Capoeira combines martial arts, dance, music, singing and expression. Photo by Holt Menzies

by MEGAN NORTHCOTE
Intern Lifestyles Reporter

For senior psychology major David S. Furr, the best way to describe capoeira, a traditional Afro-Brazilian dance form, is “yoga on steroids.”

“It’s like a fight, a game and a dance, all at the same time,” Furr said.

After reading and watching videos about capoeira, Furr, who is one-fourth Brazilian, decided to sign up for a capoeira class taught by Appalachian State University foreign language and literature instructor Gabrielle Motta-Passajou.

“Just like yoga, capoeira is kind of different at first, but once you identify your personal barriers, you can really learn a lot about yourself,” Furr said.

Although this is Motta-Passajou’s first semester teaching capoeira at Appalachian, she has been holding classes at the Northwest Dance Studio in Boone for approximately eight years.

“Capoeira is a dance fight,” Motta-Passajou said. “It’s a martial art that combines dance, music, singing and expression, but for me, it’s mainly a martial art.”

By the late 1970s and early 80s, capoeira was spread all over Europe and the United States.

Dispute surrounds its origin and much debate exists over whether it is indigenous to Africa or Brazil, though Motta-Passajou, being of Brazilian and French descent, believes capoeira is originated in the northeastern and southern parts of Brazil.

During capoeira, participants stand in a circle, called a roda, and clap, sing and cheer while two people play fight in the center of the circle.

At the same time, various instruments are played, including a berimbau, a musical bow with an attached hollow gourd, which determines the rhythm of the game.

Motta-Passajou compares the berimbau to a baton used to conduct the speed and progression of an orchestra.

Motta-Passajou hopes her students will take what they learn within the circle and apply it to their own lives.

“The hardest thing [about capoeira] is having to get past personal limitations of your body to learn the rhythm of the music and the rhythm of the game play,” Furr said. “People are capable of doing amazing things if they accept their own potential.”

Though Furr will graduate this year, he hopes to participate in Motta-Passajou’s off-campus classes.

Freshman art management major Jennifer M. Harley is eager to sign up for Motta-Passajou’s capoeira class next semester.

After previously attempting capoeira with help from a teacher at her high school in Raleigh, Harley hopes to further immerse herself in both capoeira and Brazilian culture by taking Portuguese and studying abroad in Brazil.

Harley attended a capoeira demonstration at Whitewater Café Friday.

“I love the energy, the language, the music – and the [Brazilian] food’s good, too,” Harley said.

Photos by Holt Menzies  |  Chief Photographer

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