Announcing Ritmos Do Brasil at UCSB!

Hey Batuqueiros, UCSB students, and anyone else interested in Afro-Brazilian culture. Check out our newest extension the Capoeira Batuque Santa Barbara family- The Rhythms of Brazil Club on the UCSB campus.

Meetings are every Thursday at the African Diasporic Resource Center in the SRB building. The last meeting of 2009 will be December 3rd.

The club covers Afro-brazilian history, culture, Capoeira, Afro-Brazilian Dance, Music and will host several great dance and capoeira events to support and grow Capoeira Batuque. You’ll also get the most up to date news about classes and events in the Santa Barrbara, Goleta, and Carpenteria area.

We’re in good hands, as Rhythms of Brazil is operating under the guidance and direction of Contra-Mestre Mariano Silva, and in cooperation with Brazilian Cultural Arts Center, Santa Barbara.

Ritmos do Brasil is open to any and all members of the community. You only have to bring an open mind and plenty of Axé.

For more info contact Vika 323-646-2184
You can also find us on Facebook liste as Rhythms of Brazil Cultural Club @ UCSB

Come learn about the beauty of Afro-Brasilian Culture

Come Celebrate Zumbi Dos Palmares with Capoeira Batuque SB

Come check out our event at EOS in SB this weekend. We are going to start at 9:30 PM on Friday night (November 21st), and there promises to be plenty of Axé in the house. Contre Mestre Mariano Silva (BANDA PRAKANTAR) and Pyata Penedo (BELEZA PURA) are going to be performing and providing the energy, while you get the chance to enjoy a few drinks and dance.

The EOS LOUNGE will also feature DJ$ along with a very special guest DJ ITAI SHAPIRA, who is coming up from Zanzibar to add some Brazilian, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Soul, House, Afro Beat, Dancehall flavor.

Keep an eye out for the Samba performers as well as very good chance of a capoeira roda…

One last note – this is all to help support our upcoming Semi-Annual batizado, so not only is it going to be a great party, but it’s going to help perpetuate art in culture in Santa Barbara. Pretty sweet, right?

For more info check out the event on Facebook

Zumbi Dos Palmares - Liberdade

Santa Barbara…

This song is simple, old school and fun to sing. I guess since our group is in Santa Barbara, it always makes this song a little extra fun to sing. But what are the words exactly, what does it mean, and where does it come from?

SANTA BARBARA:

O Santa Barbara que relampuê, O Santa Barbara que relampuá (lider)

O Santa Barbara que relampuê (coro)

Que relampuê, que relampuá (lider)

O Santa Barbara que relampuê (coro)

Well what does it mean?
Roughly translated it means- ‘Santa Barbara will make lightning’ or ‘Santa Barbara brings lightning’.

Why would people sing that?
If you ask 50 people you will probably get 50 different answers, so take this explanation with a grain of salt, but Santa Barbara was syncretized with the Orixa Iansá from Candomblé tradition, who is closely associated with dance, wind, lightning and change. Also, according to the Soul Capoeira Blog it is said that African people would sing and pray to ask Iansá to send lighting to fertilize the earth.

Obviously this isn’t the most in depth explanation ever, but hopefully it gives a little more background and context for the next time you sing this song.

Iansá

Besouro – The Movie

Okay, so I’m on a roll. Two posts in one day… I’ve been meaning to post this for a while now. Besouro (in the US i think they’re going to call it Beetle) the movie is coming out, and the trailers are available on YouTube. Most of the trailers seem to be pretty rough edits, but the movie looks like it could quickly become a capoeira classic.

We’ve all likely seen capoeira in martial arts films by now (Only The Strong!), but this movie is intriguing because not only does it include capoeira, but it goes back to explore one of the legendary figures of capoeira. Most capoeiristas have sang a song or two about Besouro Manganga, but how many of us have heard the history of this capoeira legend and his corpo fechado? I’m hopeful that this movie will not only shed light on the life of Besouro Manganga, but some of the struggle that capoeiristas in the past had to go through so we can continue vadiando for fun and sport today. What we take for granted, was life and death to many. Take a look at the trailer below. Like I said… it looks like it’s going to be a good one.

Capoeira as Theory – by Mariano Silva

New students to capoeira often wonder exactly what they are getting into. Here is a brief explanation from Contra Mestre Mariano….

CAPOEIRA AS THEORY:
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form and dance that involves music, ritual and movement. Capoeira was created by African slaves, in Brazil, approximately 400 years ago. Music was an integral part of the discipline because it taught rhythm. Played in a ritual roda (circle), the prehistoric berimbau stringed bow instrument sets the pace and swing of the capoeira jogo (game). Today Capoeira is Brazil’s second national sport and is gaining popularity throughout the world. It can be done by anyone of any age or size.

There are three main aspects of capoeira music, movement and discipline. Without these three things the art form is not complete. The significance of music to capoeira is that it creates the atmosphere to play the game. Through learning about the different instruments and songs people gain emotional discipline, mental acuity and become unified as a group. This unification increases a sense of acceptance and understanding with the world around you.

While the music sets the tone for the game the movement is what brings it alive. Through structured movements and sequences, students learn coordination, balance and gain strength. Along with structure there is also an aspect of self-expression where each player develops their own style of play. During each class students will be challenged both physically and mentally. After overcoming each obstacle they will increase their self-esteem with a sense of accomplishment.

As in any sport discipline plays a major role by attributing to the conduct of the game. With discipline players learn to respect their teacher and other players. In capoeira, discipline is very important to learn patience, control the movements and follow the rules of the game.

The music, movements and discipline learned through capoeira will be carried by students into other aspects of their lives. Challenges, language skills, courage, self-esteem, and friendships are all parts of life, and must be integrated when learning capoeira. Capoeira can be a life changing experience and the benefits will be noticed long in to the future.

Axé
Capoeira Batuque Santa Barbara

Here’s a Quick History Lesson

If you don’t know you better ask somebody.