• Batalá
  • About Us
    • History
    • Drums
    • Mundo Batalá
    • In The News
    • Join Batalá
    • Meet the Batalettes
  • Media
    • Music
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Book Us
  • Blog

Leave a Comment

Festival Afro-Bahia 2021

This year, for the first time, DC’s annual Festival Afro-Bahia went virtual and was accessible to audiences across geographic areas. This year’s theme was “As Yabas”, representing the power and reverence of women through online sessions led by women demonstrating music, dance, history, aesthetics, and includes panel discussions about socio-cultural activism and women’s experiences as musicians and artists.

June 11 – Features the movie “Dona do Terreiro” directed by Daisy Anunciação which talks about the importance of women in the Candomblé religion.

June 12 – The day’s opening honors the memory of Babalorixá Arnando Tavares the spiritual mentor of Festival Afro Bahia. He will be eternally missed. He did not like sadness, so we continue with wonderful music videos and testimonies of Mestres Tonho Materia and Badaró about the importance of Festival Afro Bahia.

Session 2 – Afro Brazilian dance workshop with movements of Yansã.

Session 3 – Workshop teaching the dance of the Ebony Goddess of Ilê Aiyê.  Followed by a Capoeira workshop for all levels.

Session 4 – Two important panels: The first one is a panel about cultural history, collaborative efforts, and social activism. Both panels delve into the importance of women empowering other women to achieve their goals and recognition.

June 13 – The event closed with the music clip “Boto Pra Mexer” by Gabi Moraes featuring Mari Antunes followed by a Turban Workshop demonstrating different styles of turbans that can be worn on many occasions and also some history of this wonderful hair garment. In closing, a celebration with a concert with world-renowned singer Tonho Materia and all-women percussion band Batalá Washington at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

It's only fair to share...Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on google
Google
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on email
Email

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Leave a Comment

Dança dos Orixás

In the terreiro (places of worship in Candomblé), a xirê (which means circle and pronounced ‘shee-RAY’) is a dance ceremony (usually open to the public) that is held to invoke the orixás as a part of Candomblé ritual. The initiated dance for the orixás and the orixás enter and dance through the bodies of the initiates through trance. When the orixá manifests through the initiate, the initiate is dressed elaborately in full regalia as the orixá. The orixá is returned to the public circle and continues to dance while others cheer, sing, and greet the orixá. The orixá may offer advice and healing to many people that are in attendance.

Each orixá has its own dance movements, greetings, songs, and drum rhythms, many of which are showcased in non-religious performances, and even Afro-Brazilian dance classes, and other folkloric events. In the video below, Balé folclórico da Bahia performs dances for Ogum, Oxum, Obaluayê, Iansã (Oya), Oxossi, and Oxalá (Obatala) respectively.

 

It's only fair to share...Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on google
Google
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on email
Email

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Leave a Comment

Capoeira Angola

Capoeira Angola is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines acrobatics, fighting, music, African history and philosophy and refers to every capoeira style that keeps the traditions held before the creation of the Regional style. Enslaved Africans brought the movements of Capoeira Angola to Brazil, disguising the martial elements of Capoeira Angola as dance and adding music and singing. Since the abolition of slavery until present day, Capoeira Angola continued to develop as a community instrument of freedom and social resistance.

In 1941, Mestre Pastinha who was much respected by recognized capoeira masters, opened the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola (CECA). His preference for the playful aspects of the game, rather than the martial side, became associated with Angola style that was also characterized as being strategic, with slow, smooth, sneaking movements played low to the ground.

The music typically played with capoeira is in bateria (percussion band) formation in a roda of Capoeira Angola. Instruments played are three berimbaus (stringed percussion instrument), two pandeiros (tambourine-like instrument), one atabaque (tall drum), one agogô (cowbell-like instrument) and one ganzuá (bamboo stick instrument). Today, Capoeira Angola groups flourish across Brazil and around the world.

It's only fair to share...Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on google
Google
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on email
Email

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Leave a Comment

Balé Folclórico da Bahia

Balé Folclórico da Bahia, the only professional folk dance company in Brazil, was formed in 1988 by Walson Botelho and Ninho Reis. Based in Salvador in the northern state of Bahia, and under the leadership of artistic director José Carlos Arandiba, the 32-member troupe of dancers, musicians, and singers performs a repertory that originates from Bahian folkloric dances of African origin and includes slave dances, capoeira, samba, and those that celebrate Carnival. The company highlights the region’s culture within a contemporary theatrical vision.

Balé Folclórico da Bahia made its debut in July 1988, at the Joinville Dance Festival where an audience of 20,000 enthusiastically greeted its performance entitled “Bahia de Todas as Cores” (All Colors of Bahia). The troupe’s immediate success brought invitations to perform at other festivals around the country. After being awarded “Best Performance of the Year” by the Ministry of Culture, through the National Institute of Dance, the dance company was invited by the Ministry to tour all of the principal capitals of Brazil, which earned the troupe the acclamation as one of the country’s most important dance companies. Its U.S. debut tour was in 1995-96 and it has since performed in 88 US cities, earning rave reviews and playing to sold-out houses.

It's only fair to share...Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on google
Google
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on email
Email

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Categories

  • Bahian Culture
  • Bahian Food
  • Bahian Women
  • Candomblé
  • Cultural Activism
  • Dance
  • Festas / Holidays
  • History
  • Music

Tags

Afro afro-bahia Afro-Bahian afro-brazilian afro-feminist axe bahia Baianas Black Black Consciousness Month black movement blocos Candomble Carnaval Cortejo Afro cuisine Culture dance female Festas festival film food History Iemanja iyalorixa mae de santo movimento negro music Olodum Omolu orixa orixas recipe recipes Reconcavo reggae religion roda Salvador Samba samba reggae social resistance women Yemanja

Like Us on Facebook

WordPress booking

Join Our Mailing List

Join Our Mailing List For Info On Performances & Rehearsals!

Show your Bata-love and donate!

Follow Us On Instagram

Hey DC! We’ve got a busy weekend ahead and we’ Hey DC! We’ve got a busy weekend ahead and we’re so excited for it! Join us for any or all of our performances! Saturday 12p: Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival @ngadc 3:30p: Mt Pleasant family show @dcpl Sunday 5pm: Season Opener halftime show @washingtonspirit
Hi friends! Be sure to catch us at our next show w Hi friends! Be sure to catch us at our next show when we play at the Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival @ngadc National Gallery of Art on April 30th at 12pm.
Also, check out this great exhibition that opens tomorrow. 
#braziliandrumming #afrobrazilian #batala #washingtondc
Another @runrocknroll in the books! Congrats to al Another @runrocknroll in the books! Congrats to all the runners! Also, shout out to all the race staff, volunteers, and city employees that make it all happen! 👟🥁 #batalahey
International Women’s Day - Celebrated annually International Women’s Day - Celebrated annually on March 8. Is a day that commemorates the social, political and economic achievements of women. Women in different parts of the world use this day to come together to celebrate one another and rally for equal treatment and representation. Batala Hey to all the wonderful women of the world! 🎉❤️💃🏽🎶🥁
#batalahey #womeninmusic #womendrummers #internationalwomensday
We had a fabulous time celebrating Mardi Gras yest We had a fabulous time celebrating Mardi Gras yesterday with everyone that came out to @thewharfdc for the parade! #mardigras #bataláhey ⚜️💚💜❤️🥁 

🎥 @4romeros
Looking for something fun to do this coming Saturd Looking for something fun to do this coming Saturday? Batalá Washington will be participating at this year’s Mardi Grass Parade at The Wharf. Festivities start at 3pm. February 26 at 3pm. Hope to see you there! 

#mardigrassdc #washingtondc #thewharfdc
Happy Black History Month from Batalá Washington! Happy Black History Month from Batalá Washington!
Batalá Washington’s mission is to empower women through music and drumming and to expose our DC community to the Afro-Brazilian, most specifically to the Afro-Bahian, music and culture. We celebrate and honor all the Afro-Brazilian artists and musicians who inspire us every day.
#blackhistorymonth #afrobrazilianculture #afrobrazilianmusic #afrobahia #sambareggae
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022 to our Batala DC Familia. Wish HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022 to our Batala DC Familia. Wishing the new year brings much happiness, health and samba reggae and funk beats to all. Feliz Ano Novo. Batala Hey!.
🎶🥁🎉💃🏽
#batalahey #happynewyear
We had an amazing (& chilly) morning playing for a We had an amazing (& chilly) morning playing for all the runners of the @runrocknroll half marathon! Thanks to all the runners, staff, volunteers, first responders and crowd for a great race! 👟🥁
Follow on Instagram
  • Batalá
  • About Us
  • Media
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Book Us
  • Blog

BatalaWashington.com © 2007–2023 All Rights Reserved.

No photos, graphics, videos, or content in general of this website may be reproduced without Batala Washington's express consent.


Handcrafted with by District Creative Studio | Powered by Genesis Framework.