Travel With Tamara | Getting Fit the Fun Way

CAPOEIRA

Capoeira is a martial art that combines dance, acrobatics and music. It was developed in Brazil in the 16^thCentury, predominantly by slaves who’d been brought by the Portuguese from Angola.

Capoeira is grounded in the music; traditional instruments lead the tempo and rhythm of the game. Capoeira songs can be about an event in history, a famous capoeirista, daily happenings, or can even contain hidden messages. Folk stories, Afro-Brazilian history, poetry and philosophy are all a part of the music and the dance.

Participants form a Roda (pronounced Hoda), a circle, singing and clapping while two capoeiristas play in the centre. While there’s a seriousness to the history of Capoeira, there’s a lot of space for theatre, drama, comedy and fun. The ritual is delightful. Everyone brings their personality to the Roda; all the personalities express themselves and get out of it what they want. In today’s culture we’re not always singing or moving; practicing in a circle, engaging in a corporal way with another person, has a way of bringing a group together.

‘Someone’s entry point might be the music, or that they can already do a lot with their body,’ says Salim Rollins, founder of Capoeira Kibera. ‘What’s nice is that whatever your entry point, you’ll be challenged in other ways, and will have the opportunity to strengthen parts of yourself you’re not typically engaged with. Playing Capoeira with the break-dancers in Kibera is a truly uplifting experience. You’re doing beautiful movements in a safe space.’

Instructor:

Salim Rollins studied Capoeira in the lineage of Mestre Pastinha, who opened the first Capoeira Academy in New York in 1941. Salim is a disciple of Grand Master Joao Grande, one of the most important guardians of traditional Capoeira Angola, and trained at the Capoeira Angola Center he established in New York. When he returned to Kenya in 2014, Salim established the Kenya branch of this group, and went on to found Capoeira Kibera.

When and where:

Salim teaches at Kibera Social Arts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 5.30 to 7.30pm. Participants are welcome to meet him at his apartment in Kileleshwa and drive to Kibera with him: recent visitors have come from New York, Japan, France and Spain. Salim also organises one Capoeira Roda a month at locations around Nairobi, the last two of which have been at the Arboretum.

What’s next?

A grant from a US family foundation has enabled the programme to become more formal; by early 2019 all participants should have comfortable trousers and shoes. The curriculum will expand to include life skills – these will connect the participants with their interests, and with resources that can help them in their vision for themselves. Once a month, two of the founders of the flagship programme of Kibera Social Arts, Slumdance Africa, will offer professional development training.

https://www.facebook.com/cackenya/

DANCE

Dance is a performing art form of selected sequences of human movement. It can be categorised by its choreography, its repertoire of movements or by its place of origin. It can be social, ceremonial, competitive, martial or sacred. Most known styles of dance include salsa, tango, ballroom, hip-hop and ballet, although there are many many more.

The Academy of Dance and Art is affiliated with the Royal Academy of Dance, specialists in dance education based in London. The academy offers RAD recognised ballet classes and exams, and several of the children who have trained here have continued their training at performing arts schools in the UK. But it’s not just for children. The Silver Swans, a new syllabus established by RAD, is for dancers of 57 or older. Currently two ladies from Nairobi’s Silver Swans are training for their Grade 6 ballet exam, which they’re going to take in May.

However, there’s much more to what the academy offers than ballet. There’s collection of dance classes of a multitude of styles for adults and children, ranging from African fusion to marital arts, modern to jazz, tap to Pilates, and gymnastics to zumba.

‘Firstly, dance is fun,’ says Pernille Duckworth, founder of the Academy of Dance and Art. ‘Secondly you’re learning something. It’s not like running on a treadmill. Every session you come, you get better as you perfect the steps. There’s an aim. That’s why people like it: they’re aiming at something. You’re doing something that’s tremendous fun and it keeps you fit at the same time. And you build up a sweat!’

Instructor:

Arnie Luna Umayam, from the Philippines, is the artistic director. He trained in the Philippines, with the Royal Academy of Dance, and has danced in Australia. He came to Kenya three years ago to work at the Academy of Dance and Art, and has made Kenya his home. He choreographs the shows, and teaches classical, ballet, modern, contemporary, choreography and technical-theatre.

When and where:

The Academy of Dance and Art is at Rhino House in Karen. Adults’ classes in modern ballet and classical ballet take place in the mornings, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, African dancing is offered: an eclectic fusion of zumba and dance. For the plethora of children’s classes, consult the schedule on the website.

What’s next?

Every March, the academy performs a serious ballet. The Royal Academy of Dance exams take place in May and June. And to close up the year, every December there’s a fun show, sometimes incorporating Christmas carols – something different, something surprising.

https://www.academyofdanceandart.com

AERIAL YOGA

The Aerial Arts combine traditional yoga poses, Pilates, dance and gymnastics, all suspended in the air. Using your arms, core and hips, you support your own body weight, giving you the sense of flying.

Aerial Yoga uses a hammock to support participants while they progress through a modified Vinyasa Flow using the techniques of breathing and mindfulness. With the support of the hammock, participants are able to get deeper into the poses, and build flexibility and balance. Aerial Fitness uses a streamer of silk, and is more athletic and acrobatic, building strength, flexibility and endurance. More demanding than Aerial Yoga, it’s fun, exciting and somewhat akin to Cirque de Soleil.

AER Africa, established in 2017 by Andrea Hartley and Neel Chandaria, offers classes in both Aerial Yoga and Aerial Fitness. They chose the name AER because it’s short for Aerial, but also because it encompasses the freedom of flying in the air – of weightlessness and one of the primal elements. In 2018, AER reached the final round of the African Entrepreneurship Award and participated in the Harvest Festival, Fitapalooza and Cheza Sports.

‘When I found Aerial Arts I was smitten,’ says Andrea Hartley, co-founder of AER Africa. ‘I would watch the most advanced aerialists in my class fly through the air with jaw-dropping grace and I told myself I would get there. I love that we offer both a crazy fun acrobatic class in our Aerial Fitness, and a more mindful stretchy class in Aerial Yoga. Aerial has done amazing things for my body awareness, back pain and overall joy for life.’

Instructor:

Andrea Hartley discovered the Aerial Arts at Louisiana State University’s School of Theatre, where she studied and became certified in Aerial Yoga and Aerial Fitness. She went on to train for a few years at Nashville Circus Center and Studio Goddess in Nashville Tennessee. She became a Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher with Karuna Yoga Journeys in Lamu. In 2017, with Neel Chandaria, Andrea established AER Africa.

When and where:

Classes take place at Crossfit Kwetu Gigiri, Burn Body Kitisuru and AlphaFit Ngong Road. AER offers extracurricular programmes at schools, currently GEMS Cambridge and Hillcrest International, as well as retreats around Kenya, most recently in Lamu. Check the website for current schedules and upcoming retreats.

What’s next?

AER offers bespoke lessons at offices and schools and is planning to expand this service to further locations. They’re also planning to offer aerial classes at a gym in Karen, and are organising another retreat – they’re currently gathering votes on where it should be. Contact them directly to organise your own aerial sessions or to vote on where next they should offer a retreat. Make 2019 the year you fly!

https://aerafrica.com