Music. Dance. Gymnastics. Martial Arts. The four necessary components that make up the Afro-Brazilian, martial arts dance form known as Capoeira.
The art of Capoeira dates back to the 16th century when the Africans created the martial art as a way to defend themselves.
Thursday afternoon marked the first Capoeira club meeting in the Oak Room. There were a dozen students in attendance under the direction of Efriam Silva.
“It’s disguised as a dance because they weren’t allowed to practice martial arts,” said Silva.
Silva instructs programs at several surrounding area colleges, including UConn, Yale and Norwalk Community, and has been teaching for 30 years, since age 17. He said his class at Yale consists of over 45 students and his UConn class is completely full.
Iman Chin ’10, the president of the Capoeira club, said he started the on-campus group because he grew up in a household that performed the martial art form.
“It’s a part of my past and in practicing it I go back to my roots,” Chin said.
Others on the executive board include, Sarah Karam ’10, Niomi Rupram ’10 and Maria Christina Cardona ’10.
Several different Brazilian instruments are used to create the original 16th century environment of the Capoeira dance form. Such instruments include a Pandeiro (tambourine), Agogo (bells), Atabaque (drum) and the main instrument, the Berimbau, is shaped like a bow and arrow.
“The Berimbau is the one instrument that represents this art form,” said Silva.
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