Capoeira
A sport that is typically Brazilian is capoeira . Capoeira is a combination of dance and martial art. It originates from the Northeast of Brazil but at nowadays, it is practised all over the world.
So what is capoeira in reality? Two practitioners of capoeira called capoeiristas move on the sound of music. They are in the middle of a circle (the ‘roda ’) formed by other capoeiristas. The capoeiristas in the roda sing and clap in order to enlarge the energy of the two in the middle. The two capoeiristas in the middel carry out acrobatic attacks on each other. Their aim is to demonstrate their skills and they do not intent to touch each other. They preferably demonstrate movements of attach without completing the movements. Every attack is an opportunity for the opponent to show his techniques of defense.
But capoeira is more than 'just sport'. Capoeira has an own style of music. Music determines the rhythm and style at which capoeira is practised. The music consists of singing accompanied by the sound of berimbaus (a wooden bow strung with a steel string), pandeiros (tambourines), a reco-reco (a rasp) and an agogo (a bell). Except for that, a large drum is often used: the atabaque .
There are three kinds of songs in capoeira.
- In the beginning, the mestre (‘master’ or leader) sings a ladainha . This is often a famous song written by a renowned mestre.
- The ladainha is followed by a chula or louvação . With the chula the capoeiristas thank God, somebody's trainer or somebody else. The structure is that the mestre sings something (the call) and the rest of the capoeiristas repeats this (the response).
- The third kind of song is the corrido . Just like the chula, the corrido has a call and response structure. But with corrido the games begin and it is the corrido that accompanies the actual capoeira. Often, the ladainha and the chula are left away but capoeira is imposible without the corrido songs
After the abolishment of slavery in 1888, capoeira was seen as violent. It became forbidden and punishments were harsh. As a result of this, the capoeiristas used nicknames, a tradition that is still maintained. The ban on capoeira was ended in the year 1937, when dictator Getúlio Vargas allowed mestre Bimba to found a capoeiraschool. He developed a particular capoeira stye called capoeira regional which is faster, more acrobatic and more accessible then the traditional capoeira. In 1942, a capoeiraschool was founded by mestre Pastinha from Salvador, Bahia. He focussed on the more traditional types of capoeira called capoeira angola . At present, many combinations between the two styles exist. Mestre Bimba and mestre Pastinha are both considered to be founding fathers of the modern capoeira.
See also
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