Cardoso Bruna Martin was born in Brazil in Salvador d Bahia. Salvador is the capital of Brazil’s north-eastern state of Bahia. It is known for its Portuguese colonial architecture, Afro-Brazilian culture, and a tropical coastline. Bruna had a very young mum who left her in the care of her grandparents until she herself, finished growing up. Mum had connections in Mallorca and when she was able to travel, she headed for the island, to relations, and began work in hospitality.
In the meantime, Bruna was living a Brazilian childhood full of music, street dancing and a beach culture. She was a serious child in school but loved the beat of the life outside her grandparent’s door. The time came, when she was six, when Mum had raised enough money, by working, to bring Bruna to Mallorca.
Such a shock for a six-year-old, who had never lived full time with Mum, to be here. Everything was new and a very different way of life. The colour of her skin was nothing in Brazil, but here people were inquisitive. In this time Mum married and had a daughter. Bruna was very happy to be a big sister but why did the baby have to be white? This colour dilemma influenced her growing up years as she was searching for her identity.
Bruna loved the opportunities Soller gave her at school and in the Basketball team. In spite of the difficult transition when she first arrived, she considers she was given the best gift in the world. She will ever be grateful to her mother for making it possible for her to live and grow up in Mallorca.
In Brazil everyone dances, and the summer dances are legendary. The whole community learns the dances of the summer and dance whenever they are played. Much beach life is taken up with impromptu Line Dances when the right song is played. This is men, women, children, grandparents, all giving themselves to summer music.
In Bruna’s College course in ‘Tourism Animation’ the dance was a big feature. Her exploration into the world of dance and culture grew in this time and ultimately took her to training in Barcelona to learn all about ‘Afro Yin’.
The combination of dance, yoga, energy, and personal development all exploded in her when she discovered the movement that is ‘Afro Yin’. To be part of Afro Dance and to learn to teach was her ambition. This took her for training and intensive workshops for a year in Barcelona. Now she is back with her own dance movement which is taking Palma by storm.
Today her dance continues…
