Born almost 500 years ago among
the African slaves of Brazil, Capoeira is a cultural
phenomenon unique to Brazil. Transcending dance,
fighting and artistic expression, it is a uniquely
holistic performance art, pushing practitioners to their
physical, emotional, mental and spiritual limits.
There are two predominant styles
of Capoeira. The originating style, Capoeira Angola,
remains closer to the roots of the original style, and
is a slower game with more emphasis on technique and
strategy, rather than blinding speed and acrobatics.
Capoeira Regional originated in 1930's, with a focus on
fighting aspects of Capoeira, and utilizes a faster
beat, flashy high kicks, and incredible acrobatics.
With deceptive kicks, sweeps,
blows and amazing gymnastic maneuvers, Capoeira is
characterized not just by the elegant motions of
dancers, but by the unmistakably Brazilian music that
accompanies it and the way in which it weaves and
interacts with the dance and the dancers to change the
movements in a second from slow, fluid dancing to
successions of sharp, powerful kicks and rapid motions.
