Directors and Instructors
Rosangela Silvestre Choreographer, instructor, dancer and creator of the Silvestre Dance Technique, Rosangela is a native of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Dance and post-graduated specializing in choreography, achieving her degree from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). She has researched dance and music in Brazil, India, Egypt, Senegal and Cuba as part of her ever-evolving and eclectic palette of movement. She acquired training in such diverse techniques as: Martha Graham, Limón, Horton, Floor Bar, Classic Ballet, Dunham Technique, and has experienced diverse dance expressions - such as Germany Theater Dance, Contemporary, Folkloric, as well as Traditional dances of Africa and other continents. Her instructors include Raimundo Bispo dos Santos (Mestre King), Mercedes Baptista, Clayde Morgan, Carlos Moraes, Nelma Seixas, among others, beginning in the late 1970s. Since 1981, Ms. Silvestre started to travel in and out of Brazil to teach, to train dancers, to perform, to lecture and to demonstrate, to consult, and attended seminars and residencies in diverse universities, dance festivals such as: Colorado College Dance Festival;
New Orleans Dance Festival; and dance camps such as the California Brazil Camp each year. She choreographed numerous dance pieces for companies based in Brazil - Balé Folclórico da Bahia and Odunde - as well as Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, Ballet Hispanico Repertory Company, American Academy of Ballet, Roots of Brazil, Dance Brazil, Viver Brasil, Muntu Dance Theater, and the Kendra Kimbrough Dance Company. Her dance investigation and constant development created an opportunity to connect with the eclectic American musician Steve Coleman, with whom she traveled to diverse countries which have African roots in their music and dance. With Steve Coleman, Rosangela developed an idea to have the body as an instrument that provides the movement-form of any sound that can be captured - thereby discovering and creating dance at any moment. Rosangela is currently the choreographer of Viver Brasil Dance Company Directed by Linda Yudin and Luiz Badaró.
Rosangela's use of her voice is an integral part of her work in dance. In September 2011 she completed the CD:
"Voices of Nature" recorded and produced by Mike Zecchino at The Nail Recording Studio in Tucson, Arizona.
Visit CD BABY to listen and purchase.
New Orleans Dance Festival; and dance camps such as the California Brazil Camp each year. She choreographed numerous dance pieces for companies based in Brazil - Balé Folclórico da Bahia and Odunde - as well as Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, Ballet Hispanico Repertory Company, American Academy of Ballet, Roots of Brazil, Dance Brazil, Viver Brasil, Muntu Dance Theater, and the Kendra Kimbrough Dance Company. Her dance investigation and constant development created an opportunity to connect with the eclectic American musician Steve Coleman, with whom she traveled to diverse countries which have African roots in their music and dance. With Steve Coleman, Rosangela developed an idea to have the body as an instrument that provides the movement-form of any sound that can be captured - thereby discovering and creating dance at any moment. Rosangela is currently the choreographer of Viver Brasil Dance Company Directed by Linda Yudin and Luiz Badaró.
Rosangela's use of her voice is an integral part of her work in dance. In September 2011 she completed the CD:
"Voices of Nature" recorded and produced by Mike Zecchino at The Nail Recording Studio in Tucson, Arizona.
Visit CD BABY to listen and purchase.
Vera Passos
is a instructor, choreographer and accomplished dancer. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Dance from the University Federal of Bahia. She starting her training with modern dance in Salvador, Bahia, and became involved with other forms of dance - such as Classical Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Traditional dance. Through these, she came into contact with the dance company, Balé Folclórico da Bahia, and became a company member. Passos began studying the demanding Silvestre Technique with creator Rosangela Silvestre in 1992, and soon became the protégé of Silvestre. Since 2002, Ms. Passos has taught the technique at the Escola de Dança Cultural Foundation in Bahia, Brazil, in the preparatory dance program to both dancers-in-training, and to professional dance students. With her dance training experience, she began to teach and to train other dancers - which can be seen in professional dance companies, such as Ballet Theater of Castro Alves and Grupo Corpo. She is the director of Silvestre Link Bahia. She has performed in international venues in North and South America, Europe, and Africa. With Ms. Silvestre, Vera Passos participated in the collaborations with the eclectic American musician Steve Coleman on his tour of Europe in 2002 and 2003. She choreographed for Orchestra Popular da Bahia, directed by the pioneer ethnomusicologist Emilia Biancardi; for Tocandomblé, which produces experimental performances of Afro-Brazilian dance and music; and "Terra em Transe," with music by Italian musician Aldo Briddi. Ms. Passos also danced in the Opera, "Lidia de Oxum", choreographed by Carlos Morais. Vera is currently a special guest dancer with the acclaimed Viver Brasil Dance Company Directed by Linda Yudin and Luiz Badaró.
Musical Director Nei Sacramento
Nei Sacramento was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, where he started to develop his investigation into percussive harmonic music at the Escola de Dança da Fundação Cultural do Estado da Bahia beginning in 1988 with Bira Monteiro. In addition to percussion, Nei also plays saxophone and flute.
Since 1990, he has been a participating in several Brazilian Dance companies as a musician and composer. With The Brazilian Popular Dance Company, Balé Folclorico da Bahia and Dance Brazil he has toured Brazil, the USA, Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Spain. As composer, Nei has done composition for the dance pieces, “Oração,” and “Triangles,” which was choreographed by Vera Passos. Mr. Sacramento participated in the music festival, “Perc Pan,” in Salvador, which gave him the opportunity to be part of the German film, “Tambores e Deuses.” He has toured with world-renowned musician Carlinhos Brown to Japan, Italy, and throughout Brazil. In 1999, he participated in a music workshop with the group STOMP, which was instructed by the musician, Carl Smith; and in 2002 with the North American saxophonist, Steve Coleman, who invited Nei and his group to participate on Mr. Colman's CD entitled, “Weaving Symbolics,” and toured throughout Europe with the Steve Colman band, The Five Elements. With Paulo Moura and Armandinho he was invited to integrate in the band, "Afro Bossa Nova," to be part of the music festival, “Phoenix Jazz Praia do Forte,” and through this project he also toured in Brazil, honoring Tom Jobim. He is the creator of the percussion group, “Kontra;” and his most recent music creation is, “Tocandomblé,“ which premiered as a music and dance performance.
Since 1990, he has been a participating in several Brazilian Dance companies as a musician and composer. With The Brazilian Popular Dance Company, Balé Folclorico da Bahia and Dance Brazil he has toured Brazil, the USA, Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Spain. As composer, Nei has done composition for the dance pieces, “Oração,” and “Triangles,” which was choreographed by Vera Passos. Mr. Sacramento participated in the music festival, “Perc Pan,” in Salvador, which gave him the opportunity to be part of the German film, “Tambores e Deuses.” He has toured with world-renowned musician Carlinhos Brown to Japan, Italy, and throughout Brazil. In 1999, he participated in a music workshop with the group STOMP, which was instructed by the musician, Carl Smith; and in 2002 with the North American saxophonist, Steve Coleman, who invited Nei and his group to participate on Mr. Colman's CD entitled, “Weaving Symbolics,” and toured throughout Europe with the Steve Colman band, The Five Elements. With Paulo Moura and Armandinho he was invited to integrate in the band, "Afro Bossa Nova," to be part of the music festival, “Phoenix Jazz Praia do Forte,” and through this project he also toured in Brazil, honoring Tom Jobim. He is the creator of the percussion group, “Kontra;” and his most recent music creation is, “Tocandomblé,“ which premiered as a music and dance performance.
