Roda in Salvador, Terreiro de Jesus

This is the roda Mestre Lua Rasta has been organising for several years on the Terreiro de jesus, in the Pelourinho on Salvador, where traditionnaly many street capoeira rodas happened. You will notice the saxophone in the back, it is not uncommon for those rodas to have diverse intruments.

Mestre Ciro de Joao Pequeno de Pastinha

Another good surprise on Youtube, a great intimate video of Mestre Ciro, a former student of Mestre Joao Pequeno, himself a former student of Mestre Pastinah, singing one of his songs on the guitar.



Just a moment to relax...

how many capoeiras can you name?

In case you didn't notice a while ago I posted a poll with multiple questions asking what the definition of capoeira was.

I guess there is no right answer to that question, but in this particular case, all the answers could be found in Waldeloir Rego's seminal "Capoeira Angola Ensaio Socio-Etnografico" (1968). There's actually a whole chapter (chp 2) dedicated to the question.

Amongst the many definitions compiled in this book one can find:

- a basket made of sticks where birds like hens and other birds are kept

- an old carriage

- a brace (tipoia)

- the excavation at the bottom of a well

- wood that was cut down (a clearing)

- a sort of athletic game

- a bird also known as Uru

and others..

Filhos de Angola - clip

As you are all getting prepared for the workshop with Mestre Roberval, seemed like a good opporunity to post this clip from a few years ago with Mestres Laercio, Rosalvo, Roberval and Jomaria (the woman).

The filming is outstanding, as is the capoeira of course.



Enjoy!

Workshop with Mestre Roberval - Tue 16 June

To all members of Grupo de Capoeiragem Baiana.

Here are the details for the workshop on Tuesday 16 June with Mestre Roberval of Grupo de Capoeira Filhos de Angola. (Genuine traditional Capoeira Angola handed down from generation to generation.) It will definitely be fun!

Venue: Ferndale Sports Centre, Nursery Road, Brixton, SW9 8BP. Tel: 0845 130 8998
Nearest Tube: Brixton
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Cost: £15. (Please pay directly to Pedreiro) We are hiring the hall so please pay in advance, preferably at the monday class.
Hope to see you there!

Raymond.

Capoeira according to Mestre Pastinha

A capoeira tem negativa. A capoeira nega. A capoeira é positiva. Tem verdade. Negativa é fazer que vai e nao vai e na hora que nego nao mais espera, o capoeirista vai e entra e ganha (...).

Capoeira has "negativa". Capoeira negates. Capoeira is positive. It has truth. "Negativa" is to pretend going and not going and when the person doesn't expect it anymore, the capoeirista goes in and wins (...).