The art form of Afro-Brazilian Capoeira developed over 500 years ago by African people in Brazil to celebrate life. It was a fundamental building block of Brazilian culture and united diverse communities residing in Brazil. The art is a mixture of indigenous, African and Portuguese influences. Capoeira today has changed dramatically from its origins 500 years ago. Today it is a folkloric expression of Brazilian people that has become a nationally recognized art. Capoeira combines dance, music, song, acrobatics, and philosophy. The music tells stories of the present and the past and is an important part of creating the ambiance of the art. The art is played between two people inside a circle called the “roda”. Capoeira’s philosophy teaches people key life skills such as confidence, self-discipline, fitness, and self-respect. Across the United States and worldwide, Afro-Brazilian Capoeira is practiced by people of diverse communities. It is an art form that has gained as much popularity as soccer. 슬롯머신
Using capoeira, many enslaved people escaped their oppressors and formed rebellion groups known as quilombos, creating communities outside Portuguese control. These communities stood as strongholds against the Portuguese and many are famous for the courageous defences they put up. Palmares, thought to have been home to more than 10,000 people, is the most famous of these. Although there are few historical documents, it is believed capoeira was a vital part of their defence and cultural practice. Within the societies that remained under Portuguese rule, capoeira was difficult to control. With the growing cities that were forming during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, larger populations resulted in larger communities of enslaved people, and in smaller areas. This produced an expanding social culture for enslaved people, and capoeira dominated as a popular form of entertainment. While there were examples of it being used for self-defence, capoeira was mostly performed in competition or for leisure, creating a difficult dichotomy for the ruling class. Despite this, capoeira dancers were often punished for practicing it, though the art form lived on regardless.
