Here's a really nice short documentary by Joe Martinez featuring Mestre Robson de Jesus of Abba Capoeira in Atlanta, GA.  Mestre Robson gives great insight into his motivations, history, identity, obstacles and life philosophy with Capoeira.

The Mestre: A Short Documentary

Comment (0)

Filmed in Hong Kong, above is an interview with Mestre Barrao, founder of Grupo Axé Capoeira.  In the brief interview, Mestre Barrao discusses what Capoeira is to him, what Capoeira has enabled him to do, and where Capoeira may be headed in the future.  Enjoy!

Comment (0)

In 2001, when Mestre Joao Grande became an NEA National Heritage Fellow, the National Endowment for the Arts interviewed him.  With one of his students acting as his translator, Mestre Joao Grande spoke about his influences and inspiration, his challenges, and some of the skills he thinks Capoeiristas need to master Capoeira.  Enjoy!

NEA: What are the skills or elements needed for one to master capoeira?

Grande: The most important thing is you must have a good teacher to guide you. You must be able to play all the instruments; you must have something called "Qgo bonita," which means, "a beautiful game." In capoeira, you always say what you're doing is a game. Even though it's a martial art you never say you're fighting - you're never fighting because it is not a fight, it's a game.

That's a very important thing people misunderstand, it's very different from the eastern martial arts, which train actual combats. You say you're going to "play capoeira" or "practice capoeira" or "do capoeira." All of that training, for it is still a martial art, will allow you to know what to do when you get in a difficult situation, but you never practice actually hurting people. That is a very big difference.

2001 NEA National Heritage Fellow - João Oliveira dos Santos (Mestre João Grande)

Comment (0)

Back in 2004, while training with Capoeira Brasil's Mestre Caxias, Saadi Alkouatli put together the above video as a final project for film school.   Comprised of interviews with Capoeira Brasil's Graduado Tucano, Capoeira Nago's Contra-Mestre Pequines, Camila, and Astronauta, and Capoeira Luanda's Professor Esquillo as well as some snippets of roda and batizado footage, the video is a nice look into some of the philosophies and ideologies behind the game and the players.  Enjoy!

Comment (0)

Above is a student Capoeira documentary featuring interviews with Capoeira Mandinga's Mestre Marcelo Caveirinha, Mestre Brabo, Mestra Sorriso, and Contra-Mestre Bengala about the nature and origins of Capoeira.  Very informative.  Enjoy!

Comment (0)

On Thursday July 8th, Friday July 9th and Saturday July 10th, House Dance International NYC (HDI), a House Dance competition, will be held in Manhattan, NY.  There is a surprising amount of crossover between the Capoeira community and the House Dance community and Roda Magazine is excited to present an interview with Santiago Freeman, a veteran House Dancer, sporadic Capoeirista, and one of the organizers of the event.  Enjoy!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

What is House Dance?
House Dance is an American Urban Dance form that originated in the cities of Chicago and New York in the 1980s but has since captured a worldwide audience.  House Dance is performed to House Music (generally 120-130bpm) and involves three major elements: Footwork, Jacking and Lofting.  Footwork is complex and intricate, and is said that have been influenced by Tap and Jazz steps, as well as Hip-Hop.  Jacking is the upper body movement performed to the "four-on-the-floor" rhythm, and is descendent of West African Dance.  Lofting is a floorwork and acrobatic style heavily influenced by Capoeira Angola.
 
How does Capoeira relate to House Dance?
Capoeira has influenced one of the major three elements of House Dance - Lofting.  The dance form of Lofting is a floorwork and acrobatic-based element that is noted for its fluidity and intense control and coordinate.  Many of the floreios and acrobacias de Capoeira have been incorporated into Lofting since the late 70's and 80s, when Capoeira started to gain recognition in NYC.  It is likely that Lofting is more influenced by Capoeira than Breakdancing, as there is more emphasis based on the smoothness and fluid transitions.  The body often emulates water, or a flowing movement that synopates with and through the Drum.  Many of the best "Lofters" have had some Capoeira training.

What is the House Dance Competition?
The HDI Contest has four "freestyle" 1x1 categories plus a choreography contest.  The categories are House Dance, Vogue, Waacking, and Experimental.  The Experimental section is largely undefined.  It is whatever the dancer makes of the movement.

Who can compete?
Anyone can compete.  It is a $40 entry fee to compete, with a $1000 prize.  Details can be found at www.HouseDanceNYC.com

Can a Capoeirista compete? What categories could they compete in?
Yes, a Capoeirista could definitely compete in the Experimental category, using their movement vocabulary to create something innovative.  A Capoeirista with a creative ability to improvise in the moment, and with musicality, could advance very well in the contest.

Are there any rodas in House Dance? Is there something similar?
There is not a roda, but what is called a "Cypher" - dancers take turns entering the cypher.  Sometimes two or more people enter, but usually it is one.  
 
Is this the first House Dance competition? What have competitions been like in the past?
HDI is held for the 4th year.  But other House Dance competitions have existed before in Chicago, New York, and in Japan and Paris (largest in the world called Juste Debout).

How are winners determined?
A panel of five judges will select winners.  First night, called pre-selections, is done in showcase format and dancers are given a score.  Second and final night is a "Battle" format, 1x1 and judges select which of the contestants is their favorite in each round.

What should first time attendees and competitors look out for?
Spectacular diversity in movement vocabulary, excellent music, diverse and international crowds, positive vibrations.

Anything else you'd like to let the Roda Magazine audience know about?
A capoerista lives their art through physical movement and spiritual expression and can therefore appreciate the lives of others who do the same in other different, but related, African-based genres of Movement and Expression.  HDI welcomes your support and attendance!

 

For more information about House Dance International NYC, please check out their website, www.HouseDanceNYC.com.

Comment (0)

Back when he was still a professor, the Discovery Health Channel produced a profile piece on Grupo Capoeira Brasil's Formando Abará.  The video splices interviews in with training, roda, maculele, and samba footage from his class and has some excellent nuggets of Capoeira knowledge.  Enjoy!

Comment (0)