Casa Cultura

Sing + String: Sublime Choir meets Guitar Orchestra
2019-08-11 13:00 - 19:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Saint Charlie Tap Room & Grill, 386 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
A unique workshop where singers and guitarists come together to form an impromptu choir and guitar orchestra, learn a special arrangement of two beautiful songsand perform them live on the same day. Led by Ximena Abarca and Rose de la Montaña.
Beginners welcome.
Sunday, August 11th
Saint Charlie Taproom & Grill
286 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Click here for map

1:00-2:30pm
Guitar Workshop with Rose de la Montaña
BYO acoustic guitar. Scores and tabs will be provided.
Knowledge of basic chords in first position is all you need.
$20, book through trybooking.com/BDXLV
2:30-4:00pm
Singing Workshop with Ximena Abarca
A basic notion of harmony is the only requirement. You don’t need to read music.
$20, book through trybooking.com/BDXLV

Are you a guitarist AND singer? Sign up for both workshops!
$35, book through trybooking.com/BDXLV
4:30-5:30pm
Rehearsal. Everybody comes together to practice the 2 songs we learned.
5:30pm
Concert with bonus performances by Ximena and Rose.
In case you don’t know them…
Rose de La Montaña is a fingerstyle guitarist with a love for solo Latin American guitar music, where classical and contemporary popular guitar styles meet. Rose’s devotion to the guitar started from a young age and has continued into tertiary level, spanning various guitar teachers and music mentors from Australia to Latin America. Find out more about her at mountainroseguitar.com
Ximena Abarca is a Chilean pop singer. She debuted in 2003 as a solo artist at the Chilean TV show Protagonistas de la Musica. She won the first place in the TV show giving her the opportunity to perform at one of the biggest music festivals in Latin America: Festival de Viña del Mar. She released her first studio album in 2003 entitled “Punto de Partida” under the Warner label. She released her second album “Pro/Vocacion” in 2005. In this same period she ventured into the world of acting interpreting lead roles on TV and theatre. In 2007 she joined the band Ruch and released a new album “3.0”, touring extensively around Chile and the Americas. Also this year she signed to be the voice “Kimie” in the American version of the children’s show “Hi-5”. She settled in Australia a few years ago and has been performing, recording and teaching since her arrival. Her most recent project – Huanchaco – formed in 2010. It’s a World Fusion band who draw influences from a wide spectrum of sounds including Flamenco, Folk, Jazz, Gypsy, Classical and more. In 2018 2018 Huanchaco toured New Zealand performing in Wellington’s iconic Cuba Street night market and Auckland City Night markets with side shows in local venues. Find our more about her at ximenaabarca.org

Song Appetit with Rose de la Montaña
2019-05-01 18:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Wednesday 1/5 – 6:30pm
Song Appetit with Rose de la Montaña
In this series, a fabulous musician joins us for dinner and gives us an intimate opportunity to hear their story, their journey and their music…

This week we are delighted to welcome Rose de la Montaña, fingerstyle classical guitarist with a love for solo Latin American guitar music, where classical and contemporary popular guitar styles meet. Also a bandleader and arranger, Rose’s devotion to the guitar started from a young age and has continued into tertiary level, spanning various guitar teachers and music mentors from Australia to Latin America.

Wednesday, May 1st
6:30pm – 8:30pm
$30 (inc. dinner)
Tickets through www.trybooking.com/BAELG
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In support of Alisha’s Café Collective’s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, and in partnership with The Boite, the Song Appetit series seeks to bring community and artists closer together.
These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not just a show, but more of a tableside conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.
Tickets:
$30 (Dinner and convo)

We will start you off with a cup of chai and then serve a banquet-style dinner with all the deliciousness of Alisha’s exotic (and vegan) menu, including. Middle East and Europe-inspired flavours.

Song Appetit with Gelareh Pour
2019-04-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Wednesday 17/4 – 6:30pm
Song Appetit with Gelareh Pour
In this series, a fabulous musician joins us for dinner and gives us an intimate opportunity to hear their story, their journey and their music…
This week we are joined by Gelareh Pour, Iranian born, Persian Kamancheh, Qeychak Alto, singer and song writer. She studied her BA at the Art University of Tehran’s conservatorium and her Masters of Ethnomusicology at The University of Melbourne. She has completed her unique academic research on ‘The Lives of Iranian Women Singers in Diaspora’ at MCM in which she introduces the professional aspects of seven selected Iranian female singers’ lives before and after migration.
Gelareh has performed in Iran, Tajikistan, through-out Europe and is now based in Melbourne, Australia. Since arriving in Australia she has collaborated with some of the country’s most innovative experimental musicians.
Wednesday, April 17th
6:30pm – 8:30pm
$30 (inc. dinner)
Tickets through www.trybooking.com/BAELL
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In support of Alisha’s Café Collective’s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, and in partnership with The Boite, the Song Appetit series seeks to bring community and artists closer together.
These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not just a show, but more of a tableside conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.
Tickets: $30 (Dinner and convo)

We will start you off with a cup of chai and then serve a banquet-style dinner with all the deliciousness of Alisha’s exotic (and vegan) menu, including. Middle East and Europe-inspired flavours.

A journey into Forró and Choro
2019-04-13 11:00 - 15:00 | Saint Charlie Tap Room & Grill, 386 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
A 4-hour intensive journey into the rhythms and harmonies of Forró and Choro with Douglas Aguiar (guitar and percussion) and Ricardo Bona (accordion and keyboard). This workshop is for guitarists, pianists, accordionists and percussionists, as well as singers. Basic and advanced exercises can easily be combined into the workshops, so musicians of all levels are welcome.
Please note, you will need to bring your own instrument. Ideal instruments to bring: guitar, accordion, pandeiro, agogo, triangle, tamborim, zabumba.
The workshop will include:
• Rhythm and tempo exercises
• Technique tips
• Forró and Choro styles
The workshop will conclude with a short concert by Douglas and Ricardo, showcasing the lessons learned during the day.
Saturday, April 13 – 11:00am to 3:00pm
Saint Charlie Tap Room & Grill
386 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Tickets $40 through trybooking.com/BBWRN
One-on-One 1-hour sessions with Douglas (Guitar or Pandeiro) and Ricardo (Accordion) are available at 3:00pm, 4:00pm and 5:00pm. Cost: $80 ($60 if you book a ticket for the workshop). Details at trybooking.com/BBWRN.
About Douglas Aguiar
Guitarist and percussionist born in Brazil. He studied at Villa Lobos Music Conservatory in São Paulo and extended his practice into Flamenco guitar while living in Spain in 2000.
2004 saw the launch of his first album “Outras Bossas”. The second album was released in 2008 “Boca a Boca”. From 2009 to 2011 he recorded a series of live video performances which showcased new songs. In 2013 he moved to Sydney, and has since been promoting music and culture around Australia. In 2018 he launched the single PERO, produced by Rodrigo Fonseca and recorded in an amazing and long travel among Brazil-Spain-Australia
In Sydney, he is part of some musical projects including ForAll Band, Sydney Choro Club, The Clan B. Currently is part of the Forró Australia team and is collaborating with the Forró Australia project.
Links:
Boca a Boca: open.spotify.com/artist/5EwRSzYb1vpVf2Zsf72zE0
Pero: open.spotify.com/track/4mseKyzQoIEOIkx5jmd3w6
About Ricardo Bona
Ricardo Bona is an accordionist, music teacher, composer, and a graduate of the University of Sao Paulo (USP). Ricardo completed his thesis at USP under the guidance of Ivan Vilela on the subject ‘The Brazilian oral teaching tradition of accordion.’ He also studied at the AWM Conservatory with Alvaro Couto, and the Sao Paulo State Music School with Guilherme Ribeiro and Josue dos Santos. Ricardo has taken classes with renowned artists such as Oswaldinho do Acordeon, Toninho Ferragutti and Chico Chagas. He has studied and played a wide range of musical styles, including choro, forró, musica caipira, sertanejo, classical, jazz, tango and regional folk music.
He has also played with many recognized artists in Brazil, among the most famous including Rastape Band, Peixe Eletrico, Praieira, Kanavia, Celia and Celma, Tiao Carvalho, and Fabio de Mello.
Ricardo arrived in Australia in August 2017 and has been building his career playing choro, jazz, tango and Brazilian popular music. He attended the Woodford festival in 2017, as well as other festivals in Sydney and Canberra. Recently he was invited to represent Brazilian music at the international accordion festival in Sydney.
More at facebook.com/ricardobonaoficial/

Song Appetit with Allara
2019-04-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Wednesday 3/4 – 6:30pm
Song Appetit with Allara
In this series, a fabulous musician joins us for dinner and gives us an intimate opportunity to hear their story, their journey and their music…

In this session, we will enjoy the company of Allara, a Yorta Yorta woman who has an enchanting glow when she performs both upright and standard bass.
Reflecting on a journey through her own deepest passions instrumentally and via her word smith skills and smooth earthy vocals this collision of hip hop, neo soul, blues, and reggae is an empowering thematic exploration of culture, spirituality, and the environment.
Lose yourself in a swirl of sound as she creates a sweet tangle of electric bass, double bass and looped tones. All fused with her bright glowing spirt, Allara’s emotive compositions resonate with dark frequencies and soaring melodies. Orchestral bowed harmonies swell over electronic beats and traditional clap stick rhythms creating a truly unique sound.

Wednesday, April 3rd
6:30pm – 8:30pm
$10 or $30 (inc. dinner)
Tickets through www.trybooking.com/BAELK
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In support of Alisha’s Café Collective’s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, and in partnership with The Boite, the Song Appetit series seeks to bring community and artists closer together.
These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not just a show, but more of a tableside conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.
Tickets:
$30 (Dinner and convo)
$10 (Just convo)
Dinner includes your choice of plate and a cup of chai.
East of the Middle Plate
Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.
Middle of the East Plate
Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.
West of the Middle Plate
Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Circle Singing with Bonnie Smith
2019-03-31 16:30 - 18:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Circle Singing is discovering your vocal expression through improvisation, movement and experimentation. You don’t have to call yourself a singer to be a part of the circle. It is about being in a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your creative potential. Circle singing doesn’t require perfection, rather a willingness to connect deeply with your voice, sing with an open heart and listen with big ears! Be prepared to be open minded, be prepared to take risks, be prepared to be ridiculous, and be prepared for the unknown!
Bonnie Smith is a singer, composer, piano player and guitarist. World music extraordinaire, she sings in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Turkish and English. She has travelled extensively throughout the Americas and Europe where she has taken her music on the road. She is one of the primary vocal teachers at Melbourne Polytechnic and lead facilitator of “Circle Singing”, which explores the art of improvising in the moment. With over ten years of experience teaching to adults and children, she understands the journey of music as a self-help tool and loves teaching for fun and joy. She relishes in the benefits singing and music can provide to gain a deeper sense of connection to one’s self and others.
Upstairs at Alisha’s Café Collective, 313 Lygon Street Brunswick East
Sunday, March 31, 4:30-6:30pm
$25/session
Book your spot through www.trybooking.com/ZHQK

The Musical Body Introduction Session
2019-03-30 10:00 - 13:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
About The Musical Body Introduction Session

Love to co-create and play with others?

Interested in creativity and your voice?

In a nutshell: The Musical Body is about FREEDOM, JOY, PRESENCE, CO-CREATIVITY AND PLAYFULNESS for anyone with a song in their heart.

In this workshop we will begin to explore the connections between body, voice, breath, sound, silence, rhythm, imagination, movement, text, life and music.

It will give you a small taste of the beginning phases of The Musical Body process; which usually takes place in two hour sessions over a 6 week series or two and a half day immersion with a limit of six participants per workshop.

This workshop will be of interest to anyone who is brand new to the work, who is a shower singer, or who thinks they can’t sing. Also, it will be of interest to those who have lots of experience or who are advanced musicians.

“An empowered rich experience that alters your world for the better. Knowing and working with Charlotte has allowed me to grow and deepen my personal connection with not just my music but myself as a human…[gets] your creative juices flowing.”

About Charlotte Roberts
Charlotte has spent her whole life practicing being a kid when it comes to creative music and improvised singing: she never stopped experimenting! So, The Musical Body supports people to connect to their creativity, musicality, voice and connect with all these things as a tool for personal and social change.

Cooking up a Convo with DRMNGNOW aka Neil Morris
2019-03-28 18:30 - 21:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Cooking up a Convo with DRMNGNOW aka Neil Morris
Cultural Responsiblity of Arts Practice: Advocacy is my inheritance.
Neil will be providing a discussion on how he uses his art to challenge anglocentric narratives of identity and place, and how he sees his art as a cultural responsibility tool which crosses the boundaries of music industry into community and advocacy spaces. Neil will delve into Yorta Yorta history and how his people’s journey has shaped his purpose in the now as a prolific artist, educator, advocate for change and community member.
About DRMNGNOW
DRMNGNOW aka Neil Morris is a Yorta Yorta, Independent Artist based in Naarm/Birraranga (Melbourne). Neil has a sound and approach which makes him one of the most unique artists in the country, bringing a striking interdisciplinary approach to his art as an MC, instrumentalist, poet and songwriter.
Neil has been prolific since first emerging in 2015, performing and creating sound for live performance, theatre, film and countless other initiatives.
He operates with a clear focus on using his arts practice in community building for Indigenous peoples. Neil gives particular attention outside of his own creativity to curating events centring first people’s musicians/poets/artists, always seeking opportunities to help grow the next wave of indigenous musicians.
His most recent release ‘Ancestors’ is an inspiring dedication piece to the heritage and considerations people can walk with. It was nominated as Beat Magazine Single of the Week, PBS-FM Feature, FBI radio feature, and went to #2 nationally on AMRAP Metro charts.

Thursday, March 28 at 6:30pm

Upstairs at Alisha’s Café Collective

Tickets through www.trybooking.com/BBACS

$30 (Dinner and convo)

$10 (Just convo)

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In support Alisha’s Café Collective‘s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, we are partnering to offer a series of conversations with inspirational people that bring their knowledge and experience to contribute to our health, confidence, creativity and wellbeing.

These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not at all a lecture, but more of a table-side conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.

Dinner your choice of plate (see below) and a cup of chai.

East of the Middle Plate

Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.

Middle of the East Plate

Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.

West of the Middle Plate

Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Wayapa Wuurrk Full Day Immersion Workshop
2019-03-17 10:00 - 14:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Wayapa, is an Indigenous practice to help individuals re-connect with themselves, their spirit and the Earth.

Come along and spend the day with certified practitioner Allara, as she shares stories and knowledge based on her Yorta Yorta culture as well as sharing the physical practise of Wayapa Wuurk.
This full day workshop includes a detailed introduction of Wayapa, listening and sharing of stories about the 14 Wayapa elements, a guest speaker and a delicious vegetarian/vegan lunch supplied by Alisha’s Café Collective.
The day will conclude with a special performance from Allara who shares her connection though music and song, using double bass, a loop pedal, and an earthy vocal delivery of original poetry.
About Allara
Allara has been a certified and practicing Wayapa Wuurrk-er since the inaugural diploma intake in 2016. Wayapa Wuurrk means Connect Country – in Gunditjmara and Gunnai Kurnai language. She delivers a unique Wayapa experience for anyone wanting to become more connected to the Earth through sharing stories about her connection to country based on her knoledge of Yorta Yorta Country and Culture, she gives advice for others on how to take care of the earth, inherently healing both country and ourselves.
Sunday, March 17th
10:00am–2:00pm
Cost: $70 Full/$65 Concession
If the cost is a barrier and you’d like to attend, please send a private message through our Facebook page Nyini Woka
For more information visit nyiniwoka.com

Song Appetit with Daniel Jauregui
2019-03-06 18:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Wednesday 6/3 – 6:30pm
Song Appetit with Daniel Jauregui
In this series, a fabulous musician joins us for dinner and gives us an intimate opportunity to hear their story, their journey and their music…

This week we will be in the company of Daniel Jauregui, Grammy laureate, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, born in Caracas, Venezuela. His professional career started at 14 as a session musician at one of Venezuela’s main TV stations. Since then, he has performed, recorded, composed and produced uninterruptedly for 17 years. With an active career as an international session musician, he has shared stage with top international artist like Shakira and Juan Luis Guerra. In Australia since 2012 he has quickly risen to a pivotal role in the music scene collaborating with artists like Kutcha Edwards and Kavisha Mazzella. As a producer and session musician, his name has been credited in over 50 releases. He has been nominated to 3 Latin Grammys and won 2 (2010 Best Tropical Fusion Album and 2012 Best Tropical Song).

Wednesday, March 6th
6:30pm – 8:30pm
$10 or $30 (inc. dinner)
Tickets through www.trybooking.com/BAELE
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In support of Alisha’s Café Collective’s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, and in partnership with The Boite, the Song Appetit series seeks to bring community and artists closer together.
These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not just a show, but more of a tableside conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.
Tickets:
$30 (Dinner and convo)
$10 (Just convo)
Dinner includes your choice of plate and a cup of chai.
East of the Middle Plate
Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.
Middle of the East Plate
Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.
West of the Middle Plate
Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Cooking up a Convo with Jaime Wilson
2019-02-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Cooking up a Convo with Jaime Wilson – Immigrant Theatre
In Australia the concept of migration is part of our daily vocabulary. Jaime Wilson discusses the distinction between immigrant and universal art, drawing on his own vast experience as a migrant and theatre person. As historian Robert Harney pointed out, immigrant theatre, more than any other institution, served to “affirm the existence of ethnic community.”

About Jaime
Jaime Wilson has worked as an actor, drama teacher and theatre director for more than 40 years in Chile as well as Australia. As an actor he performed in important theatre productions in Chile. In Australia he has directed several plays and theatre groups, and teaches Drama in High Schools. Jaime has travelled extensively throughout South America researching how theatre is produced in different communities and geographies. In Melbourne he formed “The Bridge, Teatro Latino”, a theatre company whose aims are to produce theatre that represents the view and the spirit of the Latin American people.

Thursday, February 28 at 6:30pm

Upstairs at Alisha’s Café Collective

Tickets through www.trybooking.com/BARAG

$30 (Dinner and convo)

$10 (Just convo)

—————————

In support Alisha’s Café Collective‘s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, we are partnering to offer a series of conversations with inspirational people that bring their knowledge and experience to contribute to our health, confidence, creativity and wellbeing.

These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not at all a lecture, but more of a table-side conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.

Dinner your choice of plate (see below) and a cup of chai.

East of the Middle Plate

Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.

Middle of the East Plate

Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.

West of the Middle Plate

Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Brazilian Warrior Dance with Zulmara
2019-02-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
A workshop to connect women with their ancestors through dance. A powerful movement of transformation and awareness about the integration of the parts of the women: the feminine, the mother and the professional.
Brazilian Warrior Dance is a new experiential process that seeks to transform women through the body action of dance at the spiritual level leading to personal growth. Leading and reaching for new insights with the overcoming of barriers to convey the ancestral feminine knowledge.
It is a unique blend of dance, Brazilian rhythms and a transformational process to reach your Ancestral Feminine Principle. It enables women to access ancient wisdom, healing and new clarity to meet the future with courage, strength and knowledge, so no matter what, we women know The Truth: “I AM WOMAN, I AM INVINCIBLE”
About Zulmara
Zulmara Camargo is a physical education and dance teacher. She also is a Systemic Therapy facilitator certified in the therapeutic method of “Family Constellation”, discovered by Bert Hellinger.
Wednesday, February 27th
6:30pm–8:30pm
Tickets: $25 at the door
Presales: $20 through trybooking.com/BAUMY
For more information visit fourhandsbodytherapies.com

Wayapa Wuurrk Introductory Workshop
2019-02-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Wayapa, is an Indigenous practice to help individuals re-connect with themselves, their spirit and the Earth.

Come along and spend an evening with certified practitioner Allara as she introduces and explains the 14 elements of Wayapa and how to re-reconnect with Mother Earth. Allara shares stories and knowledge based on her Yorta Yorta culture as well as give you an opportunity to experience the physical practise, (an Indigenous modality similar to Tia Chi/Yoga but based on connecting to the Earth).
About Allara
Allara has been a certified and practicing Wayapa Wuurrk-er since the inaugural diploma intake in 2016. Wayapa Wuurrk means Connect Country – in Gunditjmara and Gunnai Kurnai language. She delivers a unique Wayapa experience for anyone wanting to become more connected to the Earth through sharing stories about her connection to country based on her knoledge of Yorta Yorta Country and Culture, she gives advice for others on how to take care of the earth, inherently healing both country and ourselves.
Wednesday, February 6th
6:00pm–8:00pm
$15 through eventbrite.com.au
For more information visit nyiniwoka.com

Taller de escritura creativa/catártica con Cloé Karagozlu
2019-01-31 18:30 - 20:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Un taller de escritura creativa para quien tenga ganas de escribir, expresarse, leer, etc. Algunos poemas, lápiz y papel. ¡No se necesita nada más! Solo ganas. Al principio de cada clase, vamos a leer una selección de poemas y después vamos a escribir a partir de una consigna que funcione como disparador.
Sobre Cloé Karagozlu
Cloé escribe para desentrañar y entender. Para vomitar palabras y nadar en la claridad. Escribe desde que tiene memoria, en blogs que ahora nadan perdidos en la galaxia digital y en cuadernos de hojas blancas, sin líneas ni estructuras. Realizó varios talleres de escritura en Buenos Aires, con Liliana Costa Staksrud, Santiago Llach y Juli Troielli, con quien empezó a sumergirse en la poesía. Hoy, desde Melbourne, escribe tentempiés diarios en una cuenta de instagram, ya no sabemos qué tan secreta: @araxie___
Upstairs at Alisha’s Café Collective, 313 Lygon St. Brunswick East
Jueves 31 de enero, 6:30-8:00
$15
Bookings essential through www.trybooking.com/BACCA

Song Appetit with Carlos Meza
2019-01-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Wednesday 30/1 – 6:30pm
Song Appetit with Carlos Meza
In this series, a fabulous musician joins us for dinner and gives us an intimate opportunity to hear their story, their journey and their music…
This week’s guest will be Carlos Meza, a singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist who blends many different influences and rhythms into his very unique and peculiar sound: a fusion of a notorious Latin flavours that address issues of social struggle and transmits messages of freedom, peace, love and unity.
Born into a “Vallenato” (traditional Colombian style of music) family in Valledupar, Colombia, Carlos learned from a very young age to play percussion instruments as well as singing. In Australia since 2013, he now leads Meza, his eponymous original music project set to release its first studio album in February 2019.
Wednesday, January 30th
6:30pm – 8:30pm
$10 or $30 (inc. dinner)
Tickets through www.trybooking.com/BADLD
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In support of Alisha’s Café Collective’s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, and in partnership with The Boite, the Song Appetit series seeks to bring community and artists closer together.
These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not just a concert, but more of a table-side conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.
Tickets:
$30 (Dinner and convo)
$10 (Just convo)
Dinner includes your choice of plate and a cup of chai.
East of the Middle Plate
Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.
Middle of the East Plate
Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.
West of the Middle Plate
Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Spanish through Song with Ximena Abarca
2019-01-30 16:30 - 17:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Spanish through Song is a workshop created to help kids learn Spanish through music in a fun and playful way. Using original songs, the workshop will teach children vocabulary as well as rhythm, team work and confidence. Recommended for children aged 5-12. Parents are encouraged to participate.
Ximena Abarca is a Chilean/Australian singer-songwriter whose career took off in 2003 when she won a TV singer’s contest in Chile. Since then she hasn’t stopped playing and recording. One of the highlights in her career was to be the voice over for Hi- 5 Latin America, as Kimmy, transmitted through Discovery Channel. Over the years her style has evolved from pop to world fusion sounds. Moving from Chile to Australia led her to bring to her music her roots and nostalgia of a faraway land.
Upstairs at Alisha’s Café Collective, 313 Lygon St. Brunswick East
Wednesdays 4:30-5:30
Resumes Wednesday January 30th. Runs weekly until April 3.
Single session: $15 – term pass (10 sessions): $80
Bookings essential through www.trybooking.com/BACBS

Sound Bath Meditation
2019-01-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
You’re invited to sink into your yoga mat and receive the powerful healing frequencies of Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, drums and other instruments. An opportunity for you to unplug, relax and immerse yourself in a deeply meditative journey.
No two sound meditations are the same and everyone’s experience is different. A welcoming, cosy and safe space will be created for you to completely surrender to the vibrations and allow the sounds to take you wherever your mind, body and soul desires.
Whether this is your first time or you’re a seasoned meditator, absolutely everybody is welcome and able to reach a state of bliss.
Please ensure that you arrive at 6:50pm for 7:00pm start. Due to the nature of this event late admittance is not possible and booking in advance is essential.
Yoga mat and cushions will be provided.
What to bring?
– Water bottle
– Light blanket if weather is cooler
– Eye mask or something to cover your eyes
– A readiness to get completely chilled out

Wayapa Wuurrk Free Introductory Workshop
2019-01-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Wayapa, is an Indigenous practice to help individuals re-connect with themselves, their spirit and the Earth.

Come along and spend an evening with certified practitioner Allara as she introduces and explains the 14 elements of Wayapa and how to re-reconnect with Mother Earth. Allara shares stories and knowledge based on her Yorta Yorta culture as well as give you an opportunity to experience the physical practise, (an Indigenous modality similar to Tia Chi/Yoga but based on connecting to the Earth).
About Allara
Allara has been a certified and practicing Wayapa Wuurrk-er since the inaugural diploma intake in 2016. Wayapa Wuurrk means Connect Country – in Gunditjmara and Gunnai Kurnai language. She delivers a unique Wayapa experience for anyone wanting to become more connected to the Earth through sharing stories about her connection to country based on her knoledge of Yorta Yorta Country and Culture, she gives advice for others on how to take care of the earth, inherently healing both country and ourselves.
Wednesday, January 23rd
6:00pm-8:00pm
Free, but please register at eventbrite.com.au
For more information visit nyiniwoka.com

Song Appetit with Salvatore Rossano
2019-01-16 18:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Wednesday 16/1 – 6:30pm
Song Appetit with Salvatore Rossano
In this series, a fabulous musician joins us for dinner and gives us an intimate opportunity to hear their story, their journey and their music…
Our first guest will be Salvatore Rossano, composer, ethnomusicologist, accordionist and guitarist who grew up performing the music of Puglia and Basilicata. He leads the band Santa Taranta and is currently undertaking the ‘Sonu ’ project for the National Library of Australia to celebrate Italian folk music in Australia.
Wednesday, January 16th
6:30pm – 8:30pm
$10 or $30 (inc. dinner)
Tickets through www.trybooking.com/BADED
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In support of Alisha’s Café Collective’s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, and in partnership with The Boite, the Song Appetit series seeks to bring community and artists closer together.
These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not just a show, but more of a tableside conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.
Tickets:
$30 (Dinner and convo)
$10 (Just convo)
Dinner includes your choice of plate and a cup of chai.
East of the Middle Plate
Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.
Middle of the East Plate
Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.
West of the Middle Plate
Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Monday Night Yoga with Shari
2019-01-14 19:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Let’s move, play and explore the breath and shapes of our yoga asana practice.
Shari is a yoga practitioner that brings both playfulness and mindfulness to her classes and enjoys sharing her practice of yoga with all levels from newbies to gurus.
Mondays, 7:30-8:30pm
$15/$10 (at the door)
info: casacultura.org

Sunday Yin Yoga with Shari
2019-01-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Take your time, slow down and sink into your practice in this special Sunday morning all-level Yin Yoga class. Then stick around for lunch with the group and get to know everyone a bit more.
Shari is a yoga practitioner that brings both playfulness and mindfulness to her classes and enjoys sharing her practice of yoga with all levels from newbies to gurus.
Sunday January 13th
10:00am – 12:00am
Tickets $15/$10 from trybooking.com/BACMF
After the session, you are invited to stay and have lunch with the group and get to know everyone a bit more. Lunch includes your choice of plate and a cup of chai, tea or coffee.
East of the Middle Plate
Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.
Middle of the East Plate
Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.
West of the Middle Plate
Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Manifesting Mindfulness
2019-01-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Designed to bring like-minded beings together, this workshop delivers a unique combination of meditation, mindfulness tools and intention setting that will leave you feeling connected and inspired for the day and the week ahead. It will be a space to fine tune your magical manifesting skills and re-align with your authentic power as a creator.

About Stephanie
Stephanie is a bright light—a humble, humorous and powerful being who believes in the positive effects of energy, flow and transformation. A qualified lawyer, a prized world-ranked cheerleader and dancer, a marathoner, a singer, and currently an events and experiences guru, Stephanie wears many hats, but is most gifted at bringing the best out of others in her coaching sessions and through the events she hosts and creates.

Upstairs at Alisha’s Café Collective, 313 Lygon St. Brunswick East
Saturday December 20, 6:30-8:00
Tickets: $15/$10 or ($35/$30 inc. lunch)
Bookings essential through www.trybooking.com/ZWPW

After the session, you are invited to stay and have lunch with all the participants and share insights into your experience. Lunch includes your choice of plate and a cup of chai, tea or coffee.

East of the Middle Plate
Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.

Middle of the East Plate
Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.

West of the Middle Plate
Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Taller de escritura creativa/catártica con Cloé Karagozlu
2018-12-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Un taller de escritura creativa para quien tenga ganas de escribir, expresarse, leer, etc. Algunos poemas, lápiz y papel. ¡No se necesita nada más! Solo ganas. Al principio de cada clase, vamos a leer una selección de poemas y después vamos a escribir a partir de una consigna que funcione como disparador.
Sobre Cloé Karagozlu
Cloé escribe para desentrañar y entender. Para vomitar palabras y nadar en la claridad. Escribe desde que tiene memoria, en blogs que ahora nadan perdidos en la galaxia digital y en cuadernos de hojas blancas, sin líneas ni estructuras. Realizó varios talleres de escritura en Buenos Aires, con Liliana Costa Staksrud, Santiago Llach y Juli Troielli, con quien empezó a sumergirse en la poesía. Hoy, desde Melbourne, escribe tentempiés diarios en una cuenta de instagram, ya no sabemos qué tan secreta: @araxie___
Upstairs at Alisha’s Café Collective, 313 Lygon St. Brunswick East
Thursday December 20, 6:30-8:00
$15
Bookings essential through www.trybooking.com/ZWOM

Sunday Yin Yoga
2018-12-09 17:30 - 18:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Sunday Yin Yoga: Let’s take our time, slow down and sink into our practice.
Yoga with Shari: Shari is a yoga practitioner that brings both playfulness and mindfulness to her classes and enjoys sharing her practice of yoga with all levels from newbies to gurus.
Cost: $15/$10 Concession

Cooking up a Convo with Arnold Zable
2018-12-06 18:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Cooking up a Convo with Arnold Zable – The power of story: A writer’s journey

Drawing on three decades as a writer of fiction and non-fiction, ranging from short story and features, to novels and memoir, Zable will explore the inspirations, sources of ideas, and lessons learnt in confronting the empty page, and bringing many works to fruition. The journey has led to an understanding of the power of story, and how to give voice to oneself, and how to inspire others to find their voice.
Arnold Zable is an acclaimed writer, novelist, storyteller, and human rights advocate. His books include Jewels and Ashes, Cafe Scheherazade, The Fig Tree, Scraps of Heaven, Sea of Many Returns, Violin Lessons and The Fighter. He is the author of numerous essays, columns, features, stories, and works for theatre. A guest lecturer in universities in Australia and internationally, he has run workshops with refugees, immigrants, the homeless, the deaf, Black Saturday bushfire survivors and others using writing as a means of self-understanding. In 2017, he was awarded the Australia Council Fellowship for Literature.

Thursday, December 6 at 6:30pm

Upstairs at Alisha’s Café Collective

Tickets through www.trybooking.com/ZLVI

$30 (Dinner and convo)

$10 (Just convo)

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In support Alisha’s Café Collective‘s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, we are partnering to offer a series of conversations with inspirational people that bring their knowledge and experience to contribute to our health, confidence, creativity and wellbeing.

These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not at all a lecture, but more of a table-side conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.

Dinner your choice of plate (see below) and a cup of chai.

East of the Middle Plate

Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.

Middle of the East Plate

Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.

West of the Middle Plate

Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Monday Night Yoga
2018-12-03 19:30 - 20:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Monday night yoga: Let’s move, play and explore the breath and shapes of our yoga asana practice.
Yoga with Shari: Shari is a yoga practitioner that brings both playfulness and mindfulness to her classes and enjoys sharing her practice of yoga with all levels from newbies to gurus.
Cost: $15/$10 Concession

Well Being with Dr. James Khong
2018-12-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
After practicing medicine for over 50 years, Dr. James Khong, concerned by a level of chronic diseases not unlike an epidemic, has turned to preventative health practices. Rather than continue relying on prescription drugs, he suggests an approach to wellness based on three pillars: nutrition, physical fitness and mental peace.
Join Dr. Khong every week as he shares lessons and ideas that put the joys of our wellbeing back in our own hands. From acupuncture to zen, exploring techniques and tips to live a fuller, healthier life, less reliant on treatments, diets and drugs.
Weekly 90-min session.
Cost: $15/$12 (Concession)
Tickets: www.trybooking.com/ZQVB

Cooking up a Convo with Husna Pasha: Secrets of a Corporate Escapee
2018-11-29 18:30 - 21:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
Cooking up a Convo with Husna Pasha: Secrets of a Corporate Escapee

Husna has many strings to her bow, from a successful corporate career to her outstanding talk show (cum-documentary for ABC Compass). 18 years into her corporate life, she understood that we’re all part of a system that creates unintentional politics and that, a little bit too often, crushes people’s vision and dreams. She is a now corporate escapee and believes that that success comes from the creating and maintaining wonderful relationships. Join Husna as she inspires the audience with her story and the secrets of a corporate escapee.

Thursday, November 29 at 6:30pm

Upstairs at Alisha’s Café Collective

Tickets through www.trybooking.com/YWBI

$30 (Dinner and convo)

$10 (Just convo)

—————————

In support Alisha’s Café Collective‘s aim of creating happier people and Casa Cultura’s mission of nurturing a collaborative and connected community that embraces and celebrates diversity, we are partnering to offer a series of conversations with inspirational people that bring their knowledge and experience to contribute to our health, confidence, creativity and wellbeing.

These events will be hosted over dinner, upstairs at Alisha’s, in a relaxed environment making them not at all a lecture, but more of a table-side conversation where questions, retorts and insights are more than welcome.

Dinner your choice of plate (see below) and a cup of chai.

East of the Middle Plate

Flavours from India and its surrounds including rice, curries, roti, spicy pickles and seasonal spiced besan battered veggies.

Middle of the East Plate

Gateaux Piment (Mauritian chili cake), brown lentil rice, seasonal Moroccan spiced veggies, haloumi cheese, warm pita bread, baba ganoush, hommus and besan floured veggies.

West of the Middle Plate

Deep fried polenta, mushroom rago, pesto roast pumpkin, balsamic Caprisi salad, pasta salad with chili oil, grated zucchini and parmesan, lentil Bolognese sauce and antipasti bits with crusty garlic bread.

Joe White: Ethiopian & still not hungry (MICF 2018 Encore)
2018-11-24 20:00 - 22:00 | Upstairs at Alisha’s, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, Australia
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Joe White returns to Alisha’s to perform an “ENCORE” of his 2018 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY SHOW!
“Ethiopian-Australian comedian Joe White “he’s been called down under’s Trevor Noah” – NEW YORK POST
“Slick, likeable performer who smoothly worked the room” “he’s on the tamer side of edgy” “his delivery is not angry or hard, its so relaxed that you can’t help going with his flow” – HERALD SUN
A regular on the Australian comedy circuit and Winner of Perth Fringe World Festival Gong Comedy Comp, Winner of Mandurah Crabfest Comedy Comp, Winner of Next Gen Comedy Perth’s Best Comic, WA Funny Faces runner up, Nominated for best comedy at Perth Fringe World Festival, Sold out shows at Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Perth Fringe World Festival, Played full house shows in Montreal and Toronto, Canada in 2017, attended the Just For Laughs Montreal ComedyPro Conference 2017 and now you can see an ENCORE of his Melbourne International Comedy Festival Show 2018.

La música que nos nace y nos hace
2018-11-24 15:30 - 17:00 | No Vacancy Gallery, QV Melbourne, 34-40 Jane Bell Ln, Melbouren, Victoria, 3000, Australia
A close encounter with a group of musicians originally from Latin America or closely connected to it. In this intimate performance, the guest musicians will share their story and the role that music has played in shaping their experiences and their identity, and how it has influenced their connection to the Americas. They will, of course, also perform a handful of original and traditional songs from their repertoire. The evening will include performances by Alejandro Vargas, Ximena Abarca, Rodolfo Hechavarria Despaigne Panga and Bonnie Smith.
Un encuentro cercano con un consorte de músicos originarios de América Latino o muy cercanos a ella. En este íntimo evento, los invitados compartirán sus historias, conversarán acerca del papel que la música ha jugado en forjar sus experiencias y su identidad, y acerca de cómo repercute sobre su conexión con las Américas. Por supuesto, también interpretarán un manojo de canciones originales y tradicionales de su repertorio. Participarán como invitados Alejandro Vargas, Ximena Abarca, Rodolfo Hechavarria Despaigne Panga y Bonnie Smith.
Supported by Victorian Multicultural Commission
