The Dancing Warrior
Artist Statement:
Capoeira Angola is more than just a martial art. It is a cultural doorway into the world of others both like and different from me. It draws me in through dance, movement, music, song, and stories of distant lands and creates a walkable bridge to mindfulness, character buildup, math, language arts, social studies, and much more.
Biography:
“Baba” Skher is one of less than 10 American-born teaching-artists in the United States who has reached his ranking in the African-Brazilian folk-art of Capoeira Angola. As the director of the Dancing Warriors ensemble, he performs alongside fellow veteran artists who have traveled throughout Brazil, collectively presenting to thousands of adults and children.
Programs:
(Assembly) “Capoeira Angola: a martial arts journey to Africa, Brazil and back home again.” Dancing Warriors display an action story about the roots of their multi-continental and cultural martial art form.
(Assembly) “Ya Feel Me? The (Martial) Art of Caring.” Through Storytelling that penetrates, Music that connects, and Movements that motivate, this interactive show aims to initiate a culture shift in classrooms and schools with an uplifting anti-bullying message.
(Residency) Capoeira Angola: African-Brazilian workshops of dance, martial arts, music, culture and history. This residency may be customized for any age to create an enriching educational experience.
(Residency) “Building Character with Kicks.” Students get a workout in the core principles of Capoeira Angola and learn how martial arts strengthen “mental and emotional muscles” to build character.
(Residency) A Social Studies Journey through Capoeira Angola. This residency may be customized for collaborative discussions and writing on topics such as migration patterns, slavery, African ethnic groups, Brazilian folkways, and more.
(Residency) Martial Arts Math: Using a Rhythmic 10-Frame to Add and Subtract within 10 and 100. Once the students are quickly engaged by the movements and music of the fighting style of Capoeira Angola, they are introduced to musical methods for fluency in addition and subtraction.
(PD) Mastering Math with the Rhythmic 10-Frame. These professional development workshops give elementary school teachers practical arts integration tools to teach fluency in adding and subtracting within 100.
Testimonials:
I loved it! I’ve now taking a liking to this because of Baba Skher. It actually makes me want to learn it.
– Eighth-grade Student, Southwest Baltimore Charter