"CAPOEIRA”Pronounced: - ka, poo, air, rar
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form, a fusion of cultures, first documented amongst African and Creole slaves in late colonial Brazil. Its practice was prohibited in Brazil for many years, but despite this it exists on after abolition.
Throughout the 19th Century it was practised illegally in Brazilian cities by the free slave underclass.Nowadays Capoeira is a game practised amongst friends, which contains elements of dance, martial art, music, song, acrobatics and trickery played according to the traditions of its history. Essentially it is a game or jogo between two practitioners, or Capoeiristas of the art; this jogo is played within a circle or roda of other Capoeiristas and sometimes additional spectators. At the base of the circle is a percussion orchestra or bateria which contains a mixture of Afro-Brazilian instruments. Live music is played and the whole circle is engaged in song, accompanied by synchronised clapping.
The songs are simple question and answer repetitions in Brazilian Portuguese.Then two Capoeiristas crouch down in the middle of the roda under the bateriaAnd from here the jogo begins!click here for Capoeira history
Famous Capoeira references: