Club Corner: Capoeira

The Brazilian art of capoeira is recognized as both dance and martial art. Created by enslaved Africans as a means of self-defense, capoeira traces its roots to 16th-century colonial Brazil. The practice, a manifestation against the oppression of slavery, was disguised as entertainment and offered enslaved people a sense of community, strength, and identity.

Capoeira is a rhythmic fight during which two adversaries confront each other using swift, acrobatic maneuvers. These battles are accompanied by several musical instruments, most typically the berimbau, and the participants are often encircled by onlookers. 

At Graded, capoeira is offered as a weekly after-school activity to lower school students. Every Thursday, they gather in the Lower School Gymnasium to practice their ginga (footwork), movements, and rhythm. Their lessons are also enriched by games of tag and statue, which according to first-grader Pamela D., are the best part. “We usually start the class doing some moves, and we listen to music, and then at the end, we play games. The games are very, very fun.”

The class is instructed by Marcos Priviatti, a capoeira aficionado who believes that the sport is great at teaching kids about themselves. “Capoeira pushes the limits of what you can do with your body. When you practice consistently, your instincts become sharper and you become more aware of your surroundings.” Mr. Priviatti also extols the social value of capoeira. “Our focus in this class is not the fight,” he explains, “so the students see it more as a game they play with each other. That’s what capoeira does—it brings people together.”

The students participating in the class are very young, and many of the movements are challenging for them. They find the activity extremely engaging nonetheless. First-grader Connor T. exclaims that “capoeira is fun and has a lot of cool moves.” According to him, “The moves are the best part!” Third-grader Daniella D.  says that the class “has dance and music and is incredible. It’s really similar to gymnastics in some ways, like, we do the star and the bridge, but it’s also really different because, in capoeira, we learn how to protect ourselves.” 

Mr. Priviatti aims to make his classes as enjoyable as possible, but he also wants his students to understand the cultural significance of the sport. He brings typical musical instruments to every class and shows students how to use them. The young practitioners have tried their hands at playing the berimbau, the instrument that leads capoeiristas’ movements and consists of a wooden bow, a dried-out gourd shell, and a steel string; the caxixi, a small instrument that produces sound when it is shaken; the pandeiro, a type of tambourine introduced into Brazil by Portuguese settlers; and the atabaque, a tall hand drum. Most of these instruments are of African origin and have been used over the centuries. 

The practice of capoeira today—at Graded and elsewhere—is a celebration of Brazilian culture. It is a recognition of the Brazilian people, of resistance and resilience, and of identity. It’s also immensely challenging and enjoyable, as Mr. Priviatti’s students are discovering.