Capoeira is a martial art created by African slaves in Brazil over 400 years ago. Over time, cultural elements of dance, fight, music and art merged to create what we call capoeira. Often referred to as the dance-fight-game, capoeira is a martial art that emphasizes dance, play, and music as heavily as martial aspects. In the art of capoeira, one learns to dance, one learns to play instruments and one learns a martial art, all the while with a smile on one's face, and a swing to one's step.
Capoeiristas (practioners of capoeira) gather in a roda (circle or wheel, prounounced 'hoe-da'). At the head of the roda, the bateria plays music and sings in Portuguese, the language of Brazil, while the others in the roda clap and respond to songs. As they wish, capoeiristas enter the roda and begin to jogo de capoeira (play capoeira). The jogo is something between sparring and dancing, and is best described as play. The roda is what it is all about for us.
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Roda:The space in which capoeira play takes place. |
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Bateria:The part of the roda where the musicians are located. |
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BERIMBAU:The bow-like instrument that is the most important instrument in capoeira. |
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GINGA:The most important movement in capoeira, from which all other movements flow. |
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CAPOEIRISTA:A practitioner of capoeira. |
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Jogo de Capoeira:The game of capoeira. |
