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Oct. 21, 2004
By Anna Anderson
Staff Writer

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the St. Ambrose Minority Affairs Committee Action hosted a Chicago dance troupe that performed Capoeira, a Brazilian dance.  This public event was held on October 2nd in the Rogalski Center ballroom, and was attended by St. Ambrose professors, students and members of the Quad City community.

According to the online Capoeira magazine, “Planet Capoeira,” the dance originated in Brazil where African slaves disguised their martial arts as a dance and created Capoeira.  In Portuguese, the dance is called “jogo,” which translates into “game.”

The dancers explained that the music is very important to the dance and the tempo determines the “games” played. The music consists of the “berimbau,” a long, bowed instrument with a gourd for amplification, and floor drums called “atabaque.”

The games are played by two players in the center of a “roda,” a circle of participants and onlookers.  The faster the tempo, the more kicks and blows are thrown, combined with acrobatic movements.  The slower the tempo, the more the dance is interactive.

Midway through the performance, the chairs were pushed to the sides of the room and audience participation and instruction began.

Shellie Moore Guy, host of the KALA radio show, Ebony Expressions, said that the hands-on demonstration was wonderful and it really made her feel connected to the dance.

“There’s a real sense of community (in Capoeira),” she said.  “You become a part.”  This sentiment was echoed by one of the dancers who explained that Capoeira is like a conversation that anyone can participate in.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’re from or what language you speak, anyone can participate,” he said, speaking in Portuguese through an English interpreter.

The Capoeira dance troupe, led by Marisa Cordeiro, had members from the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Germany, and their ages ranged from the early twenties to forty.

Lilli Yah, from China, is a grad student.  She said that Capoeira was something she’d never experienced before.

“It was new for me.  I had a lot of fun with the dancers,” she said.

Jack Gilbert, vice president of the Minority Affairs Committee Action, said he was pleased with the night’s events.

“There was an excellent turnout and everybody had a good time,” he said.  “This bodes of good things.”

For more information on Minority Affairs Committee Action events, see the bulletin board in the entryway of the Beehive.  The Minority Affairs Committee Action is open to students of all backgrounds.

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