Boneco Capoeira - Mission Statement

Capoeira is a 400-year-old Afro-Brazilian art form that fuses martial arts with dance.

It was first developed by enslaved Africans who camouflaged their fight training in the

form of a dance and innocent horseplay. Capoeira's captivating energy and magical

mixture of music, song, and physical expression has secured the art form as a

prominent aspect of Brazilian culture. It is rapidly gaining popularity in the United
States and abroad. Today Capoeira is practiced on 6 continents and appeals to

people of all ages. Capoeira is featured in recent feature films Meet the Fockers,

Ocean's Twelve, Catwoman and in music videos Rich Girls, by Gwen Stefani and

Eve and Usher's Caught Up.

The spirit and energy of Capoeira can best be experienced in the Roda (circle).

At the head of the Roda is the orchestra, which usually consists of three

Berimbaus, a mono-cord African instrument which is characteristic of the unique

acoustic sound of Capoeira music; the Atabaque (tall drum); and Pandeiro

(tambourine). The Berimbau dictates the rhythm of the jogo (game). The jogo

is a physical conversation between two players who exchange movements

and energy to the rhythm of the music. Onlookers participate by singing and

clapping their hands along with the orchestra. Players use circular and straight

kicks, acrobatics, takedowns and knowledge of the body and mind.