On the first Friday in November, World Arts East Red Hook (127 King Street) hosted a special action packedCapoeira workshop that was taught by Instructor Malandro, who is the founder and leader of Capoeira Terreiro da Lua.
Malandro shared the history, basic movement and commonly played music of Capoeira. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines dance, music and acrobatics.
The workshop included instruction of the most common instrument in Capoeira called Berimbau, and three of the different kinds were played. This is a string instrument that comes in different colors and the size of the base of the instrument determines the sound.
“The Berimbau all have a specific job to do,” Malandro said. “They all sound different. There are certain rhythms that dictate how they interact.”
The Capoeira workshop included eight individuals, five who were in the instructor’s school who were wearing the white uniforms and three beginners who signed up to learn. There was a father and young song who eagerly participated as they were doing Capoeira for the first time and another beginner who was high school aged.
The music of Brazilian musician Arlindo Cruz was playing in the beginning of the workshop as everyone was warming up for the 6:30 start time. The class started with a demonstration of a few different Berimbau as well as the drums. It was explained why each variation is unique and makes the sound that it does.
The song of life was one song that was played in a call and response format. They went over few different traditional songs in this portion and the instructor explained that Capoeira is always one day at a time and ones skill level is not important, just the effort that is put in.
“Capoeira is about being fluid, moving and always having options,” Malandro said.
The history of Capoeira was explained. It is an Afro-Brazililan dance that had to be disguised since it was started in the plantations by African slaves. Their owners did not want them to learn how to fight, which is why they practiced in disguise and the movements are dance like.
This dance/martial art was developed by enslaved Africans in Brazil at the beginning of the 16th century. It is now practiced all around the world.
After the history lesson and sample of songs, they then went over the basic movements of Capoeira.
One move that was part of the instruction was where everyone move side to side with their arms in front of their face as a form of self protection. They then did a lot of full body movement extending one arm or leg and then the other.
The practiced the ginga, which is the basic movement of Capoeira. It is all about being nimble and moving easily while shielding your head and moving one leg behind you and then side to side. It’s constant back and forth moments while switching arm movements.
Esciva is another movement that was practiced, which is a lunge and then a dodge to prevent an attack and then a return to ready position. The person is ducking away from the oncoming kick.
The instructor emphasized that it is okay if people mess up or don’t remember a move since the most important part is having a good time.
After each year, and after a certain amount of progress is made, a participant earns a new colorful cord that is based on the Brazilian flag.
Capoeira is all about working with partners and that is what the workshop did after the basic movements were introduced. They went through combinations of various movements and rotated partners to practice.
According to Malandro, everybody comes to Capoeira for different reasons and can get different benefits from Capoeira.
“Some people want to get in shape, some people want to learn self defense, some people are more drawn to the music, some want to learn to play percussion,” Malandro said. “Some might want to be part of something bigger and might be missing something in their life.”
“You can treat it its a martial arts class,” Malandro said. “You can treat it as another way to have a good time and let loose. It’s a good way to relieve some pressure or tension. That is what Capoeira is here for, it is here for everybody.”
Some people might not have Capoeira in their schedule at a given time, but it will always be there for anyone who wants to continue their journey.
They worked on offense and defense and kicking and escaping and concentrated on moving slow in the beginning to develop control. Then with the Berimbau paling in the background they could choose any movement they wanted to do.
Capoeira is about expression, unity, creativity and love.
Towards the end, a circle was formed and moves were performed one-on-one, and that was followed by a cool down. Everyone went around and introduced themselves with their traditional Capoeira nickname and spoke about their Capoeira background.
Owner Erica Bowen practiced Capoeira at a cultural center when she lived in California and her instructor introduced her to Malandro.
The self defense aspect of Capoeira is important because you will learn how to fall properly, how to execute a kick and how to evade kicks. There are other more broad ways it will have a positive impact.
“To be creative, and learn and grow together and be a community, that is the number own thing,” Malandro added. “Capoeira helps build confidence. There might be people who do not feel comfortable speaking in public or don’t feel comfortable sharing their ideas. Capoeira will help people develop these skills.
One of the woman from Malandro’s school who was in the class has been training for about 12 years on and off. She moved to NYC when she was 10 from Brazil.
She is currently one level before instructor called monitora, but would like to be a full fledged instructor in the future.
“It requires a few things before becoming an instructor that I have to work on,” the minitora said. “There are different rhythms of the Berimbau, and the instructor wants you to know all of the rhythms.”
She described some of the different styles of Capoeira.
There is one that is slower paced, there is one called traditional which is very faced paced and then there is a mixture of the two. The school does both but some only do one or the other.
The monitora said they don’t like to categorize themselves. They can do the slower paced one that is more playful but they can also do the traditional one that has more kicking and is more aggressive.
Capoeira has really grown a lot over the years and it has benefited so many people including Instructor Malandro.
After moving around when he was younger, Malandro went to high school in the Lower East Side and in the beginning of his freshman year he fell in love with Capoeira.
“I saw a guy walk in with a stick and coconut looking thing,” Malandro said. “He started playing it and I realized it was an instrument. A whole bunch of people ran into the room. They were doing kicks. I was like this is cool, I want to learn that.”
He found out that he could take Capoeira as an elective instead of the typical gym class. Malandro was excited and decided to enroll. He was able to get a lot of attention because the first day 15 students were in the class and the second day he was the only one.
Malandro was fortunate to receive one on one sessions in school until he graduated from high school, and then his passion turned into giving back and a career for himself as he has been teaching for 17 years.
His high school teacher took him around to teach kids and give back to the community. He went to after school programs and schools in The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens and over the years he has taught all ages from pre schoolers to adults.
“Capoeira is for everybody,” Malandro said. “There is no age limit, size limit, or flexibility limit.”
“Capoeira was made for the weak to rise up against the oppressors,” Malandro said. “We are against oppression and are here for liberty and freedom.”
Capoeira Terreiro da Lua is a group and school based in Queens, and Terreiro da Lua translated to English loosely means meeting place of the moon. The school was established in May of 2019.
From 2006 through 2017, Malandro taught Capoeira to schools in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and The Bronx. In 2015, he received the Instructor rank under the teachings of Contra Maestre Omi of Ile de Palmares.
