• About Us
  • How PC started
  • Mission, Philosophy,
    & Vision
  • Staff
  • Events
  • Advisory Board
  • Testimonials
  • Fiscal Sponsor & Funders
• Programs
  • Why is PC needed?
  • Direct services to youth
  • Adult education and community support
  • Upcoming Workshops
• Class Schedule
  • Winter 2010
    Schedule
  • Additional Programs
• Resources
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Research and Links
• Get Involved
  • Community Workshops
  • Wishlist
  • Support Project Commotion
• Contact Us!

Staff

Co-Founders, Project Commotion: Chagua Camacho-Olguín and Susan Osterhoff

Chagua Camacho-Olguín and Susan Osterhoff work with children from ages 8 months to 18 years in recreational gymnastics, capoeira, and movement programs. The two developed a strong friendship through their common practice of capoeira and studying the Feldenkrais Method in "Awareness Through Movement" classes. Their mutual dedication to their work with children and love for movement inspired them to enroll together in child development classes at City College of San Francisco, where they studied and gained volunteer experience in local child development centers before founding Project Commotion.

Chagua Camacho-Olguín

Chagua has worked with children of diverse ages and abilities for over 7 years, including more than twenty children on the autism spectrum with whom she has seen overwhelmingly positive results in their abilities to understand their bodies and develop improved social skills. PC’s curricula is influenced by her studies and training with renowned child psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Perry. Her work has been included in a study by UCSF Department of Physical Therapy and Rehab Science. She has led movement classes for severely emotionally disturbed children from San Francisco Burt's Children's Center.

Chagua brings her passion for sensory integration and a spirit of possibility to her work with children and families. She holds a Certificate in Child Development and Family Studies from City College of San Francisco, and completed the course of study in Economics in Mexico City, Mexico. She holds a Safety Certification and a KAT Certification (Kinder Accreditation for Teachers) from USA Gymnastics.

Susan Osterhoff

Susan has 9 years of experience with children of all ages and abilities in movement programs at recreational after-school programs as well as in the San Francisco Unified School District. Susan discovered the art of capoeira in 1996, which nourished her love of movement – primarily being upside-down – and inspired her to combine this passion with her joy and fascination of working with children. Now with over 10 years of training under world-renowned Mestre Urubu Malandro, she is a graduated student, known in the Capoeira world as “Professora Formiguinha.” Susan has created multiple Capoeira programs for youth ages 3 and up, and is excited to be directing the Youth Capoeira program at Project Commotion!

Susan is also a faculty member in the Child Development and Family Studies Department at City College of San Francisco. She holds a BS in Communications from the University of Michican, a Certificate of Completion in Child Development/General from the City College of San Francisco, and both a Safety Certification and a KAT (Kinder Accreditation for Teachers) Certification, from USA Gymnastics. She is currently pursuing a Feldenkrais Training Certification at the Institute for the Study of Somatic Education in San Francisco.

Also at Project Commotion:

Mestre Urubu Malandro, Capoeira USA

Capoeira is a martial art developed over 400 years ago by African slaves in Brazil. The slaves, not allowed to practice movements to protect themselves, developed a form of movement that disguised their self-defense strategies as a dance, using instruments and songs. Today, Capoeira is a popular art form practiced all over the world that teaches us about Afro-Brazilian history, ritual, and culture through its dynamic movement and music.

Mestre Urubu Malandro, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, founded Capoeira USA in 1996. He is a graduated Mestre under the esteemed Brazillian Mestre Suassuna. Throughout his 20+ year career in Capoeira, Mestre Urubu has traveled the world, bringing his wealth of experience and profound sense of joy to his work with children and adults. Mestre Urubu is also an accomplished percussionist, with extensive knowledge of Brazillian rhythms, including classic samba, afoxé, and the sacred rhythms of candomble.

Project Commotion is proud to be home of Capoeira USA’s Youth Program, offering classes for children ages 3 and up. We will also be piloting a Parent and Pre-K capoeira class for adults to come learn with their children in a fun, playful environment.

Capoeira USA offers workshops and performances for schools, organizations, special events, and festivals. For information about booking, please email Mestre Urubu Malandro at urubumalandro@hotmail.com.

Capoeira for Adults taught by Mestre Urubu Malandro, Capoeira USA

Mondays and Wednesdays 7pm - 8:30
Fridays 6:30 - 8pm

Fundamentals for Floreios & Musicas Capoeira Acrobatics & Music class taught by Professora Formiguinha

Saturdays 12 noon - 1:45

For information about Capoeira USA, please visit www.capoeirausa.com

Sensei Michele Elefante, Okinawan Karate Club of San Francisco

Michele Elefante began her martial arts training in early 1990 and currently holds the rank of Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Shorin Ryu (Okinawan Karate). Michele is an active member of the martial arts community: she has instructed at the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) Special Training camp, the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA) training camp and the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI) conference. She is the head instructor of Okinawan Karate Club of San Francisco, and teaches self-defense and conflict resolution throughout the Bay Area. Michele, who holds a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, is a martial arts/self-defense instructor at Destiny Arts Center, a violence prevention agency serving youth 3-18 in Oakland. She also serves as a mental health clinician at a community mental health center in San Francisco. Michele has vast experience facilitating cross-cultural groups, and enhancing the lives of young people and adults through better communication, self- confidence and personal protection skills development.

Project Commotion looks forward to offering Karate classes for children and youth ages 4 - 12 with Elefante Sensei starting this summer!

Karate for Adults taught by Michele Elefante Sensei, Okinawan Karate Club of San Francisco

Thursdays 7pm - 8:30

For information about Okinawan Karate Club of San Francisco, please visit www.sfkarate.net

A Word from the Founders...

"Our understanding of the impact of our work stems from our studies of brain development, which show that children have the need to establish a strong foundation of physical and sensory awareness at a young age in order to enable higher learning. We devote ourselves to the continual study of the work of scholars such as Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D., neuroscientist and world-renowned researcher on child development and neurodevelopment; Jean Ayres, Ph.D., pioneer of Sensory Integration Theory; and Stanley Greenspan, M.D., who has written extensively on his experience working with children with special needs. The teachings of these scholars, fused with our own experiences participating in martial arts, dance, acrobatic, and body awareness programs, has allowed us to develop into the educators that we are today. The growth and development that we see in our students inspires us to continue learning and growing as individuals and professionals. Our personal experiences as teachers and the lasting relationships that we have with the children and families with whom we work inspire us and encourage us continue our work with great determination."