The House That Vera Built

We invite you to read a letter from our Co-Artistic Director, Vera Passos and be part of her vision

for a thriving cultural center in her home, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Realizing my dream meant I was to raise a total of $125,000 to officially become the owner of a property that became available during the peak of the pandemic. In July 2021, Viver Brasil launched the first campaign on my behalf, the House That Vera Built and with your support we have raised over $40,000. Again, with the support of Viver Brasil, we are launching the third year of the House That Vera Built. 

I am humbly and boldly asking you to once again donate to the campaign so that I can meet this year's goal of $20,000. 

With your continued generosity, the seeds of transformation that I planted can continue to grow and together we will share my dream of owning the house. 

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.

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 Cultural Association House of Sound and Movement was created in 2020 by Vera Passos and Nei Sacramento, in order to create an independent space in Salvador, Bahia with the goal to spread art that is accessible to all. This artistic, cultural and educational space will serve as a center for dance and music from the African Matrix (from Brazil) and from the diverse forms of the African Diaspora.

Since 2021, 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 thriving!