UBW: People in the World Together

“Buenas” or “Bom dia” as they say here in Brazil. This is Jana, executive director of Urban Bush Women. Right now we’re beginning our final day here in Brasilia, Brazil, the last of two cities (São Paulo was first) in our last of three countries for this memorable inaugural DanceMotion USA tour.

It’s been a fast and amazing journey and now that it’s drawing to a close, I’m feeling wistful for the people we’ve met. It’s that odd feeling of missing people yet knowing they will be with you always. What makes the feeling even more powerful is thinking about our purpose here of cultural exchange. I’ve gained a deep appreciation for just how connected our world is today and an affection for the people who have made it their life’s work to connect us more intimately either through their art or their diplomacy.

When we arrived in Caracas, our incredible hosts, Sally and Elena, gifted us with a beautiful bag that included a jazz CD by Pablo Gil, the same Pablo my jazz pianist friend Edward Simon had suggested I reach out to in Caracas. Pablo came to our show, relieved he and his family had survived the earthquake in Chile and happy to be invited to connect with me and my jazz friends when he visits New York City.

Sally also gifted us with her (now) famous homemade rum cake and the treat of meeting her housekeeper, Rejoice, a lovely lady from Ghana who was delighted to meet our dancer Meghan, whose husband is from Ghana.

After taking us to the lovely colonial village El Hatillo, Sally threw us an impromptu party in her home, and Rejoice made her tasty olive poppers (which we now call rejoices in her honor and will be bringing back to America; although she refused to give us the recipe, so we’ll have to do some kitchen experimentation!).

Square in El Hatillo

The morning of our departure, Sally and Elena treated us to our last delicious arepa (cornmeal fried and wrapped around filling of your choice – ham, cheese, chicken, eggs) and a misty-eyed send-off. These women went above and beyond the call of duty, as did our incredible drivers, our sparkling interpreter and translator, Cheryl Coello (una nueva Urban Bush Woman por vida!) and the amazing teachers and students we met, whom other UBW bloggers have mentioned.

In Colombia, our Embassy host Marlene was another incredible, warm woman who put together a terrific plan of activities for us that allowed us to meet local dancers, students and arts and community leaders in Cali and Cartagena. We were very impressed by the Centro Colombo Americano (called the BNC), which works to teach English and connect the Colombian community with Americans.

We taught a great dance class there and held a powerful conversation too that veered from dance to America to race. The funniest moment was when we asked where people were from and a guy yelled out, “Brooklyn!” Brooklyn pride is worldwide! We send our gratitude to everyone at the BNC but especially to JoEllen and Michael for their great leadership and to Camilo and Julian for taking us out salsa dancing!

A lasting relationship was begun with the dynamic Gloria Castro Martinez and the phenomenal dance program and school she created and runs with Roberto Duran and their amazing staff .

Gloria of Incolballet and Jawole

Called Incolballet and based in Cali, the program takes young people mostly from impoverished backgrounds and uses dance as the foundation for providing a disciplined, structured environment in which they study everything from math to science.

Her program clearly has provided countless young people with a new path for their lives, and Incolballet has become the most respected dance company in the country. We were excited to have her students attend our rehearsal. Their buzz of energy lit up the beautiful Teatro Municipal theater! As their country slogan declares, “Colombia es pasión!”

Upon arriving in Cartagena Saturday night, we couldn’t help but notice something large and shimmering out of the right side of the bus – the ocean! It was a marvelous site especially coupled with the outstanding old walled city.

Wow! As one of our dancers said, “This place is like the real Disneyworld!” We had a memorable welcome at our hotel by this regal toucan and then an outdoor dinner in San Pedro Plaza.

The next day, Sunday, we had a rare day off and headed to the beach, which was a beautiful and comical experience at the same time.

A parade of vendors came our way, using every charming plea they could muster to get some business. Jawole and I took them up on the fried fish, which was amazing! A nice cold beer would have topped the meal off, but it was election day and therefore, “ley seca” was in effect. The “dry law” mandates that no alcohol be served or consumed in public election weekend from Friday 6pm to Monday 6am!

Workshop, Universidad San Buenaventura, Cartagena

Again the world seemed so small as later in the day, I was reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “Love In the Time of Cholera” (I took it to Colombia to honor this Colombian genius) when someone at the hotel told me his house was right next door AND that he was in town! Jawole even made a plea on La Universidad de Cartagena radio station for him to come out to our show…unfortunately, it seems he wasn’t tuned in that day.

The show at Teatro Adolfo Mejia (still called Teatro Heredia by the locals) was wonderful and lively, filled with the friends we had met teaching at the BNC Cartagena, the Universidad de San Buenaventura and the exceptional program, Colegio del Cuerpo. Run by the megawatt leader, Alvaro Restrepo, Colegio del Cuerpo (College of the Body) is just that – like a PHd program for connecting the mind and body and spirit, as we discovered on a very special day on Baru Island with the Fundación Educativa Instituto Ecológico Barbacoas, which incorporates Alvaro’s work into its overall educational programming for over 800 school kids.

We couldn’t thank our Embassy hosts, Rex and Marlene enough for making our exchange with Colegio del Cuerpo and that visit possible. It hit us hard that dance is really helping to save lives; that cultural exchange opens countless doors for all of us; and that just maybe, our individual exchanges with young people on this journey will be a defining moment in their promising futures. As the young Fayed said when I pinned him with a joined flag of Colombia and the United States, “You (US) / me (Colombia) / here.” Exactly.

-Jana La Sorte

UBW: Caracas ended with a bang

March 8, 2010

Hey everyone! I know it's been a couple of days, but I have to tell you about our last days in Caracas. This is Bennalldra, and I'm one of the dancers of Urban Bush Women. Our times here, as you have already heard, have been quite amazing. We have met so many people and learned so much. In fact, the day of our show presented us with yet another day of learning and true exchange.

The day started off with our teaching a dance class at one of the universities, but this class proved to be no ordinary class. It started out with our leading the students in what can be considered a traditional dance class, but then it became this wonderful exchange of culture and dance. We learned about their patron saint, St. Benedict, as well as learned a dance that pays homage to him. I found it to be so fascinating because it married the use of the voice with nice rhythms of the feet. It had a kind of celebratory feel to it, that provided a sense of release for those performing it. This provided a parallel to a tradition that we have called the ring shout.

In the Venezuelan dance, the drum plays a big role in keeping the rhythm, but in the ring shout, the feet produce the rhythm. It was nice to see the differences in the two and feel how different they made our bodies move. Both of these traditions made us sing and rejoice together. This moment made the significance of art and this exchange so important, because it's about us coming together and sharing our experiences, seeing how they are the same, and appreciating their differences. Although this was amazing, it was still just a precursor to what was to come!

Later that day we had our performance. The first of the tour! Yes—the pre-show jitters were present, but what made it all better was that we had this amazing local opening act. The students for the university performed first, and they were great. The way they blended story telling, dramatic beats and rhythms of the feet and body were breath taking. I have to say they were a tough act to follow. We performed three works, and the (standing room-only!) crowd was amazing from beginning to end. So many people came out to share and give us energy that it was overwhelming. We performed on stage, but our audience performed with us at the glorious reception. This was the real performance!!! You would have never thought they had come to see a show, because there they were performing!! When our feet got tired, and the last cookie was eaten, we finally went back to the hotel. The night was over, but will never be forgotten.

The next night the Embassy treated us to the great pleasure of seeing the musical Jesus Christ Superstar in Spanish. This was very exciting for me because I had never seen it, and I don't speak Spanish. I was wondering how much I was going to understand, but believe it or not, I was able to follow the story quite nicely. We had a great time and even got a chance to meet the cast. This part was made even better because, Sally, our gracious Embassy host, got so excited that she just couldn't wipe a smile off her face! Meeting them made her night and that in turn made mine!

Before I close, I have to say that the generosity that we have received since we have been here has been wonderful. There are not enough words to explain how at home I have felt. Sally, Elena, and the people of Venezuela -- I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this!

Sally and Elena with Urban Bush Women

Now the journey continues - on to Colombia!!!

Until next time,
Benny

UBW: Dancing in Caracas

This is Meghan, and I'm not quite sure where to begin.

My Spanish is getting better much more quickly than I thought it would (Apollo does not equal a pollo). I’m in love with the weather, and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with information.

After a very welcome late start on Wednesday, the company arrived at La Universidad de Simon Bolivar at lunch time and was greeted with an interview request by the college's TV station. This officially begins our first improvisation for the day. Later, what we thought would be a technique-based master class, becomes a community-building workshop, ending with a highly diverse array of student-choreographed phrases.

Then the real schooling began!

La Muga dance group presented three traditional dances from different regions of the country. In bright red, green-blue, and orange costumes, these young men and women shook, twisted, "twirked", turned and threw their hips in ways I had never before seen. I think it’s safe to say we were all floored at their precision and isolation. They danced in couples, men and women flirtatiously weaving their way in and around each other, literally pushing other couples aside to take the floor. I watched and waited with chills, intrigued by the legacy of these dances from the African slaves who created them, and eager with anticipation to try them myself.

Luckily a workshop immediately following the performance gave all of us Urban Bush Women a chance to shake what our mamas gave us and in true Venezuelan style. We formed a large circle and went at it, ladies shoving señoritas, caballeros pushing men, couples kicking out duets, trios fighting for the spotlight, everyone excited to show off their hip swivels. We finished feeling like we had been dancing for hours and wanting more. We knew the Muga dancers were salsa aficionados and convinced them to stay for an impromptu lesson. It became a dance party of Afro-Cuban salsa and Venezuelan danzas tradicionales.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever smiled so much. Where has Venezuela been all my life?

Here! Dancing. The first school of modern dance (referred to here as contemporary) was opened in Venezuela by Grishka Holguin, a Mexican dancer who saw Caracas as the Paris of South America. Reinaldo, the director of the contemporary dance company, Mudanza, shared this history with us and the evolution of Venezuela’s many dances in a conversation with us Thursday morning. He demonstrated some of the different movements too.

Key facts:

• Traditional dance does not equal national dance.
• Many traditional dances have roots in celebrations of San Juan el Baptiste, or Saint John the Baptist.
• There are over 1,300 dance companies in Venezuela.
• Contemporary dance is a mezcla (mix) of what we understand of modern dance techniques (Graham, Limon, etc.) and is making its way to the streets.

Apparently most of our Spanish is quickly improving. Each one of us spent the rest of Thursday practicing our Batty Moves raps, adding cameos of hopefully well-timed Spanish phrases. We performed them as the finale to an outdoor event on campus featuring four amazing pieces from local contemporary companies, Mudanza and Pisorrojo.

Here’s a sampling of the work we saw: 

• Two women with nearly four foot long braids danced with their hair tied to a wall behind them.
• Two other dancers “blinded” audience members before performing a duet playing with sight and weight.
• Four street vending dancers called and coaxed the audience to buy their goods (and believe me, the dancing was good)
• and a cast of legs hidden by umbrellas teased us all in a cabaret-like show of striped stockings and heels.

The raps were a hit. The students laughed, clapped and hollered in our favor.

I’m charged for our first official repertory performance tomorrow. And yes, still feeling very much overwhelmed, but definitely looking forward to more.

UBW: La felicidad en Caracas

¡HOLA GENTE! ¡QUE TAL!

I am Catherine Denecy, member of Urban Bush Women. I have the pleasure of sharing with you what's happening for us during the amazing journey we started yesterday.

Destination : South America (Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil)

So here we are! Caracas, Venezuela, finishing the first day (March 2), and let me tell you, WHAT A DAY! I haven't had that much fun and excitement packed in only 12 hours in a long time!

We made our first visit to USB (Universidad Simon Bolivar). We walked around campus, had the honor of meeting with the president of the university and had our first exchange with the students, and that was so much fun!

I was so glad to see how the students were willing to participate and learn from us with open hearts, and also share with us their own experiences.

I am from the Caribbean (Guadeloupe) and over there people like to dance, but not as much as here! Boys, girls, shy or not, tired or not, once we asked them to join us on stage, up on their feet they were. When that happened I remember thinking "I'm gonna like it here!" :-)


The big winner of the day was ... the sun!!! yes! yes!

For us it has literally been like going from winter to summer overnight (fastest spring in history!) and boy we're enjoying it! I know I am probably making it up, but I think i got a tan already, at least I like to think so. :-)

Really, the weather got us all in the "don't worry be happy" state of mind. You can see for yourself by the picture.


But of course it gets hot, so we're learning how to take it slow and let go of our New York pace. I am sure none of us mind that.

Talking about taking it slow... we made quite an interesting encounter today.

On our way out of the house where we met the president of the university, we saw a sloth! I had never seen one and I have to say, I liked him a lot!

Everybody surrounded him worrying, thinking he was hurt because he was not moving, but no no, he was just chilling! loll! Taking it in slow, enjoying his day. Can you see him smiling for the camera ?!


I am about to act just like him and go to bed.

Thanks for reading. :-)

Cath