Monthly Archive for May, 2009

Music Workshop

Published on 9 months, 3 weeks ago in Latest News. 2 Comments

“The thing about being a capoeirista is that you learn so much more than just learning the moves so that you can play in the roda. And one of the many things include learning to play the instruments of the roda (the Capoeira ring). Learning Capoeira music is meant to be at least as important as the regular classes for all students of Capoeira.

The music workshop is different from the music classes (which we used to have) in the sense that it is longer in duration - 2 hours. For the first workshop which I attended, the time was dedicated more to teaching than just merely practising with the instruments. True, we get to play all the instruments (except the agogo), but the main aim was to give us a short primer of everything basic from rhythms to techniques, that will be practised or added on to in future workshops. In between playing, Claudinho would give us a brief history of Capoeira music, such as the origins of the Berimbau as well as the Portuguese name to everything. So I have to stop referring to the Cabaça as a coconut. (Ed: Because it isn’t a coconut.)

At the end of the workshop, the point was “bencao-ed” home for me. The fight aspect, the most advertised and well-known part of Capoeira, is only one of the many aspects of Capoeira, and the journey of a Capoeirista is not just playing inside the roda, but is also learning to become a musician who play and sing the music for the roda to keep the axé going.” Dalua

Next workshop coming up…

Date: Sun 14 June 09 (POSTPONED TO Sun 21 June)

Time: 2pm - 4pm (change to 1.30pm - 3.30pm)

Venue: To be confirmed later

Fee: $20 (Bantus members only)

Participants need to confirm their attendance by paying up in at advance. We will be collecting workshop fees from Mon 25 May onwards. No refund if you can’t show up for whatever reason.

Minimum number of participants is 8 people (otherwise the workshop will be held over till the following month).

Swine Flu

Published on 10 months, 1 week ago in General. 1 Comment

In the light of the H1N1 virus, we would like to suggest the following precautionary measures for everyone training with us:

1. Do wash your hands with soap after visiting toilets (according to the New Paper poll, majority of people wash their hands but not with soap and most of them who don’t use soap happen to be male) or use a hand sanitiser.

2. Do wash your hands before and after class (since we do make physical contact during our training) and if you need to rinse (the showers are located in the basement and on the 9th floor of YMCA) before coming to class to smell better, you are strongly urged to do so (out of consideration for your fellow classmates and instructor).

3. If you are feeling unwell, we strongly advise you to rest in the comfort of your home (out of consideration again for your fellow classmates and instructor). We do not want to catch any viral nasties from anyone.

4. If you have a fever, you shouldn’t be training. Stay away from class until you get well.

5. If you have the sniffles, stay away from class until you are completely well. We are not training in open-air but in an air-con room that does get steamy (very conducive for bacterial breeding).

Caution: If you have chronic cough and it becomes an issue of personal hygiene for the rest of the class, we may ask you to go home and rest because it won’t be fair for everyone else to have to second guess themselves what they may be catching from you. So since we are an adult class, let’s all be considerate.

6. Parents, we do wish to make training time comfortable for your children. If your child is feeling unwell, has a fever or the sniffles, we would strongly advise you to let your child rest at home (out of consideration for the other children and the instructor).

7. Also, we would appreciate if you could have a personal hand sanitiser ready at hand (or with your domestic helper who is attending to your child) so that your child can use it before and after class as a personal hygiene measure. We rather be safe than sorry as the children’s hands will make contact with the floor as well as with one another during class and children tend to be more susceptible to infections.