M Cláudio: Angola Roots in Feira de Santana, Bahia

Here is an excerpt from an interview done with Mestre Cláudio of Grupo Angoleiros do Sertão of Feira de Santana, Bahia (I do not know in what year the interview was done).

If you would like to visit M Cláudio and his group, they have a great roda on Saturdays in Feira de Santana starting at 10 am in front of the Mercado Popular. There are a lot of good angoleiros there, and you should be prepared to get your samba on all afternoon following the roda!

In the 1980s, Cláudio Costa, a native of Feira de Santana, a city in the interior of the state of Bahia, founded Escola de Capoeira Angoleiros do Sertão in his hometown.

The school is headquartered in Feira de Santana and maintains affiliate groups in other cities.

Cordão Branco: Describe your introduction to Capoeira Angola.
Cláudio: My first contact with capoeira was in the sticks, when I was a boy and I watched my Uncle Domingos. Today, he lives in Salvador. Another was my Uncle Roque who made berimbaus from imbé plants.

But the greatest influence for me was when I accompanied my mother, who sold acarajé, to the market and I watched the capoeira roda. I remember the first roda at the Igreja Senhor dos Passos. In fact, I started training at the school of Mestre Di Mola, who has since passed away, in Salvador. I trained with the group for less than two years. Meanwhile, I really learned capoeira in the streets of Feira de Sanatana. From there, I made contact with other capoeira mestres in Bahia, including angoleiros. When I began, I would go to street rodas, where I met mestres Gago, Bigode, Zé Domingos, o Roque Rio and others.
....

Cordão Branco: Many people practice Capoeira Angola outside of Brazil. Does this make it more difficult to maintain the traditional roots of the art form?

Cláudio: It depends. If we were to analyze it, there are many responsible projects being done outside of Brazil, led by people who truly concern themselves with the roots of Capoeira Angola. My fear is that outside of Brazil, Capoeira Angola will be viewed simply as a sport. In this case, yes, the traditions which many people have died to preserve, will be compromised.

........

Cordão Branco: I am an angoleiro because...
Cláudio: Capoeira Angola is one of the greatest ways for me to discover myself. To find my values in a world full of differences and inequalities.

Washington DC, USA: Beginners & Kids' Classes

FICA-DC is offering a beginners' session as well as a kids' session starting in September!

If you (or a friend) has always wanted to try capoeira, here is a great opportunity.

Special Beginners class (10 classes over 5 weeks)

September 8 - October 8, 2009
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 pm to 9 pm
Cost: $100.00 for 10 classes (inlcudes a t-shirt)
Where: 733 Euclid St. NW, WDC Between Georgia Ave and Sherman Ave

Here’s your chance to learn a unique martial art in a comfortable and fun environment. You will learn the basic movements of Capoeira Angola. Learn to sing traditional Capoeira Angola songs in Portuguese. Learn to play the berimbau, pandeiro, atabaque, and other instruments.

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

Kids' Session
September 12th - October 31
8 classes
every Saturday from 10 am to 11:30 am at our location in NW DC.

The price for all 8 classes is $60.00 or $7.00 per class.
Kids age 5 to 11
Parents are encouraged to take the classes as well.

yay!

Baltimore: USA: Berimbonic

A note from Jason in B-more:

Gente!!!

Join me Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 6pm in Baltimore as I, along with hopefully you, present to the Baltimore community 'BERIMBONIC'- a gallery show all about our favorite instrument, the Berimbau.

I am working to create a show that presents the history of the musical bow along with the possibilities of the Berimbau as a work of art in a manner that is accessible to children and adults.

Baltimore is a city that thrives on tradition, and this show is one more step in building a tradition of Capoeira Angola here. I would ask that as an Angoleiro, if you plan on attending the opening to wear white- there will be a Rodinha. The show will run for three weeks and I have attached the flyer for the event to this email- please send it to everyone you know and encourage them to support this event. After the opening there will be a party in my loft, cerveza/capirinha/music, etc. Hope to see you!

BERIMBONIC
Friday, September 11th, 2009
6pm-8pm (Party 8pm-...)

Location:

Gallery 1448
1448 E. Baltimore St
Baltimore, MD 21231

For more info, call 443.722.6596 or email me @ jharris_home AT lycos DOT com

See you all there!

Campos dos Goitacazes, Brazil: November Roda

Mestre Baianinho and Grupo de Capoeira Angola Memorial ao Mestre Dendê invite everyone to take part in the 8th Capoeira Angola Festival that will take place at the Escola Estadual José do Patrocínio.

When: November 8, 2009, 9 am
Street: Core De Alvarenga S/N
Neighborhood: Parque Leopoldina, Campos dos Goitacazes, RJ
Telephone: 022 99332284 02299937200
E-mail: faustinhocapoeira (at) hotmail (dot) com

We hope to see you there.

muito axé camaradas.....

Madrid, Spain: M Boca do Rio & Cm Dirceu

A note from Spain:

Capoeira Angola Encounter
October 2 - 4
Madrid, Spain

Mestre Boca do Rio (Grupo Zimba)
Contramestre Dirceu de Angola (GCALV)

Schedule of Events:
Friday, 10 -02
Opening Roda
7 pm

Saturday, 10-03
Music, Movements, Singing, Roda
10:30 am – 8 pm

Sunday, 10 -04
Music, Movements, Singing, Closing Roda
10:30 am – 6 pm

Location:
Escuela de baile “nacho’s”
c/ Santa Isabel, 9
Madrid

Metro: Antón Martín, línea 1

Grupo Capoiera Angola Liberdade Vadiar

telephone: 692139571, 634635041, 617745054
email: gcalv (dot) madrid (at) gmail (dot) com
blog

*******************

Encuentro de Capoeira Angola
02 – 04 de octubre
Madrid, España

Mestre Boca do Rio (Grupo Zimba)
Contramestre Dirceu de Angola (GCALV)

Programación:

viernes, 02/10/09
roda de aperture
19h

sábado, 03/10/09
ritmo,movimiento, canto, roda
10:30 – 20h

domingo, 04/10/09
ritmo,movimiento, canto, roda de clausura
10:30 – 18h

Lugar:
Escuela de baile “nacho’s”
c/ Santa Isabel, 9
Madrid

Metro: Antón Martín, línea 1

Grupo Capoiera Angola Liberdade Vadiar

telefonos: 692139571, 634635041, 617745054
correo: gcalv (ponto) madrid (arroba) gmail (ponto) com
blog

Have fun! Muchas gracias, Pedro Rasta por la informacion.

Stockholm, Sweden: M Valmir & Aloan

Information on an upcoming event in Europe:

Capoeira Angola Workshops
with Mestre Valmir & Aloan Fica Bahia
1 - 4 October 2009
Stockholm, Sweden

Thursday
Roda
6:30 - 9 pm
Bla Huset, Tensta gangem 55

Friday
Workshop
6 - 9 pm
Tensta Hallen, Tensta Plan

Saturday
Workshop
10 am - 6 pm
Tenstahallen

Sunday
Workshop
10 am - 5 pm
Tenstahallen

Mestre Valmir is not just famous for his capoeira, but also for his mission to turn young students from high risk areas into good leaders. In 2005, he visit Sweden for his first time together with two young capoeiristas Adjair & Yuka from Massaranduba, an unprivileged neighborhood in Salvador to talk about capoeira and young people from the neighborhood.

Aloan is a student of Mestre Valmir and trains as well as teaches at FICA Bahia in Salvador. Aloan, despite his young age, is a well-known capoeirista. He grew up surrounded by capoeira and started to teach in 2005. Aloan is a responsible leader and a very good berimbau teacher. Aloan visited Stockholm from February to March and just returned to Stockholm to participate in Karnevalsommar – Rhythm against violence.

Special Program
Juan Romero from Yakumbé worked with Aloan in Karnevalsommar and will teach how to play sambareagge and other Brazilian rythms during the workshop.

Special Invited Guests
BAGUNCACO from Alagoas/Salvador, Brazil together with Tensta Samba Kids

To particpate in our event:
Payment in advance: 700 skr
Post giro 836 07 13-5, Fica - Stockholm
Payment at the door: 800 skr
Register at ficasweden (at) ya
hoo (dot) se
Housing will be arranged.

How to get there.

Thanks to Onca for the information.

Soustons, France: Dendê da Bahia in Europe

IV Capoeira Angola Encounter
Terreiro Mandinga de Angola

“Dendê da Bahia no TMA”

Mestre Pedrinho de Caxais
Mestre Boca do Rio (Grupo Zimba)

Association Culturelle Capoeira Angola
August 28, 29 & 30, 2009

Salle Marensine, Soustons
For more information, contact tel: 0698837456
mestrepedrinho.cobra.fr (at) gmail (dot) com
website

Thanks to Jagad for the information.

****************

IV Evenement Capoeira Angola
Terreiro Mandinga de Angola

Dendê da Bahia no TMA”

Mestre Pedrinho de Caxais
Mestre Boca do Rio (Grupo Zimba)

Association Culturelle Capoeira Angola
28, 29 & 30 de août 2009

Salle Marensine, Soustons
Por tout renseignement tel: 0698837456
mestrepedrinho.cobra.fr (arroba) gmail (ponto) com
website

Merci beaucoup, Jagad.

Washington, DC, USA: Pastinha - Zumbi 2009

Hey folks: the annual FICA Pastinha/Zumbi weekend will be held in DC this year. Here is what we have so far. Hope you all can make it.

Thursday, November 12th:
7pm-10 pm: Opening Celebration and Roda

Friday, November 13th:
10 am-12pm: Workshops
12pm-3pm: Lunch and Optional Roda
3pm-5pm: Workshops
5pm-7pm: Dinner and Optional Roda
7pm-9pm: Workshops
9pm-11pm: Optional Roda

Saturday, November 14th:
10 am-12pm: Workshops
12pm-3pm: Lunch and Optional Roda
3pm-5pm: Workshops
8:30pm-11pm: Party

Sunday, November 15th:
10 am-12pm: Workshops
12pm-2pm: Lunch and Panel Discussion
2pm-6pm: Closing Roda

(This is a draft schedule and is subject to change)

Invited Mestres: Mestre Cobra Mansa, Mestre Jurandir & Mestre Valmir

Conference Costs:
Received by October 1st: $75.00 (by cash or check, make check to ICAF-DC)
Received October 1st: $78.00 (using PayPal send to ficadc@hotmail.com)

After October 1st: $90.00 (by cash or check, make check to ICAF-DC)
After October 1st: $93.00 (using PayPal send to ficadc@hotmail.com)

Register here!!

For questions or concerns e-mail us at ficadc (at) hotmail (dot) com

Many thanks to KtS for the info.

Have an event that you would like to share with the international Capoeira Angola community? Send us the info/flyer: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com

Hamburg, Germany: VI Encontro dos amigos do Alabê

All are welcome to participate in the
VI Encontro dos amigos do Alabê

September 25 - 27
at the Centro Cultural Alabê
Hamburg, Germany

In attendance will be:
Mestre Laércio - filhos de angola
Mestre Robson Bocão - grande pequeno sou eu
Contra-mestre Silvinho - angola mae - Italy
Professor Papagaio - ginga camará - Portugal
Professor Teco - tribo do canindé - Switzerland
Professora Moranguinho - grande pequeno sou eu - Germany
Treinel Angolinha - grande pequeno sou eu - Portugal
Treinel Ceguinho - grande pequeno sou eu - Germany
Treinel Pirulito - grande pequeno sou eu - Germany

website

contato: pirulito (at) gmx (dot) de / 0049-163-7342318

Thanks to T Pirulito for the information.

Lausanne, Switzerland: Angoleiros do Mar in the Land of Chocolate

A note from Switzerland:

Here is the official invitation for our encounter of angoleiros in Lausanne, Switerzland -- on the shore of the lake and at the foot of the mountains in the land of chocolate!

October 9 - 11
Lausanne, Switerzland

**Invited guests:
Mestre Marcelo Angola
Mestre Laércio (Grupo Filhos de Angola)

From Grupo Angoleiros do Mar & Angoleiros do Mar -mirim!
Xinxarro-Fubuia-Charel-Bizarro-Sabugosa- & straight from Bahia: BRISA !

Prof. Marcelo Cacique (Arte Negra-F)
Prof. Paahppi (Palmares - IT)
and others

** Scene of the crime**
Friday - tba
Sat, Sun - Centre sportif UNIL de Dorigny

**Schedule**

_Friday, 7 pm
Capoeira Class & Opening Roda

_Saturday
9:30 - noon: Capoeira Class - Percussionnoon
2pm: Walk to the center of the city -"Arrastao A Zuada" + Street Roda
2:30 – 6:30 pm: dance class – capoeira - roda
7:30 – 8:30 pm: Dinner – Party at the Centro Cultural Pôle Sud
9 pm: "Bate Fun Bahia Terra Boa" Open Party - Live- dj – Improv (Free Entrance)

_Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
BBQ – Lakeside Roda

** ** ** ** ** **

Costs (Swiss Franks)
weekend : 120.-chf.
Friday: 40.- chf.
Saturday: 50.-chf.
Sunday: 50.- chf.
or... 30.-chf/per class

* for our Euro friends: 60 euros/weekend

* Housing is available (bring your sleeping bag)

Information & registration by email: admlausanne (at) gmail (dot) com
tel : +41(0)78 616 23 21
Charel +41(0)78 843 81 90
website

See you there !! - A gente se ve là !!
Axé! Cindy-Marizia ;-)

Salvador, Brazil: Filhos de Angola Encounter

August 21, 22 & 23
Forte de Santo Antonio (Galeria dos Mestres),
Salvador de Bahia, Brazil

In attendance:
Mestre Laércio (GCFA)
Mestre Boca Rica
Mestre Cabore
Mestre Valmir (FICA)
Contramestre Pezão (GCFA)
Contramestre Gato Preto (GCFA)

Schedule of Events:
- Friday 08/21 – Opening Roda & Table of Fruits
- Saturday 08/22 & Sunday 08/23 – Trainings & Rodas
Morning Training: 10 am – 1 pm
Break: 1 – 2 pm
Afternoon Training: 2 – 4 pm
Roda: 4 – 7 pm

Price: R$40

For more information, contact:
CM Gato Preto: gato (dot) preto222 (at) ig (dot) com (dot) br - 00 55 8209599
CM Pezão: andersonfilhosdeangola (at) hotmail (dot) com - 00 55 7187638029

Have fun!

San José, Costa Rica: II festival brasileira

II Festival Semana Brasileira
August 28 - September 3

workshops:
capoeira, $45
dance, $30
perucssion, $30
Afro-Brazilian cooking, $25

August 28 - 30
near Vargas Calvo, San Pedro

invited guests: Mestres Cobra Mansa, Valmir & Jurandir with Cabello & Girija

closing: Thursday, September 3, 6 pm, Teatro de la Danza (Fanal)

capoeira roda, September 2
ficacr (at) gmail (dot) com
83603087, 88721973, 22835870

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

II SB
II Festival Semana Brasileira
28 de agosto al 3 de septiembre

Talleres de:
Capoeira, $45
Danza, $30
Percusión, $30
Cocina afro-brasileira, $25

Los dias 28, 29 y 30 de agosto
diagolnal al Vargas Calvo, San Pedro

invitados: Mestres Cobra Mansa, Valmir y Jurandir además de Cabello yh Girija

Noche clasura: jueves, 3 de septiembre 6 pm, Teatro de la Danza (Fanal)

otras actividades: roda de capoeira 2 de septiembre

ficacr (arroba) gmail (ponto) com
83603087, 88721973, 22835870

Thanks to Steven for the information.

Milan, Italy: Closing Roda & M Jogo de Dentro around Europe

Salve all capoeiristas!
The group of Capoeira Semente do Jogo de Angola - Milan, invites all friends for the following events:

Roda of closure of activities 2008/2009 and drinks.
15 July 2009 at 20:00
Via San Barnaba 48, Milan.

For those who are interested on visiting or participating to our activities, our 2009/2010 year begins on September 14th with the following calendar:

Mondays and Thursdays
- 19:00 - 20:30 - Beginners
- 20:30 - 22:30 - Advanced
One Roda a week, dates to be defined.

Where we are:
Via San Barnaba, 48 (Fondazione Humaniter) Milan - Italy
Info: Leonardo
T: (+39) 3891625394
@: llrossi79 (at) yahoo (dot) it
website

European Tour Mestre Jogo de Dentro
05 October/15 November 2009
Dates already reserved:
October 12 to 20 - Bari (Italy)
October 21 to 25 - Helsinki (Finland)
October 30 to November 1st - (Holland)
November 2nd to 8 - Milano (Italy)

Reservations: Leonardo
mail: llrossi79@yahoo.it
Cell: (+39) 3891625394
Mestre Jogo de Dentro
Mail: jogodedentro@bol.com.br
www.sementedojogodeangola.org.br

A great Axé to all capoeiristas!

---------

Il gruppo di Capoeira Semente do Jogo de Angola-Milano invita tutti gli amici ai seguenti eventi:

Roda di chiusura attività 2008/2009 e aperitivo.
15 luglio 2009 alle ore 20:00
Via San Barnaba 48, Milano.

Per chi vorrebbe visitarci e/o allenarsi con noi:
Le nostre attività per l’anno 2009/2010 avranno inizio il 14 settembre 2009.


I nostri orari:
Lunedì e Giovedì
- 19:00 – 20:30: orario principianti
- 20:30 - 22:30: orario avanzati
Una roda a settimana, orari da definire


Dove siamo:
Via San Barnaba, 48 (Fondazione Humaniter) Milano - Italia
Info: Leonardo
T: (+39) 3891625394
@: Llrossi79@yahoo.it
www.sementedojogodeangola.it
www.sementedojogodeangola.org.br


Tour Mestre Jogo de Dentro in Europa
05 Ottobre/15 novembre 2009
Date già riservate:
12 - 20 ottobre - Bari (Italia)
21 - 25 ottobre - Helsinki (Finlandia)
30 ottobre - 1 novembre - (Olanda)
2 - 8 novembre - Milano (Italia)

Riserve: Leonardo
mail: llrossi79 (at) yahoo (dot) it
Tel: (+39) 3891625394
Mestre Jogo de Dentro
Mail: jogodedentro (at) bol (dot) com (dot) br
website

Un forte Axè a tutti capoeiristas!

Salvador, Bahia: movies, capoeira & samba

Project Cinema, Capoeira & Samba

Films:
"O Velho Capoeirista" Mestre João Pequeno de Pastinha, director: Pedro Abib
"Eu vi boa morte sorrir" The sisterhood of Boa Morte in Cachoeira- Bahia, director: Angela Machado
"A festa de São Roque" saint related to diseases, director: Josices Pires

After the film screenings, there will be a traditional samba de roda with the group Botequim at the Bar do Geovani - in front of the fort.

Friday, July 31 at 7 pm
Location: academy of Mestre João Pequeno, Forte de Santo Antonio além do Carmo
Contact: 71-81159235

Soustons, France: Event with M Pedrinho de Caxias

III Capoeira Angola Event
Terreiro Mandinga de Angola
“Angola me chama”

Mestre Pedriho de Caxias
Contramestre Dorado (ACAMCAB)
Contramestre Forro (ACAMCAB)
Profesor Caverinha (TMA)

Association Culturelle Capoeira Angola TMA
Capoeira Angola Terreiro Mandinga de Angola

June 5, 6 & 7
Hall des Sports, Soustons

June 6, Brazilian Party
Cap’tain Bar Velho Boucau Plage
No Cover

For more information, call: 06 11 02 74 23, ou, 06 84 37 54 71
website

Thanks to Jagad for the flyer.

Oakland, USA: Attack of the Treineus!!

June 11 - 14

Treineus Beto, Gege & Fabio will be in Oakland, California this weekend.

The idea is for the treineus, FICA-Oakland, and anyone else who can make ti that weekend to get together and train and share their knowledge of Capoeira Angola.

Have fun!

Celebrating 102 Years of M Pastinha in Goiás

Here are some pictures from the FICA-Goiás celebration of 120 years of Mestre Pastinha with the presence of Mestres Sabu and Goiano.

Thanks to Renato for the pictures.

João Pessoa, Brazil: 6 Hour Roda

The group Capoeira Angola Berimbau Viola has the pleasure to invite all to the third annual encounter, “6 hour roda de capoeira” that will take place during the Festa das Neves, from 3 – 9 pm, on August 1st, in front of the monastery of São Bento.

Brighton, UK: Vadiação 2009

Capoeira Vadiação 2009
Brighton – UK
3 – 5 July

Invited guests: Mestre Russo, Mestre Guara, Mestre Roberval, Mestre Joãozinho, Mestre Polaco, Cm Pernalonga, Prof. Fubuia, Prof. Cláudio

where: Brighton & Hove High School
Montpelier Road, Brighton
E. Sussex BN1 3AT

Friday, July 3: 6 – 10 pm
Saturday, July 4: 11 am – 6 pm
Sunday, July 5: 11 am – 6 pm

Costs: 3 days, £55
any 2 days, £45
Sat or Sun, £25
Fri only, £15

Concessions available for Amazonas members & non-members
Contacts: capoeiraboneco (at) hotmail (dot) com, tel. 07919586299
website

Thanks to Rilene for the flyer.

Mestre Moraes on Mestre Juvenal

Mestre Moraes, president of the Grupo Capoeira Angola Pelourinho, is one of the most respected capoeira mestres in the world, recognized internationally not only for his game and work to preserve Capoeira Angola, but also for his knowledge of the history and philosophy of capoeira.

We have already posted some of his work and interviews to this blog, but now Mestre Moraes is writing his own blog, which is full of amazing stories, reflections, and information. It is an amazing resource – and yet another reason to sharpen your Portuguese skills. Take advantage of his blog and visit it often.

Here is a translation of a recent post:

Mestre Juvenal was one of many mestres who defended capoeira with the force of someone who defends his own life. He was a student of Mestre Samuel Querido-de-Deus, who compared him to a jaguar because of his great agility. A longshoresman like many of the capoeiristas of his time, he took advantage of his break time after meals on the edge of the docks to practice the noble art with his friends.

When interviewed by the reporter Cháudio Tavares of the magazine “O Cruzeiro” in 1948, he confirmed that capoeira was his “cachaça”, not forgetting to highlight Capoeira Angola, “to distinguish it from the Regional of Mestre Bimba” according to the reporter’s interpretation.

Mestre Juvenal behaved differently than some angoleiros, contemporaries of the memorialist Manuel Querino who considered them“…pretentious, excessively talkative, with particular gestures, troublemakers, those who introduced “capoeiragem” to Bahia." Due to cultural and social dynamics, Juvenal was not like those described by Querino. He cultivated certain characteristics of his time: he was muscular, thin, but also agile and flexible, also talkative and mannered. According to Tavares, he was not a malandro, nor a professional capoeirista of the time that could be contracted to perform little services for the big guys. Like other capoeiristas of his time, Juvenal was a worker, a longshoresman who passed his day and into the night in the “pesado”. Could it be that this situation dedicated the capoeirista even more to capoeira? I don’t know.

Juvenal was proud of the mestre who taught him the secrets of a capoeirista "who, whether free or pinned down, could attack any adversary".

Read more at the blog.

Thanks to Mexicana for the tip.

Montreal, Canada: Event at the end of May

Capoeira Angola: Maintaining the Tradition

Saturday, May 30
12:30 - 4:30 pm
Movement & music workshops with Roque
Marianne Corneau presentation: "Capoeira Angola: réparation de la mémoire afro-brésilienne"
Feijoada after workshops

Sunday, May 31
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Workshops with Roque
Film Screening: "Mandinga in Manhatan" by Lazario Faria
Roda

$50/ for a single day
$15/ feijoada
$95/ entire event

Everyone is welcome!

capoeiraangolaquebec (at) gmail (dot) com
website
418.524.6030, 418.554.7601
-----

Anniversaire
FUNDAÇÃO INTERNACIONAL DE CAPOEIRA ANGOLA
Grupo de estudo Québec

"Déjà un an de tradition vivante!"

Au programme:
Samedi 30 mai, 12h30 à 16h30
Atelier de Capoeira Angola avec Roque (mouvements et musique)
Présentation de Marianne Corneau "Capoeira Angola: réparation de la mémoire afro-brésilienne"
Feijoada en soirée

Dimanche 31 mai, 10h à 15h
Atelier de Capoeira Angola avec Roque
Projection du film "Mandinga in Manhatan"
de Lazario Faria
Roda

50$/ jour
15$/feijoada
95$/événement complet

Ilheus, Brazil: Capoeira, Samba & Beach

Cabello will be hosting an event this August in Ilheus, Bahia:

DANCEBATUKEIRA 2009
August 5th to 9th
Bahia Brasil

You will be living in the south Bahia close to historical city of Ilheus and the very famous Itacare'surf town for 5days and nights taking Capoeira Angola, Maculele, Afro Brazilian Dance and lots of Drumming classes plus instrument making workshops, forest hikes, water falls, white sand beaches, forroï dance party and more.

Enjoy and experience classes and workshops of Caxixi, Pandeiro, Atabaque, Batucada drumming, Samba dance, Orixaï Dance, Capoeira Angola Rodas songs and other percussion ensembles and moreï

No prior experience required!! All levels welcome!!!

Space is limited to only 35 people so please register soon!!

For more information, check out the website.

Thanks to MG for the information.

Capoeira in Paradise (Hawaii, that is)

Hello all. Here's a note from Joe in Hawaii about a recent event with Mestre Jurandir, Contramestre Silvinho, and Treineu Daniel of FICA-Oakland. Sounds like it was a lot of fun!

* we'll add some pictures soon, but for now, I think this will do. gorgeous!

Afro-Brazilian Cultural Arts Festival
Hilo, Hawaii March 2009

Treineu Daniel arrived on Tuesday afternoon at the little Hilo, Hawaii airport. That night and the next day he gave long classes that everyone enjoyed and appreciated. Already the group had been training intensely, not to mention all the fund raisers and preparations necessary for the conference coming up this weekend. But, Daniel's energy renewed us. Jumping and floating, we burst forth, trying to catch his tricky mind boggling maneuvers. Daniel works serious and loves Capoeira Angola.

At 4:30am the next morning we went to visit Pele, Goddess of the earth fire. Beyond
the other worldly black and rolling lava, called pa hoi hoi, was the Goddess spilling forth. Tricklets of steam tickling up out of the earthen cracks here and there. Freshly formed and cooling. Golden red strands of Pele's hair shimmering and shooting skyward as she met Kapo, Goddess of the ocean and mystery. The full moon was setting opposite the sun simultaneously rising, creation and destruction, immaculate, Pele was kind today. The afternoon was spent relaxing on the black sand beach and later we trained hard and talked capoeira well into the evening until we fell asleep.

On the following day Daniel and I went hiking through the jungle to visit the sweet water. We swam beneath the crushing waterfalls heavy from the rain. Afterward, we made our way to the airport to pick up Mestre Jurandir. We went directly to class where Mestre led the group in music and movement. Mestre's class is always physically, emotionally and spiritually challenging. We were all humbled as he patiently reminded us all about the importance of the most basic movement, Ginga.

The next day we went to a naturally heated warm pond, set next to the ocean, where Mestre loves to go. We spent many hours relaxing there before returning home. We picked up Contramestre Silvinho at the airport that night on the way to the opening of the conference.

So now all of our guests were here, and all that the group had worked so hard to achieve was underway. After another incredible movement workshop with Mestre we had a stellar music class. He talked about the importance of making a connection to the ancestors. And we sang as deep and as well as we could.

Contramestre Silvinho taught Saturday morning in the church. He gave a basic movement workshop, foundation, foundation and more foundation. A beautiful class. I had many emotions. Feeling the strength of having my teachers here got the better of me as I often feel alone in the struggle to keep my practice going in their physical
absence. I hoped the class would never end.

Following the workshop Mestre gave a lecture on his work in Mozambique, Africa. It was nice to hear the way Capoeira Angola is putting people together there, man, woman and child. Always challenging social norms and connecting otherwise disparate factions. It is nice to know that we have Capoeira family in Africa.

After the lecture we had local samba percussionist, Jesse Seymore do a workshop with the group. He taught us what he had learned while spending time in Salvador, Bahia. The rest of the afternoon was spent in the Roda playing Capoeira. And then the local samba community did a Rio style glitz and glamour performance led by Lisa Dixon. It was fun to watch. The synergy was bubbling below the surface and that's when Silvinho went to work. He is so much fun. He took a drum and the social barrier was broken and the evening relaxed. And when the energy was right Mestre took a conga and the party was on. He was in full form and everyone danced wildly.

The last day of the conference was here and we had to cancel the morning class due to the late night samba party. We did some more percussion and Lisa Dixon taught a beginner samba class in the Rio style and then the Bahia style.

Afterward, we did a Berimbau workshop with Mestre. There were twenty Berimbaus in a semi-circle, something the Big Island has never seen before. Gorgeous. The conference came to a close with a beautiful Roda, everyone played, sang and had fun. Thanks to Mestre Jurandir, Contramestre Silvinho and Treineu Daniel and to all of FICA Hawaii study group for making this conference happen.

Thanks Joe! Here's to many more events on the island.

Would you like to share your experience at an event with the capoeira community? Send a written piece, photos, or whatever to: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Pictures from a Roda in Lapa

On the first Saturday of the month, Grupo Capoeira Angola Aluande, under the direction of Contramestre Urubu, hosts a roda during a crafts and antique fair in the Lapa neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. These photos are from the April roda, that included capoeiristas from Grupo Aluande, FICA-Rio, Grupo Ypiranga, Mestre Marrom's group, FICA-DC and other groups.

It was a gorgeous day and a very fun roda with lots of good energy. If you are in Rio the first Saturday of the month make sure you don't miss the roda.

If you have photos that you would like to share with the international Capoeira Angola community, send them to the blog: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com.

Oakland, USA: Special Workshops

FICA-Oakland presents workshops with
Contramestre Silvinho (Seattle/Belo Horizonte) & Treinel Baba (DC/Bahia)

Schedule
Friday, April 176:30 pm, music and movements

Saturday, April 18
10:00 am, music and movements
2:00 pm, roda

Sunday, April 19
11, music, movements and roda

Price: USD20 per day
Location: 2513 Magnolia Street, Oakland, Calífonia, USA
Tel: 510-835-2052
email: icafoakland (at) yahoo (dot) com
website

Have fun!

São Paulo: Celebrating 10 Years of "No Fio da Navalha"

We invite all to take part in our 4th Encounter celebrating 10 years of Capoeira Angola with “No Fio da Navalha” in São Paulo.

The event will take place at the Rodoviados Imigrantes, KM 11.5
Beside the Imigrantes Exposition Pavillion
Place: Mamãe Imigrantes (NGO)
May 9, 2009
1:00 pm
Contact: cenoranofiodanavalha (at) hotmail (dot) com
Phone: 011- 9853- 8495

London, UK: 5 Days of Capoeira Vibe

Five days of Capoeira vibe
with Mestre Valmir of FICA-Bahia

When: April 21 - 26, 2009
Where: Dalston, Angel, West Kensington, Chalk Farm
Contact: tel, 07989480594, or email: vcaranha (at) uku (dot) co (dot) uk

Moscow, Russia: M Cobra Mansa & M Valmir

When: May 8 - 10, 2009

Where: School No. 26, Lomonovski Prospekt, Dom. 12 (Metro station: Universitiet)Tel:79265377201

E-mail:moscou (at) capoeira-angola (dot) ru

FICA Moscou is welcoming Mestre COBRA MANSA & Mestre VALMIR from the International Capoeira Angola Foundation (FICA) for an open capoeira angola workshop.

The workshop is open to beginners and experienced capoeiristas and includes physical training, singing and rhythm. Bring your berimbau!

Price: 4000 rubles*/ for the 3-day workshop

*This price includes regular week classes starting May 5th for all angoleiros!

For accommodation, contact Katia at +7 (917) 587-7661. (Bring your sleeping bag!)

For general info, contact Inna at +7 (926) 537-7201 or Imah at +7 (915) 175 1505.

Hope to see you in Moscow!

Stockholm, Sweden: Workshops with M Cobra Mansa

A message about an upcoming workshop in Sweden:

Don't miss this opportunity to meet Mestre Cobra Mansa

May 15-17, 2009
in Stockholm

Capoeira Angola Workshop
Lessons are for beginners as well as advanced capoeristas and will include physical training, singing and rhythm. There will also be Roda de Capoeira Angola, a lecture by the Mestre, a videoshow, an afrosamba dance class with Rita Nobre from Bahia, and much more.

On Saturday night there will be an African dinner and jam session.

FRIDAY 15 may
WORKSHOP
18.30 – 21.00 Sofiaskolan, Skånegatan 117

SATURDAY 16 may
WORKSHOP
10.00 – 18.00 Tenstahallen
Evening
program

SUNDAY 17 may
WORKSHOP
10.00 - 18.00 Tenstahallen

650 skr if payed and registrated in advance
750 skr without
registration

Pay at p.g. 836 07 13 - 5 FICA Capoeira Angola Stockholm and register by e-mail ficasweden (at) yahoo (dot) se
Please, register before April 1.

Places to sleep will be arranged, please bring your sleeping bag and do not forget your berimbau.

For more information contact: ficasweden (at) yahoo (dot) se

website

Have fun!

Not a Woman or Priest Among Them

Long before youtube, great capoeira memories were remembered. In a few rare instances, games were put to paper, and the below is a good example, from the book City of Women by Ruth Landes. The book is a spectacular primary resource about Salvador, Bahia in the 1930s. The language and some of the ideas are dated, but it gives excellent descriptions of Salvador, its people, and the way life was back in the day.

Here is a bit about a capoeira roda that Landes saw in the street with her friend and companion, the anthropolgist and intellectual, Edison Carneiro:

We arrived at the spot where the men were forming for capoeira. Watchers were crowded four deep around a wide circle, and there was not a women or priest among them. To one side of the innermost ring stood three tall Negroes, each holding a berimbau with one end resting on the ground. Two more musicians soon came- one with a chocalho, or metal rattle, and the other with a pandeiro or tambourine. Edison and the others helped push me front, and we were glad of the diversion.

Two capoeirists were squatting there, facing the musicians. One was the champion Querido de Deus (Beloved of God), with the Christian name of Samuel. He was tall, black, middle-aged and muscular, a fisherman by trade. His challenger was the Black Leopard, a younger man, shorter and fatter. They were barefooted, wearing striped cotton jersey shirts, one with white trousers, the other with dark, one with a felt hat, the other with a cap which he later changed to a hard straw hat. Squatting in their hats and bare feet, one had his left arm on his left thigh, the other had his right arm on his right thigh, and the stared straight, resting. It was required of them to keep silent, and the requirement carried over to the audience.

The orchestra opened the events by strumming an invocation, and this monotonous accompaniment too was essential to the occasion. It was a sort of whining, nasal-toned framework within which the men executed acrobatic marvels, always to the correct beat, while the musicians chanted mocking verses:

I stood at the foot of the cross
Saying my prayer
When there arrived Catherine
The very image of the Devil.

Eh, eh, Ah-Rhuanda!
Missy, let's go away!
To beyond the sea!

It's a sharp knife,
Missy, it's for piercing
Missy, throw it to this side
Missy, throw it to that side.

Eh, eh, long live my master
And my mistress, who taught me!
Mester, leave me to the vagrant life!
Missy, to the capoeira life!

Missy, may the earth revole!
Master, may the world go on!"

It was song of challenge and hope and resignation, containing fragments of rebellious thoughts. It did not possess a simple theme well worked out, but it summarized a type of life and of protest, And it opened the fight.

Querido de Deus swayed on his haunches while he faced his opponent with a grin and gauged his chances. The fight involved all parts of the body except the hands, a precaution demanded by the police to obviate harm. As the movement followed the musical accompaniment, they flowed into a slow-motion, dream-like sequence that was more a dancing than a wrestling. As the law stipulated that capoeirists must not hurt each other, blows become acrobatic stances whose balancing scored in the final check-up, and were named and classified. Various types of capoeira had evolved, with subtleties in the forms and sequences of the blows and in the styles of playing ther berimbau.

Querido de Deus was prodigiously agile in the difficult formal encounters with his adversary, and he smiled constantly while the ritual songs droned on:

They told me wife
That a capoeira man had conquered me,
The woman swore, and stamped her foot dowm firm
That this could not have been.

And the berimbaus changed again:

There was I. Oh! There was my brother,
There was my brother and I.
My brother rented a house
But neither he paid, nor I!

Impertintently, with slow, calculated, beautiful movements, Querido de Deus butted his adversary with his hated head, catching him lightly in the pit of the stomach, upsetting his so that he fell on his head. Thereupon the orchestra struck up triumphantly:

Zum-zum-zum
Capoeira kills one!

The cutting knife is bad
Prepare your stomach to catch it

The challenging echoes silenced, the round was over, the two men walked and trotted restfully in a counter-clockwise circle, one behind the other, the champion leading with his arms high in the air, the other grasping his wrists from behind while the orchestra played and sang teasingly:

In the days when I had money
My comrade called me kin
After my money was gone
My comrade scorned me as bold.

Gradually, having rested, the one in the front wheeled to face the other one behind, and they parried to the beat of the songs, never still, balancing from one foot to the other, watching for openings.

Comrade, attention!
Capoeira goes at you!

warned the berimbaus. The two faced each other, Querido de Deus swaying, Leopard backing away, always rhythmically. As Querido de Deus advanced, bending from the waist, lowering his head for the telling blow at the other's middle, Leopard curved forward intending to evade him.

Actually he created an opening into which Querido de Deus charged with his right leg, his left one stretched parallel with the ground supporting him. Leopard's arm swung back loosely, and he fell forward over the butting head in a clean arc. Laughing quietly in appreciation, the two rose, loping in circles to relax while the orchestra applauded:

Lo, is a messenger from the king!
He is from Ruanda!
What can one do with capoeira?
He is an African sorcerer
And he knows how to play.

They sparred again, and again Querido de Deus was the one to attack, half squatting as in a Russian dance, swaying, arms curved forward for balance. Instead of following through with his head as before, he worked to one side and suddenly raised up his body. Leopard bent to charge, but Querido de Deus swung his weight to his right leg and cleared his opponent's head with his left, causing him once more to fall sprawling!

Now another insisted upon entering the ring. He had attempted to do so earlier but he had been ignored. Impatiently he pushed Leopard aside, pointing indignantly to the corner where scorekeepers were chalking the points on the ground, points Leopard failed to make. And sulkily Leopard yielded his place.

The hero Querido de Deus wiped his streaming face and back, and bared his head to cool it. Through everything the onlookers remained silent, only shuffling to ease their positions and inner excitement. Soon the bows whined in invocation for the new round:

Who taught thee this good magic?
It was the mistress' boy.
The the boy costs good money.
Good money needs to be earned.

Fall, fall Catarina,
Rise from the sea, come see Dalina.

Tomorrow is a holy day,
Day of Corpus Christi.
He who has clothes goes to mass.
He who has none does- as I do!

Fall, fall
Catarina…

To me this was a performance incongruous and wonderful; to the others it was wonderful and completely absorbing. To then it was right. But the phrases startled me into conjectures about slavery, rebellion and mockery, and I was astounded most at the manner of the performance, which robbed capoeira of its original sting. The police had removed the sting, and the blacks had converted the remains into a weird, poignant dance. Did the songs carry meaning to the people now? Did they recall the struggles that inspired them, or did they merely dramatize black men, as candomblé dramatized black women? The rows of watchers were still, their faces were impassive.

Again, the challenger and the champion began to trot with knees bent, arms swinging loose, Querido de Deus amusing himself with intricate little movements of his feet. Suddenly a boy jumped into the center of the ring flourishing a pot of money. He had just made the rounds with his hat requesting contributions for the fighters; and the orchestra, which rules the occasion, has deiced that instead of apportioning the money, it should be left to a new pair to try for with their mouths, each fending off the other à la capoeira. The boy announced this decision and placed the pot on the ground while the berimbaus teased:

Would you play with a capoeira?
He is a tricky devil…

And Querido de Deus won! But with the heart of a champion he returned the pot to open the struggle again:

Now you can play!

This time the newcomer won. The crowd broke up, painfully uncomfortable under the blistering two o'clock sun…

Learn more about Ruth Landes here.

Have you come across something that you would like to share with the capoeira community? Send it to us: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com.