Stephanie Emmanuela started training intensively in the Silvestre Technique while living in Salvador, Brazil with Rosangela Silvestre and Vera Passos in 2007. After spending over 6 months dancing at the source, she went back to the US briefly, and returned to Salvador in 2008 to fully immerse herself in the dance culture there. She lived there for over 4 years determined to gain as much knowledge in the technique and the local dance culture as possible. While living there Stephanie was selected to attend the Professional Dance Training Program at FUNCEB and trained closely with the world acclaimed Balé Folclorico da Bahia.

 

In 2011, Stephanie Emmanuela became 1 of 7 certified Silvestre Technique Instructors from the US, which is highly selective process, and taught the Silvestre Technique at FUNCEB in Salvador.

 

Vera Passos, Rosangela Silvestre’s protégé, and the artistic director of the Silvestre Technique Intensive and Viver Brazil, invited Stephanie to teach her ongoing Silvestre Technique classes at FUNCEB while she went on tour in the US with Viver Brazil. This was a new phase of understanding for Stephanie which deepened her commitment to the work, and love of the technique.

 

Stephanie was selected by Vera Passos to be her primary teaching assistant and personal translator at the 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 & 2018 Silvestre Technique month-long dance intensives.

While living in Salvador Stephanie performed professionally with the the Norma Santana Dance Company, Attomos Dance Company, and Diaspora Dance Company. She also performed works by many other notable choreographers such as Rosangela Silvestre, Vera Passos, Paco Gomes, Nildinha Fonseca and Augusto Omolu.

 

In 2012 & 2015 Stephanie was invited as a guest soloist dancer for Nei Sacramento’s Afro-Brazilian Jazz Ensemble, O Kontra, dancing for Yemanja and Oya Iansa respectively.

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When Stephanie moved to Santa Cruz she began to organize dance classes and workshops for Rosangela and Vera whenever they were on their Northern California tour. She also produced a dance festival in 2017 & 2018 Tracing Diasporas which featured Vera Passos as a guest choreographer along with other Bay area artists, and featured Agua Doce Dance.

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This passion Stephanie has for dance from this region ignited her life-long journey of living and immersing herself in the dance culture of Bahia. She has taught Silvestre Technique at FUNCEB in Salvador, The 418 Project, Motion Pacific, SCBT, the Tannery World Dance Center, Saint Mary's College of California, Santa Rosa Community College and at ACDA. And continues to teach the technique and incorporates her knowledge in her choreographic works.

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