RP192 Capoeira The Dance of War

 RP192 Capoeira: The Dance of War

Capoeira is a unique combination of music, dance, sport, fighting, and competition. This distinct art form comes from Brazil. Slaves and the descendants of slaves created capoeira, which is also influenced by the culture of native people of Brazil.

In the 1600s, the rulers of Brazil were bringing slaves from Africa to work on huge farms. These slaves began to form their own culture. This new culture combined arts from Africa and Brazil, creating capoeira. The music and dance probably helped tell stories and bind people together. But the slaves who developed capoeira would have wanted to be free. Experts think the fighting in capoeira may have been a way for slaves to train to escape or revolt. They hid their war training inside music and dance and then used it to help themselves survive in the jungle or fight against their owners. Capoeira has been called “the Dance of War.”

Capoeira now is performed by two people who dance with and compete against each other. The competition is called the jogo. The jogo is performed like a battle, but the battle is fought to the rhythm of a traditional stringed instrument called a berimbau. The performers use kicks and leg-sweeping movements to fight. They also use head butts, cartwheels, handstands, and other acrobatic moves. They take turns moving forward and falling back, as in a battle. They duck to escape kicks. The goal is never to injure one's opponent. Rather, the idea is to catch one's opponent off guard and show the fighting move that could have hurt him. Capoeira is about showing skill, not winning and losing.

Capoeira is becoming popular around the world because it teaches fitness and grace. You may find this dance of war from the days of slavery in your town soon.