Capoeira by

Capoeira was the result of 300 years of slavery in Brazil.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 06:51:20 UTC

Before being captured and enslaved in Brazil, the people from the Kongo-Angola region used to play kicking games for fun and leisure.

Capoeira was banned, but the Kongo people secretly kept playing their traditional games in private.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 06:52:41 UTC

The roda (pronounced ho-da, means wheel) was formed as a defensive circle, with choreography and music added to make it look like a dance, masking the fact that it was a form of combat.

Capoeristas created a unique rhythm called cavalaria, mimicking the sound of approaching horse hooves, to alert one another about police presence. When they heard this signal, capoeira transformed into what seemed like a harmless samba dance, allowing them to avoid suspicion.

“The principles of resistance are at the heart of capoeira”

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 06:53:19 UTC

In the major cities, gangs called maltas, mainly made up of poor mixed-race free men, utilized capoeira techniques for street fights and looting. In these contexts, they skipped the traditional capoeira circle (roda) and dance. This marked the beginning of capoeira being linked to street violence, a connection that persisted to different extents over the years.

Capoeiristas were drafted to fight in the brief war against Paraguay in 1865.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 06:54:21 UTC

Although they were forced into service, they displayed bravery in battle. Upon their return, they were respected and admired in their communities.

However, Not too long after the war, capoeira was seen as a threat, The Penal Code of 1890 legalized corporal punishment or forced exile for the practitioners of capoeira.

Master Bimba quote on the corporal punishments for Capoeristas

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 06:55:10 UTC

“The police persecuted a capoerista like you chase after a damn dog. Just imagine, one of the punishments they gave capoeiristas that were caught playing was to tie one wrist to the back of a horses tail and other to another horse. The two horses were sent running toward the police station. We even used to make a Joke, that it was better to play near the police station, because there were many deaths. The individual couldn't support being pulled at high velocity along the ground and died before arriving at his destination”

Brazil

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 06:56:28 UTC

Southern Angola (origin of movement)

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Capoeira is a martial art rooted in Afro-Brazilian culture.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:00:10 UTC

Blending acrobatics, dance, percussion, and songs into a rhythmic conversation involving body, mind, and spirit. Often referred to as a game.

Capoeira is performed within a roda, which is a circular formation similar to the ones used in traditional Afro-Brazilian dance.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:00:49 UTC

During a capoeira game/match, two players step into the roda at once, keeping their attention on each other. They can move in circular patterns, either clockwise or counterclockwise, as they play the game.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:01:41 UTC

Movements involve a lot of kicks and sweeps

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:02:47 UTC

Ginga- the swaying dance step that occurs between blows in capoeira is a graceful movement, a rhythmic pause, where players dodge and evade attacks in a flowing and elegant manner.

Benção-forward kick towards the chest with the sole of the foot.

Many moves are named after animals, such as “the monkey”- a lop-sided backflip

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:03:56 UTC

Very athletic & acrobatic

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:05:00 UTC

Capoeiristas often spend a significant amount of time upside down, performing various acrobatic moves and techniques that involve being inverted.

In capoeira, it's not respected to use unprovoked violence or to humiliate an opponent without humor. Such behavior goes against the spirit of the art.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:05:54 UTC

To truly grasp capoeira, students need to learn both the physical movements and the musical elements of the game. This comprehensive understanding is essential to mastering the art.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:06:39 UTC

In addition to the musical instruments, the capoeira group engages in singing Portuguese songs using a call-and-response style.

Orquestra (orchestra), which consists of the berimbau, pandeiro, atabaque and the agogô.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:08:12 UTC

The berimbau

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:09:15 UTC

The berimbau is a musical instrument resembling a bow with an open gourd that amplifies the sound. It has a mystical significance and is the most vital instrument in capoeira.

Pandeiros (tambourines)

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:10:08 UTC

Atabaque (drum)

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:10:54 UTC

Agogô (bell)

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Ganza (rattle)

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:12:16 UTC

Different types of toques (beats)

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:14:37 UTC

ANGOLA – Slow beat, for a game with intelligence, vision, strategy and malicia.
SÃO BENTO PEQUENO – Also known as inverted Angola, a beat for a friendly and very technical game.
SÃO BENTO GRANDE DE ANGOLA – Beat for more cadentious and fast Angola game.
BENGUELA – Beat for a fun, malicious and game.
SÃO BENTO GRANDE DE BIMBA – Beat for a strong, fast game which emphasizes the martial aspect of Capoeira, aggressive not violent.
IUNA – Beat for a low, malicious, intelligent, choreographed game. Only for graduated students and Mestres (masters). Cintura desprezada (a sequence of acrobatic movements)
SANTA MARIA – Medium pace
CAVALARIA (cavalry) – Beat to warn the presence of strangers, in the past announced the arrival or presence of the Police, when played the capoeirista should cloak its games.

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:14:56 UTC

Moving History/Dancing Cultures: A Dance History Reader-Ann Cooper Albright

https://www.abcapoeira.com/about/music/

https://www.lalaue.com/learn-capoeira/cintura-desprezada/

https://www.metronomeonline.com/rhythm-through-diversity-capoeira/

https://www.abada.org/capoeira-history/

https://www.capoeirafitnessdc.com/about-2#:~:text=As%20is%20the%20case%20with,the%20capoeirista's%20level%20of%20experience.

Capoeira dancers wear white

honeyfana39_ — 2023-10-31 07:19:29 UTC

Usually male presenting people wear white pants/capris and no shirt.

Female presenting people wear white tops and white pants.

The pants will usually be held up by a belt that symbolizes their level of experience.

Capoeira dancers wear white because it symbolizes purity to them.

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