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It's 7:30 on a Thursday evening, and numerous barefoot, sweaty students can be found moving about in the Eagle's Nest. No, this is not a preparatory pre-gaming event for the upcoming Kanye concert, but rather one of the newest additions to the Boston College Brazilian Club: capoeira class.
Capoeira can be described as a "Martial Dance," developed in Brazil over 400 years ago by African slaves.
This art form was originally practiced by slaves in captivity as a means of protection and continued to thrive afterward as a method of street survival for ex-slaves, later evolving into a ritual art form of self-expression and freedom of the mind in Bahia, Brazil.
"Capoeira is a martial art disguised as a traditional dance. With deceptive kicks and acrobatic flourishes, it serves as a refreshing complement to any martial art. It's easy to get started, and impossible to stop," says Bradley Hayes, A&S '08.
Nowadays, capoeira has spread through the borders of Brazil to the rest of the world, where one can find different schools teaching the art from their own perspectives.
It is "played," not fought, and requires a combination of rhythm, strength, and flexibility. You must have good hand-eye coordination, and constantly watch your partner, learning how to move fluidly with one another.
Allyson Fortier, A&S '06, studied abroad in South Africa and became quickly attracted to it.
"I had been a dancer and needed a new activity because I was abroad. It's a great culture and a really good workout," she says.
With interest rising, the idea of bringing something new to BC was broached.
"As president of BCBC [BC Brazilian Club], myself and my board decided to bring capoeira to BC," says Andrea Reichert, A&S '08. "It reflects a large part of Brazilian culture. With the efforts of BCBC's director of Capoeira Club, Igor Lima [A&S '08], we were able to bring it to BC."
While capoeira was informally practiced last year by a few students, the official club is looking forward to progressing as much as possible. Reichert notes its recent advancements.
"We were finally able to bring a maestre [teacher] in from Cambridge last Tuesday, which was a great success, and we will be working with him on a weekly basis. Seeing everyone playing and singing in the 'roda' made me proud of my culture and miss Brazil even more."
Still, like any developing club, there is certainly room for improvement. Paul Leonard, A&S '09, says that there is "nothing wrong with the class," but there is a definite need for "more space."
Kent Markgraf, A&S '09 says the club needs mats to adequately practice.
Lima hopes that "the Plex will recognize this wonderful art and host classes in their facilities."
Capoeira is not simply a workout but has a musical component as well. It is performed to traditional songs sung in Portuguese and accompanied by a small orchestra of traditional African instruments. Such primitive percussion instruments follow the berimbau, made from a wooden rod, gourd, and wire, which is played with a small stick and a stone. The music generally follows a pattern of call and answer, as the berimbau player sings out the call and waits for the reply.
Setting the pace for the game, the music also indicates what style of game should be played. Some songs have a narrative effect, while others relate to very specific situations or events at that moment. Along with hopes for better facilities, Hayes anticipates "more funding for instruments and striking pads," as they are in fact essentials to this art.
It is tempting to refer to capoeira as simply a martial art. Indeed, the movements and manner of teaching are very much reminiscent of martial arts, and the techniques were originally developed for the purposes of self defense. The music and the rhythms create a unique visual impact, however, leading many to call it a dance. Then there's the performance side, which has caused many to think of it as simply an art form.
So what is capoeira? For the idealist, it is a symbol of the spirit of freedom, and a unique piece of Brazilian culture.
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