Dance Lest We All Fall Down: Breaking Cycles of Poverty in Brazil and Beyond

by Margaret Willson

An unexpected detour can change the course of our lives forever, and, for white American anthropologist Margaret Willson, a stopover in Brazil led to immersion in a kaleidoscopic world of street urchins, capoeiristas, drug dealers, and wise teachers. She and African Brazilian activist Rita Conceicao joined forces to break the cycles of poverty and violence around them by pledging local residents they would create a top-quality educational program for girls. From 1991 to the graduation of Bahia Street's first college-bound graduate in 2005, Willson and Conceicao 's adventure took them to the shantytowns of Brazil's Northeast, high-society London, and urban Seattle.

In a narrative brimming with honesty and grace, Dance Lest We All Fall Down unfolds the story of this remarkable alliance, showing how friendship, when combined with courage, insight, and passion, can transform dreams of a better world into reality.

Watch the book

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Brazil, Womens

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2007

About the author

Author, Social Activist"

Reviews

[Lisette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book if you want to know more about Salvador, Brazil and/or are interested in learning about Bahia Street - an excellent model for setting up a non-profit organization in another country. It is model that truly respects the people and culture that it is aiming to serve. I am madly in love with Brazil, own an apartment in Salvador, and live (and was born) in Seattle. I am thrilled that there is an organization in my home town that serves Salvador, and I hope to find ways to be of service to Bahia Street both in Seattle and in Salvador. Also, as someone who is still learning about Salvador and Bahia, this book was extremely informative about the culture, the reality and brutality of poverty and racial injustice, and vibrancy of its people. Margaret Willson offers a window into the Salvador that exists beyond the tourist corridor, into the heartbeat of Bahia. The change that she and Rita Conceiçao have brought about in the lives of young poor girls in Salvador is touching and inspiring. I highly recommend this book!

[Leah Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance Lest We Fall Down is an intimate look at a the creation of a non-profit, Bahia Street, from the street need to the world support. Bahia Street's philosophy and vision rebel against the current norms of International Development. This is a refreshing and exciting new model that others could/should follow. Willson writes from her experience, and shares her struggles as a foreigner to subvert power structures and keep the central power of Bahia Street in the hands of native Brazilians. Not only do we get a glimpse Salvador, Brazil and the struggles of its community, but we get to learn with Willson the challenges of helping without dictation, using one's privelege without replicating the power dynamics she's working to circumvent. Willson's writing truly captured our hearts and takes us with her on her journey to create a new model of change. In short I loved it, and am so excited to know that Bahia Street exists and hope that it will be replicated!

[Maret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this book! I'm from Seattle and I too lived abroad for a number of years in South America. I could really relate to Margaret's descriptions and feelings of living abroad and discovering that her soul was in Brazil. I also long to start a non-profit someday but I want to do it the right way, and I think this book is an excellent source for those who want to do the right thing. It was very interesting to know how Bahia Street got started too, because I remember learning about it when I took Portuguese classes at UW and I even wrapped gifts over the holidays one year as a Bahia Street fundraiser. This book put everything in perspective and has inspired me to follow my heart!

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance Lest We All Fall Down is the real-life story of an anthropologist who visits her friend in Bahia, Brazil. The author’s name is Margaret Wilson. Throughout her time spent there, she becomes immersed into the brazilian culture, and learns many life lessons that completely transforms her ideas and assumptions about the world around her. I loved this book so much, and one of the main reasons was because, as the author described how she was realizing the beauty of a different culture and way of living around her, I felt like I was with her the entire time, feeling what she felt. I would definitely recommend this book to another student, and hopefully it will change how they view other races and their cultures, because I know it changed mine.

[Naya Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite book ever. The personal, nalmost invasive detail the author include it made me feel like I was living the life of the main character. I love love LOVE the people and places the main character goes to and meets in this book and how that ties to who she is as a person today. I will never forget the lessons the author learns in this book that she taught me by writing about it. I want to be this woman when I grow up! This book has impacted my life which is not something book usually do.

[Christie]

I love books that talk about development processes and this is a good example of both the frustrations and joys involved. Margaret Willson talks first about time spent in Brazil simply to learn: about the culture, about capoeira, about people. Then she and a Brazilian friend start and NGO and the latter part of the book describes this process. The author writes very clearly and it's a joy to get to know the people she got to know while in Brazil.

[Tarik Malek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book , loved it . When I began reading , I thought it was about economics , numbers , and statistics specially that it's listed that way . But I realized I was mistaken , to my fortune . It offers an astonishingly comprehensive bird view of philanthropic work and charity , offering a new model regarding the administration and organization of NGOs working in poor regions . But I wouldn't spoil the joy for u would I ? ;)

[Carol Flotlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing, compelling, TRUE story of what two women are doing to change many lives. The challenges are many, but Margaret and Rita persist and create the successful Bahia Street ngo. This is the book that inspired me to volunteer, to realize that each one of us, in our own small way, can make a difference.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Brazilian friend of mine gave this book to me--she proofed the Portugeuse for Margaret Willson. It's a fantastic story, and the next thing I'd like to volunteer for, since it has a base here in Seattle.

[Gregg Farrar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opened my eyes to the incredible obstacles and ultimately, the great things that come from a volunteer effort such as Bahia Street.
Having lived in Brazil as a kid long ago, Margaret's observations and excellent writing helped to matar saudades.

[Carol Flotlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

New edition with an afterword. Loved the original, love this one even more. ALERT: Book launch at UW Bookstore Oct. 21, 7 p.m. Come and hear Margaret read/speak, and try some Brazilian sweets while you listen to Brazilian music!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really inspiring read. It was interesting to see the anthropological theories that I've been learning in class being put into a real life application. Margaret Wilson wrote it in a personal way, but wrote it in a way that I thought was still able to maintain objectivity.