Associação Cultural de Capoeira Angola
Capoeira School in Manchester & Leeds

Capoeira Angola is a rich cultural artform that originated with the enslaved people of Africa who were taken to Brazil during the years of the transatlantic slave trade. It is often described as a martial art, yet in reality this artform is not so easily defined. It incorporates elements of fight, dance, self-expression, game play, music, singing and ritual. Capoeira Angola takes place in the context of a game played between two people within a "roda" (Portuguese word for "circle") that is made up of all the participants. Within the "roda" eight of the participants are responsible for playing the music that will lead the rhythm and energy of the games, this is known as the "bateria." The "bateria" is composed of percussion and string instruments commonly found in Brazil, some of which originated from Africa - these are the reco-reco (an instrument played by rubbing it with a small stick), the agogo (bells hit with a small stick), two pandeiros (tambourines), one atabaque (drum played with the hands) and three berimbaus (a one-stringed bow instrument).

The "roda" begins with music from the "bateria" and the Master or teacher will commence by singing the "ladainha" which is often a story recounting a part of the history of capoeira in Portuguese. Following this the singer is joined by all of the participants using a call and response style of singing. At this point, when all the participants are contributing their energy in music and song the games can begin.

The first two players wait at the feet of the three berimbaus and when the Master or teacher directs them they move into the centre of the "roda" together, their bodies moving in synchronicity with the musical rhythms and at the same time complementing and responding to the movements of their partner. The actual movements of Capoeira are said to resemble a dialogue between two people, the first asking a question and the second giving a response and vice versa. The communication between the two players is quite complex because unlike a fight in which it is competitiveness and aggression that are often rewarded, in Capoeira Angola it is the attention to the aesthetics of the game, control of the body and use of wit and guile that are seen as positive attributes. Therefore a degree of co-operation and collaboration between the players is needed - without either of them letting down their guard or leaving themselves open to attack.