Festa Julina Pixfest

Published on 6 months, 2 weeks ago in Activity. 1 Comment

IMG_0286 (Medium)We kicked off our 1st Festa Julina with a roda. Oscar wowed the crowds and left us speechless (to Claudinho’s credit). Really, it was the kids who stole the show. Kudos to our young ones! See for yourself (vid below)

IMG_0294 (Medium)The Bantus hillbillies. Unfortunately, not everyone was in the picture. The rest were busy fishing and eating and being responsible for the fun happening around us.

quadrilha 05627 We had as much fun as a bunch of mad hatters!

quadriha 05632 The quadrilha led by Claudinho who in his padre get-up kinda reminded me of… er, Kung Lao from Mortal Kombat (the movie version)?

IMG_4710 (Medium)KISS ME lah! (scene from our casamento da roça)

bosompal_4663 (Medium) The “Wedding guests” included a pair of bosom pals…

IMG_0327 (Medium) the bride’s long-time rival (who occasionally gets mistaken for Tina Turner or Nong Toom, the Muay Thai fighter)

IMG_0321 (Medium) er, snooty folks from out of town who like to wrinkle their noses at us hillbillies…

IMG_0332 (Medium) True blue Brasileiros. By the way, Priscila is responsible for giving us soooooo much help in making the event a success! Three cheers to Priscila! And a big thank you!

tocha1trueluv_4753 er, in the end, the groom was seen fleeing the paparazzi with his one true love…

IMG_0298 (Medium)leaving the menfolk a little confused and…

IMG_0315-1giving the town gossips plenty to talk about for a loooooong time

Meanwhile, back in the boonies, activities were still at a full swing…

eggnspoon race_4640 (Medium) Egg n spoon race

fishing game_4659 (Medium) The fishing game was especially popular. Not just with the children…there were several grown-ups who couldn’t resist a challenge!

IMG_0325 (Medium) (2)The usual domestic squabble over some old boot…

IMG_0366 (Medium)The town drunks getting inebriated…

IMG_0368 (Medium)The banditos getting ready for the next chocolate raid…

food_4675 (Medium) Lots of typical Brazilian fair snacks to try!

IMG_4613 (Medium) We ate for a good cause as all the proceeds went to a charity.

We want to thank the following folks for their generosity of time, effort and ingenuity to make our first Fest Julina such a great success: Giraia, Careca n Claudinho for staying up late the nite before to clamber up n down like monkeys just to get those buntings right, Andre for being the DJ for the quadrilha n Priscila n her hubby for helping us get the feel right and for cooking the food. Also to all the wonderful cooks - Sonia, Jean, Barracuda, Playmobil, Festa Brasilia and the Brasileiras who contributed their culinary skills to the table. And the folks who manned the games n food stalls and everyone who were sporting enough to show up in their best rags. BIG Obrigada!!!!!!!

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4th Anniversary Bash Pix

Published on 8 months ago in Activity and General. 1 Comment Tags: , .

Just some of the highlights in photos…

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We had plenty of grub on the table (BIG Thank U’s to all the closet cooks!) and we were glad that everyone was hungry so that was good.

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Due to a lack of electrical socket outlets, we couldn’t have a boom box playing reggae all nite. Instead, we had Mike Jackson songs courtesy of some kind soul’s MP3 player. In the meantime, while waiting for the meats to go from raw to well done, a bunch of us jumped into the pool, had too much fun on the slides at the kids’ pool and chilled out in the jacuzzi. Later, there was plenty of entertainment provided by Claudinho and his unsuspecting victims…it was our version of Saturday Night LIVE.

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As usual, we left the cake design to our ever creative baker, Playmobil (a.k.a Debbie), (http://roomfordessert.com.sg) who once again amazed us with another brilliant idea.Then there were the usual speeches starting with our 4-year-oldie, Giraia (who had no problem giving impromptu speeches with his debating background) and our youngest capoeirista (future überbabe) present, Rapoxinha, got to blow out the candles after MUCH persuasion.

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We had our cake and we ate with great relish, remembering that it’s been FOUR years since Claudinho hopped onto our shores and we’ve been humbled, awed and thankful to God that our boundaries have fallen on pleasant pastures.

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Bantus Singapore 4th Anniversary Bash

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago in Activity, General and Latest News. 4 Comments

Yup, we’re turning 4 on 1st July 2009. So even though the year started off badly, we want to celebrate with all the good folks who stuck with us, stood on our side and just plain gave us the moral support when we were made target practice. THANKS EVERYONE (you know who you are!) for walking through the fire with us.

reggae party

So we’re chilling out by the pools (yes, there are more than 1 pool), muking around on the carpet grass slopes from 3pm. BBQ pit will fire up from 5pm (courtesy of Chef Claudinho and assistants). We will supply the meat (for the carnivores among us) and drinks but would appreciate some help with the carbos (eg. pasta, rice, noodle dishes or veggies) and desserts (if it’s gonna melt then you’ll have to bring it in a cooler box). Let us know in class or by email if you can make it or bring a dish. Bring your own liquid poison (if you’re into alcohol) and instruments (eg. guitar, shakers, etc) so we can jam, skank and reggae on!

Location Map: click here

See you at our Festa Julina!

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago in Activity, General and Latest News. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

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What to expect at our 1st Festa Julina

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago in Activity and Latest News. 1 Comment

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You! Dressed as a hillbilly. And your friends and family too! Prizes for the most original or (ahem) innovative costume (for male, female & child categories)

sack racer Fun games for the whole family, namely, dads and kids (since all the moms will be dolled up in dresses, they probably shouldn’t try sack racing…) Game stalls where you can try your hand at fishing or tossing with prizes for the kids. There will also be a Capoeira roda (so bring your abada and t-shirt along!) As well as typical Brazilian savoury and sweet snacks featured only in a party like this.doces festa juninaMaçã_do_amorbolo de fubA

Casamento da roça, a mock backwoods wedding that is part of the quadrilha, a highly improvised square dance. If you are game enough, come dressed as a bride or a priest! We guarantee there’ll be lots of hilarious action to witness! ‘Enuf said.

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A Quadrilha for everyone! No experience needed. Only herd mentality. All you have to do is follow the person in front of you which is easy enough!
Where the quadrilha ends, forró will begin. Forró lovers, dance to your heart’s content and if you can’t get enough of it, stay on for Forró Nite which starts at 9pm on the same day!

For all the single gals and guys (and couples,too!), a messenger girl will be delivering anonymous love notes from/to you to your sweetheart/from your secret admirers throughout the event. So if you’ve been dying to say something to someone that you have the hots for…send the person a love note! Or you can be sure some self-appointed matchmaker will do it on your behalf! All in the name of fun.taturana1

Everything you need to know about Festa Junina!

Published on 9 months ago in Activity and Latest News. 3 Comments Tags: , .

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In Brazil, the month of June marks the beginning of the fall harvest. Throughout this period, you will find Brazilians celebrating Festa Junina (literally means ‘mini June party’) where the farmers’ and fishermen’s patron saints, Anthony, John and Peter are honored. According to legend, Anthony also reputedly helps single women find husbands.

To celebrate, the fun-loving Brazilians do what they do best. Party!

In the true spirit of the festivities, the guys don straw hats, spot fake or real moustaches/beards, uni-brows and toothless grins while clad in their patched jeans and plaid/checked shirts. The gals braid their hair, spot freckles and toothless grins and wear floral or print dresses in true caipira (hillbilly) style and join night-long dances in honor of the people who labor the land.

Caipira is a Brazilian Portuguese term used to describe inhabitants of rural, remote areas of some Brazilian states who are simple and less-educated country folk living in the boonies.

Although Bantus Capoeira traditionally celebrates this festival in June annually, ours will debut on Saturday 11 July 09. Our Festa Julina (mini July party) is presented by YMCA of Singapore, in collaboration with Bantus Capoeira, Brazilian Sttar & the Brazilian Embassy.

Not to miss out on this unique folkloric cultural festivity, we hope to be joined by the Brazilian community as well as local and expatriate residents living in Singapore for an afternoon of fun from 3pm to 7pm at the YMCA Singapore followed by more partying at Forró nite from 9pm onwards!)

COMING UP: PART 2

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.

Next gig: Samba Batucada and Maculele @ Cuba Libre, Clarke Quay

Published on 1 year ago in General. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

If you missed us the first time at Cuba Libre, here’s your chance to catch us again!

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Postscript: We want to thank everyone who played instruments, danced samba, painted themselves, wore grass skirts and shook their booties at the gig. And we know the boyz had a lot of fun mucking around with the warpaint…

maculele-tribe-shot The tribe speaks for itself

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Brazilian Carnival party!

Published on 1 year ago in Latest News and Performances. 0 Comments Tags: .

At midnight, the carnival party organised by the Brazilians held at the Fort Canning Centre Gallery on Friday 20 February got into full swing.

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Our friends, Silvio and his team presented a capoeira and maculêlê performance, with a little help from his fellow capoeiristas from Bantus, namely Claudinho and Rafael in the angola roda and Tempeiro on berimbau, to get the crowd warmed up.

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After that, our sambistas, together with two other Brasileiras, samba-ed their way into the crowd to the rousing samba batucada beats of Bantus Batucada!

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Which, by the way, is the name of our samba batucada band and samba troupe.

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We want to thank Rafael for coming all the way down from KL to help us make the night a memorable one. Returning the favour, Claudinho and Barracuda trooped up to KL the following weekend for our sister school’s carnival party gig.

Thanks a bunch, Taturana, for these photos (which I’ve brazenly retouched for effect.)