Rites of Change: a performance event and silent auction benefiting girls from impoverished families in Brazil April 7, 2007

Seattle Capoeira group hosts performance event to benefit girls from impoverished families in Salvador, Brazil.

Tickets $15 at the door or in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com.

Schedule:
7:00 pm: Doors open. Guests arriving before 7:30 will receive a complimentary glass of wine.
7:30 pm: Opening remarks
7:45-9:00 pm: Silent auction
9:00 pm: Capoeira performance by Grupo de Capoeira Senzala Seattle and friends
9:30 pm: Live Brazilian music by Bem Brazil and Eduardo Mendonça

If you have not experienced Capoeira, an art form that combines ritualized fighting, the fluidity of dance, and breathtaking acrobatics, all to the rhythm of an ensemble of exotic percussion instruments, we invite you to take this opportunity to become acquainted with this increasingly popular Brazilian art.

The Capoeira group, Grupo de Capoeira Senzala Seattle, is making waves not only with their dedication to the art, but to the culture from which it came. For the second year in a row, Senzala Seattle has joined forces with Bahia Street to raise funds to support a Capoeira program at the Bahia Street School, in Salvador Brazil, that will benefit girls from the poorest neighbourhoods of Salvador.

The fundraiser, Rites of Change is a performance event and silent art auction to be held on April 7th at the Velocity Dance Center (915 East Pine St). Tickets are $15 and are available either at the door or in advance through www.brownpapertickets.com. Doors open at 7 PM, guests arriving between 7 and 7:30 PM will be offered a complimentary glass of wine. The auction will be held from 7:45-9:00 PM. For a full list of auction items, visit www.senzalaseattle.com.

Last year, Rites of Change was a tremendous success, attracting over 200 guests and raising over $5000 dollars for Bahia Street. This amount was sufficient to fund a Capoeira program for one full year for 10 girls. This year, Senzala Seattle hopes to exceed $5000, so that more girls from the Bahia Street School will be able to participate in the Capoeira program.

Participants will enjoy an evening of Brazilian-themed performance, featuring Capoeira by Senzala Seattle (9:00 pm) and the live Brazilian grooves of Bem Brazil and Eduardo Mendonça (9:30 pm). In addition, guests are invited to peruse an impressive spread of art works on offer, including contemporary sculpture, hand-blown glass, paintings, photography, fine textiles, and jewelry, an array sure to please any palate. Gift certificates for dance, music and theatre performances, for performance and martial art class, for the healing arts, for fine restaurants, and much more are also on auction. Add to this a raffle of exceptional prizes and you have the makings of an unforgettable evening.

Official Website: http://www.senzalaseattle.com