Things to Do in Brazil: A Capoeira and Drums Class

Capoeira defies categorization. It’s a dance form, a martial art, and a national sport. Its magnetic swirl of movement and music symbolize triumph over adversity. Its practice preserves a rich cultural heritage. If you’re looking for things to do in Brazil, a capoeira and drums class should rank at the top of your list.

 

Read on to find out more about this vibrant Brazilian art form.

 

The History of Capoeira

 

Capoeira is rooted in the vibrant cultural traditions of West and Central Africa. These traditions came to Brazil through enslaved African populations. Passed down orally from generation to generation, the teachings of Capoeira mark a path to self-discipline, spirituality, and physical well-being.

 

Capoeira dates back more than 500 years to the start of the slave trade in Brazil. It soon came to flourish in both the senzalas (slave quarters) and the quilombos (runaway slave communities). Capoeira allowed practitioners to preserve their unique cultural heritage. It also symbolized a way to resist injustice while developing a rock-hard sense of mental and physical strength.

 

A Unique Afro-Brazilian Identity

 

A melding of West and Central African cultures and traditions, Capoeira draws from:

 

•      rites of passage
•      rituals
•      dance
•      food
•      religion
•      language

 

As it was passed down through each succeeding generation, Capoeira came to encapsulate a new Afro-Brazilian identity with a distinct set of cultural practices.

 

The Roda

 

The game of Capoeira is breathtaking to watch. You’ll marvel at the agility and grace of the practitioners. You’ll get caught up in the contagious Afro-Brazilian rhythms of the music. The action happens in the roda. In this circle, the game between two Capoeiristas (practitioners of the art) takes place.

 

The game within the roda unfolds as a physical dialogue. This dialogue includes moves such as:

 

•      circular and straight kicks
•      escapes
•      takedowns
•      sweeps
•      gymnastic flourishes

 

Combined with rhythmic music, the Capoeira roda is contagious. Among the many things to do in Brazil, enjoying a Capoeira and drums class will teach you and your family about mind/body awareness, reflexes and agility, self-defense, and the Brazilian culture.

Capoeira Music

 

The action of the roda is accompanied by a Capoeira orchestra comprised of:

 

•      three berimbaus
•      two pandeiros
•      one atabaque

 

The berimbau (a single-string percussion instrument) dictates the speed and nature of the activities in the roda. It can play up to 10 different traditional rhythms and countless variations. Supporting the berimbau is the atabaque, a hand frame drum, which provides the heartbeat for the Capoeira roda. Finally, the pandeiro (a tambourine-like instrument) provides punctuation to the catchy rhythms and melodies of the berimbau and the atabaque.

 

Over this orchestra of instruments, a choir of voices rings out. They sing call and response songs that date back multiple generations.

A Masterful Blending of Cultures

 

The words that the Capoeira chorus sings tell the story of the art form. These lyrics discuss its powerful history, its visionary mestres (masters), and its legends. Sung in rhythmic, yet poetic, Portuguese, practitioners of all nationalities and ethnicities share in this practice today.

 

Over the course of its 500-year history, Capoeira has undergone a dynamic transformation. Today, two schools dominate Capoeira: Angola and Regional. Most Capoeira schools practice both forms believing the styles to be complementary.  When it comes to things to do in Brazil, a Capoeira and drums class will introduce you and your kids to new cultures and ways of moving and interacting with music.

Things to Do in Brazil

 

Our Chapada Diamantina/Salvador Adventure takes your family deep into the heart of Bahia. Stunning landscapes, deep-cut canyons, and flat-topped mountains make this region one of the most picturesque in Brazil. Highlights of this trip include the chance to enjoy a live Capoeira and drums class.

 

When it comes to things to do in Brazil, few activities compare to enjoying a Capoeira and drums class. It exposes your family to new cultures. And it allows you to learn more about Brazil and the populations that have shaped it.

 

We’re here to help you and your family experience the world, its peoples, and its cultures. Contact us today to learn more about the unforgettable experiences that we handcraft to introduce kids to the world. And check out our blog to learn more about things to do in Brazil.