Soar into the Future with Viver Brasil!

Soar into the Future with Viver Brasil! image

Dear Friends of Viver Brasil,

Twenty-seven years ago, Badaró and I embarked on a journey to celebrate Afro-Brazilian culture, and we created Viver Brasil. Today, we share this goal with Vera, our newest Co-Artistic Director. We continue to bring this rich legacy's heart and soul to new generations worldwide.

This leadership structure allows us to constantly assess the roles that we have as creators and, presently, as fundraisers. We courageously ask you to donate to support the costs necessary to conduct Viver Brasil’s operations. Post-COVID funding has ended, and we are in a very challenging situation.

We must raise $50,000 by May 31, 2024, or sooner.

This will cover our immediate operational costs as we continue to produce, manage, and present our signature programs that include: Samba in the Streets, Community Class, Celebrating Samba, in-school school residencies, Dancing at the Source, and the creation of our newest work, Rezas e Folhas (Prayers & Leaves).

The consequences of the new CA employment law AB5 have depleted our financial resources, as this law has increased our insurance payments from $10,000 to at least $40,000 per year. We have come this far because of your generosity, and we need your financial support now to close this gap.

We are accepting donations at all levels to meet this time-sensitive goal!

For those able to contribute $750 or more, we have some unique and exclusive opportunities like:

  • Private cooking classes: Learn to make a moqueca with Luiz Badaró, pudim with Marcia Reis Robles, acarajê with Catherine Scott
  • Private dinners with the Co-Artistic Directors
  • Private dance and drum classes with the Co-Artistic Directors
  • Ceramic art by Sandra Zebi
  • Sculptures by Cachoeira artist Fory Nascimento and paintings by D’Castro, to name a few.

During this campaign, we will provide you with updates on our social media pages, including live conversations with the co-artistic directors, company members, elder Iya Agba Cici spinning an orixa story, conversations with our Dancing at the Source master teachers, and conversations with you, our donor friends worldwide!

We are hopeful and excited about reaching this essential fundraising goal by May 31, 2024. Your love and generosity for Viver Brasil is unending, and we are so grateful for you.

With deep appreciation and respect,

Linda Yudin, Luiz Badaró and Vera Passos, Co-Artistic Directors