So I have been in Rio one week. Despite the mosquito bites, it's been a very enjoyable week with lots of capoeira, dance and incredible food.
The vadiacao for the group Senzala was last week, for non capoeiraistas reading this blog, Capoeira is a Brazilian Art Form with a little bit of everything, music, dance martial arts and acrobatics.... See below for a video of the Vadiacao.
The event takes place every 2 years and sees the graduation of Masters within the group. This year this event was even more poignant after the loss Mestre Peixinho this year, on of the original members of the group from the 60s who worked tirelessly his whole life with capoeira, the impact of his work has reached around the world, and it is safe to say that without his years of work and ambition there would be much fewer capoeiristas about today.
The event saw the graduation of 7 of his students to Master and also the graduation of a student from another Master in the group who is also my teacher. Students of these Masters came from across Brazil, Europe and South America to see the formatura. A mixing of many cultures and languages, but the ability to communicate with language was not important only through movement and the rhythm of capoeira.
The formatura itself was full of emotion and passion, to witness people who have dedicated their lives to a particular work, graduate to the highest level in the knowledge that they will continue the legacy of their teacher, through demonstrating to their students, (who have travelled across the world) their finely tuned skills and accomplishments. It was truly a privilege to be there and be welcomed by the group in Rio to share in this occasion.
The vadiacao for the group Senzala was last week, for non capoeiraistas reading this blog, Capoeira is a Brazilian Art Form with a little bit of everything, music, dance martial arts and acrobatics.... See below for a video of the Vadiacao.
The event takes place every 2 years and sees the graduation of Masters within the group. This year this event was even more poignant after the loss Mestre Peixinho this year, on of the original members of the group from the 60s who worked tirelessly his whole life with capoeira, the impact of his work has reached around the world, and it is safe to say that without his years of work and ambition there would be much fewer capoeiristas about today.
The event saw the graduation of 7 of his students to Master and also the graduation of a student from another Master in the group who is also my teacher. Students of these Masters came from across Brazil, Europe and South America to see the formatura. A mixing of many cultures and languages, but the ability to communicate with language was not important only through movement and the rhythm of capoeira.
The formatura itself was full of emotion and passion, to witness people who have dedicated their lives to a particular work, graduate to the highest level in the knowledge that they will continue the legacy of their teacher, through demonstrating to their students, (who have travelled across the world) their finely tuned skills and accomplishments. It was truly a privilege to be there and be welcomed by the group in Rio to share in this occasion.