LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Capoeira
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Capoeira is a unique blend of movement, song and music. At first glance one sees a circle of clapping onlookers, singing choruses in Portuguese to traditional call and response songs. In the center of the circle two capoeiristas move in what resembles a competitive dance. There is an acrobatic and beautiful avoidance of physical contact. The players’ movements display ritual, trickery and grace. As one continues to look, one sees that the contributions of the encircling players and musicians play a large part in the game.
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A Capoeira "fight" is one that implies that the purpose is a pretend cockfight, whereby men participate to show off their skills rather than fighting to actually kill or harm an opponent. Though this gymnastic almost dance-like display can appear to be a fight, participants are expected to restrain themselves from inflicting grievous harm upon one another. Hence, all participants are reminded by the word Capoeira, that the intent of the "fight" should remain one with the restraint of the show-off, yet castrated, rooster called Capão. These showy cock like fights are mock fights of skill between performing "capão" in the mock cockfight pen known as the "Capoceira". Capoeira is an extreme display of a cockfight-like competition of one-up-man-ship between show-off cocky "roosters" absent deadly intent.
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The musical soul of Capoeira, the berimbau, leads an orchestra of drums, tambourines and bells. The rhythms govern the speed and type of games played. One rhythm calls for beautiful flourishes and graceful movements, another calls for close-quartered movements, and sneaky deception to trap the opponent. Many moves involve headstands, handstands, cartwheels and other improvised movements. There are small rituals and gestures that season the games. Everyone’s style of play is very individual, and evolves with their experience in the art.
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Capoeira is done in circle (roda). In the center two players show their skills in what is called jogo de capoeira. The people forming the circle around those players sing, play instruments and clap hands. The most important and respected instrument in capoeira is the Berimbau (a wood bent with a steel string). When capoiera was outlawed in Brazil, some of the berimbau rhythms played were a way to alert players that the police was around.
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Capoeira was developed by Afican slaves in Brazil to increase their chances for liberty and independency. On the pretence of dance they practiced fighting techniques. The energy for the game and the rhythm and speed are determined by music and songs. The berimbau, a single steel stringed bow, is the leadinstrument. The music is being completed by clapping, singing, pandeiro (tambourine) and atabaque (oblong drum). Sometimes the agogô (double cow-bell) and reco-reco (rasp) are ... being used.
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Among the groups who come to learn Capoeira with Terel there are ultra-Orthodox girls from Bet Yaakov and Bet Yisrael schools, and she is pleased that they can learn with a female instructor. She tells her neighbors who ask what she does for a living that she works for a non-profit organization. Only if they really press her does she go into detail. And if, God forbid, someone dares to attack her, he will ... find out the details, without a lot of words exchanged.
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Capoeira