capoeira angola houston history page

Capoeira was created in the sixteenth century among slaves brought to Brazil from African nations. There are diverse theories about the origins of the art form. Popularly, it is thought that Africans brought to Brazil through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade continued practising their traditional ritual dances, such as the N’Golo dance or dance of the zebras originally from Angola, as a mean to maintain themselves spiritually and physically under the harsh conditions of slavery and plantation life. The dance then developed into a foot-fighting style used by slaves for defense and attack.

Capoeira thus became a tool of escape and defense, making freedom attainable and affirming strength, self-reliance and self-esteem. Capoeira and its parent forms were banned in Brazil for 400 years, yet flourished underground. In 1937, Capoeira was legalized and recognized as a national folkloric art by the Brazilian government after a performance at the palace of Bahia’s governor by Mestre Bimba. Mestre Bimba created Capoeira Regional in the 1930’s, in an effort to emphasize the fighting and martial art aspect of Capoeira. In response to Mestre Bimba’s Capoeira Regional, Mestre Pastinha termed the traditional style of Capoeira, Capoeira Angola, and dedicated his life to preserving the practise, philosophy and tradition of pure Capoeira Angola. Mestre Pastinha founded Brazil’s first officially recognized Capoeira Angola academy, the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola, in 1941, which was governmentally recognized in 1952. This was the start of the domestication of the street culture of Capoeira Angola.

Capoeira is a historical testimony of the indomitable spirit, ingenuity and freedom of the human soul, which lessons have no time, land, or race borders.

Group Capoeira Camará Angola de João Pequeno de Pastinha - Houston

History

Group Capoeira Camará Angola de João Pequeno de Pastinha - Houston