by Priscila Santos

It is defined by many as sport, others say it is a fight, some even a martial art…. Maybe it is all these in one.

Myself I prefer to see it as a dance. A dance that is filled by deft, tricky movements, acrobatics and pride. Like any other dance it needs its unmistakable music, its "berimbau", and its particular rhythm to be felt and carried out. It is a dance that teaches and makes every one of us eager to learn all there is to learn about it. A dance that represents the expression of freedom itself.

Capoeira had its origins six centuries ago, when the Portuguese divided the world with the Spanish on the conquest for the Maritime way to known and unknown continents. The Portuguese had the Monopoly of Africa and Brazil. When these started importing African slaves, specially from Congo and Angola to Brazil, with them came Capoeira. It is not know for sure the terms in which it was first performed or why. One of the theory’s tells about the need for these slaves to defend themselves. This was not permitted by the feudal lords. And therefore the alternative would be to create a martial art that could be disguised as an inoffensive form of dance, a bohemian manifest, a harmless ritual of entertainment. And it succeeded, very well in fact.

Since then it spread all over Brazil where it was forbidden by law till 1937,and has now pretty much taken over the world.

With recent years exodus of Brazilians towards the European continent it looks like this vertiginous increase of Capoeira’s popularity is not going to stop there and to set you straight in this here are a few figures: just by hitting a search on Google there can be found more than 300 references for the word “Capoeira”, and there are more than 800 websites found on the subject .Not to mention the fact it is practised today in 32 countries worldwide, having surprisingly reached places such as Madagascar and Alaska.

This so called Capoeira’s culture Boom has had a great and very welcome effect in promoting a different image of Brazil abroad,
and we can now see thousands of people studying Portuguese, travelling to Brazil and getting interested in its reality and cultural richness . All this due to Capoeira.

Its obviously not the same as the Capoeira practised in Brazil but the Europeans have been doing very well in developing their skills, and we can now see in the streets of London good quality amateurs showing off their “ginga” and getting tourists and Londoners more and more fascinated by this thrilling Brazilian art form. Its fast and efficient adaptation around the globe is perhaps due to its multidimensionality, and the fact it brings together so many cultural aspects, though for it to be performed in its wealthy original essence these aspects must always be perfectly and equally balanced.

To once more demonstrate the greatness of this amazing cultural expression one of the so called ambassadors of Brazil , the school Capoeira Kabula and Abada Capoeira will be performing one of the most popular capoeira styles- the Angola. Check our events page for details on times and venues. Maybe it is time now for you to become an aficionado….