PERFORMING ARTS

SAMBA
• Samba
– AGENDA SAMBA IN TUTTO IL BRASILE:
http://www.samba-choro.com.br/
– What is Samba?
A type of dance typical of Brasil. The name comes from Semba (o
Mesemba), that is a religious rhythm of Angola (they are indeed one
in front of the other!): in fact Samba is originally linked to ancient
religious African practices. In particular, the origin of Samba is
related to the Candomblè, a syncretic religion born in Bahia from the
meeting among different Cultures (African and South American)
forced by the Catholics to hide their religious symbols. It was born in
Salvador de Bahia, under the influence of the afro communities
(joruba and naghò). Then it landed at Rio thanks to Tia Chata, a
Candomblè mistress/priestess from Bahia which hosted at her
house the most famous samba performers. The most important
samba school in Rio is considered to be Mangueira.
– Scuole samba a Rio:
http://www.italiaviabrasil.net/2008/12/le-scuole-di-samba-di-rio-de-
janeiro.html

Samba
- SAMBA CITY
http://www.sambacity.info/
Samba City is the new Brazilian Carnival tourist attraction of Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil ! All year around you can learn samba dance moves,
hear the spinning drum rhythms of the Carnaval Bataria and see the
vibrant colours move in a blazing fantasy fest of costumes and dance
revolution on a 93,000 m2 area near the port of Rio!

CAPOEIRA
• What is Capoeira?
It is a typical brasilian form of fighting; since it stresses on armonic
movements and music it is often (and incorrectly) considered as a dance.
The history of this practice is very difficult to design: we only know for sure
that it was born as a mixture of African fight and dance, from the portuguese
colonies in Africa, from where slaves were brought to Brasil (end of slavery:
1888).It was very important during the slavery period and it has been
banned for a long time because it could be used in an aggressive way
(threat).
The regional Capoeira was founded in the school of Mestre Bimba in 1937;
over the years Capoeira had become more and more folkloristic and he
wanted to bring it again close to the fighting origins.
Key words jogo, malandragem (cunning), music, respect, competition, freedom.

There are different styles of Capoeira:
primitiva,
angola,
regional
estilizada,
Contemporanea
They have in common the importance of music:
the berimbau (typical instrument)
makes the rythm of the roda (the circle made by people fighting/dancing), also
called jogo.
Different rythms make different jogos. Other instruments are played (Atabaque,
pandeiro, etc..) and different rhytms are possible, according to the different
styles.

Rules
The berimbau “gunga” or “berra boi” is assigned to the senior performer, which leads the jogo
(game). People are in circle, clapping, moving following the rhytm (“ginga” is the basic pace)
and singing, and in turn the participants go in the center of the roda (the wheel) in couple and
can compose many different actions/movements always interacting eachother like it was a
dialogue, both within the two and with the other peolple in the circle. The decision of entry the
wheel can be made either by the leader berimbau or by people in circle or by one of the two
performers in the middle.
Whether there is physical contact or not it depends on the type of capoeira and on the rytmh
held by the leading berimbau. In general, knocks are avoided: just giving a hint of them means
you won
Ropes and graduations
Like in Judo or karate, some schools of capoeira has adopted signs to distinguish the
beginners from the expert performers. Anyway, at least a “certificate” assessing your level is
always delivered.
Clothes
The most common are Abadà pants, with different colours depending on the style of
Capoeira.

CAPOEIRA SCHOOL
Capoeirista.com
www.capoeirista.com
It is a non-group-affiliated capoeira website that offers free online tools for capoeiristas
Capoeira Accademies in Rio
http://www.gringo-rio.com/capoeira-classes.html
The Capoeira MarAzul Group
http://www.marazul.co.uk/about.htm
It was founded on the 10th March 1983 by Valdenor Reis (Sarará) and Joãozinho da Figueira,
both graduated by Mestre Carioca from the Capitães de Areia Academy in São Paulo, Brazil.
São Paulo
In São Paulo, the Group started its activities in the Pontificia Catholic University, where it
stayed for almost two years, developing a programme of cultural integration with the
Academic Centres of the University. With the fire that destroyed the Tuca Theatre in
September 1984, the group was transferred to a gymnasium, as the university space was out
of bounds for reconstruction.
When Joãozinho left for Manaus, Sarará remained responsible for MarAzul, and continued the
Group's work.
Today, MarAzul in São Paulo is coordenated by Mestre Carioca, accompanied by Valdenor
and Nathanael, who are giving lessons in academies, and also with social projects in the
periphery of the city, for children, adolescents and people on low incomes.

The Capoeira MarAzul Group
http://www.marazul.co.uk/about.htm
Main objective to promote and disseminate afro-brazilian culture
preserving its principles and fundamentals
using it as a means of interaction and as a social catalyst.
develop educational, social and cultural projects and programmes
to support and benefit people of all ages and from all segments of society.
to practice and teach Capoeira in the most traditional way
Methodology builds on its cultural roots
preserving its rituals, poetry and musicality,corporal expression and language
Philosophy interaction
seeking to share experiences,
to strengthen our work through practice and contact with the world of Capoeira
and with all sectors of society that fight for the preservation of the customs and
cultural traditions inherited from our ancestors.
Values strenght,courage, wisdom,knowledge, dedication, perseverance, humility,
sensibility perception

THE DARK SIDE OF BRASIL
• All esotheric aspects (esoterically-blended from our point of view..) we think
at when dealing with Brasil are linked to strange (from our point of view..)
practices linked to afro-american religions. Some of them are rooted in
ancient times traditions, some others are more recent; in general, however,
they spread in Brasil between the end of 1800 and the beginning of 1900.
They are also present in Argentina and Uruguay, for example.
We can have a varied bunch of the various Afro-American religions like
Candomblè, Quembanda, Batuque, Macumba, Xambà, Egungun and many
many others, born when the colonialism imposed the Christian religion and
all the African traditions, more related to spiritualism, had to find a way to
survive. This is the reason way so many mixed (afro-american) religions
were born. The names, also, have clear African origins. Consequently, ince
they are very related with slavery, they initially were developed within black
communities, but then they acquired importance among white people too.
Each of these religions recognises different entities (often spirit-based, due
to the African influence)

The “strange practices” are rituals, often negromancy, divination, potions, amulets,
etc.. To build a bridge with the supernatural. Often specific colours are associated
with each practice or religion.
Quimbanda, like Umbanda and Candomblè has become recognized religions.
However, in recent years, many Christian churches (dominant) and congregations
have shown increasing intolerance toward these Afro-American religions in Brazil,
causing harassment and violence. Followers of these traditions are beginning to
seek recourse from the law which protects freedom of religion in Brazil.
http://www.lucil.it/Quimbanda.htm
http://www.esoteric-center.it/Candomble.htm

Cultural Agendas
• AGENDA CULTURAL RIO:
http://www.nossadica.com/agenda_rio.php
• FESTIVALS IN BRASILE: http://www.festivaisdobrasil.com.br/
• MUSICHE VARIE A SAN PAOLO FINO AL 7 APRILE
http://www44.bb.com.br/appbb/portal/bb/ctr2/sp/DetalheEvento.jsp
?Evento.codigo=33123&cod=7
• Centro cultural banco do brasil: rio s. paolo, brasilia CCBB
http://www44.bb.com.br/appbb/portal/bb/ctr2/index.jsp
• OBERDAN http://archiviostorico.corriere.it
/2008/novembre/18/della_capoeira_co_7_081118112.shtml
• http://archiviostorico.corriere.it
/2008/novembre/12/rassegne_vm_0_081112048.shtml

Hints & Curiosity
• Movies:
– “Mestre Bimba, a capoeira iluminada”;
– Fighters were seen in \"O Pagador de
Promessas,\" a Cannes award winner in 1962,
and in Glauber Rocha's 1961 \"Barravento.\"
– \"Only the Strong\" was the genre's Hollywood
breakthrough.
• Book:
– “Seguire i pappagalli fino alla fine: voci di rio”
di Riva Alberto

• Common issues
– The body
– Colours...Lygia Clark, Helio Oiticica, Carnaval
http://www.ipanema.com/carnival
– African influence
• Carioca

The Body
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