina/ Cigana
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