The House That Vera Built

“The House That Vera Built Year 4” is a fundraising campaign supporting the Cultural Association Casa De Cultura SoMovimento (CCSM) in Salvador, BahiaBrazil, created by Founder/Artistic Director Vera Passos.

Vera Passos is a choreographer, master teacher, dancer, and producer whose profound relationship with Afro-Brazilian movement, music and culture richly influences her artistry

and her social justice practices. Vera Passos is also a co-artistic of Viver Brasil in Los Angeles. Vera valiantly divides her time between Salvador, Bahia, LosAngeles, CA and the world.

“The House That Vera Built Year 4” fundraising goal is to raise $20,000 in 17 days from June 1-Aug 30, 2024.

HOW THE $20,000 WILL BE UTILIZED

To pay off year 4 house payment to its former owner.

To continue the ongoing updating of the building’s electrical systems.

To promote educational artistic training for children and young people.

Install the appropriate ventilation and air conditioning for the studios and

rooms that serve the numerous classes offered to dance and music studentsand professionals.

To create accessible entrances to the studios.

THE DREAM

Vera Passos’ dream to acquire her own cultural space became a reality when she received the keys to Casa de Cultura SoMovimento in March 2020, before our worlds were so greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As soon as Bahia’s sheltering in place mandate went into effect, and Vera Passos and staff worked diligently to create platforms for CCSM to take all of its proposed in-person programs online. With online programming, CCSM was able to serve Bahian students and Vera’s worldwide community. If you know Vera Passos, you know that she is extraordinarily generous and is committed to welcoming every human being who desires to learn, whether or not they have the financial resources to do so.

THE MISSION

Casa De Cultura SoMovimento’s mission is to provide an appropriate and accessible space for rich programming that includes dance and music classes, performances, choreographic seminars, rehearsal space, community engagement, and cultural exchanges. The staff must also be paid to provide the necessary infrastructure to make this beautiful cultural space function

efficiently.

Black artists in Bahia face constant political, social and

financial challenges. CCSM does not receive local, state, or federal funding; therefore, Vera often invests her personal finances in supporting this most important cultural center.

Just recently, Vera received official notice that the national government has recognized CCSM as a cultural center

and, therefore, can receive individual donations.

Your generous donation is significant, tax-deductible, and appreciated.

2021-2022 NEWS

In 2021-2022, Vera is proud to inform you that CCSM has become a cultural

hub in Bahia that brings together artists from the local and international community to teach in person and online, study, live in residence and rehearse.

For example, over 1500 students took part in online classes with the following

programs: Dancing on the Earth; Dancing at Home; Silvestre Technique

classes; Open Windows Dance Festival online, Dance Encounters with Black

Women in Focus; online performances with Musical Kitchen Project with

Grupo OKontra; 12 students from Aarhus, Copenhagen’s Conservatory of

Music (Aarhus Musikskole) spent three weeks in residence studying

Afro-Brazilian dance and music with Vera, Music Director Nei Sacramento and other master Bahian professionals; Vera produced a video series,

Poder Feminino, with master storyteller and wise elder Ebomi Cici.

With a small volunteer staff, CCSM is functioning!

DONATE

In this forth year of fundraising for Casa de Cultura SoMovimento, we invite you to click on the donate button and share in Vera’s joyous dream well on its way to fully being realized by donating to The House That Vera Built Year 4.

THANK YOU, MUITO OBRIGADO

Vera