On Saturday the 7th of May 2011, Team Potiguara from Group Capoeira Brasil, went along to Mestre Peixe’s XVI International Capoeira Festival/Batizado, held in Darling Harbour. The event started off by forming 5 small rodas around the centre stage where quick games were played. Subsequently one single main roda was formed where we got the opportunity to see Mestre Zumbi and Mestre Cal Matos (2 of the main  guests from the event) play. New cordas were given to the members of Mestre Peixe’s school starting from the highest and finishing with the lowest. As each level was awarded, the students played the Mestres and with other students at that level. After all the cordas were awarded, there was a maculelê performance, solos were performed and then came a Samba dance off and a Brazilian percussion (Batucada) performance by the members of Mestre Peixe’s group.

Being relatively new to Capoeira, we learned a lot about the different aspects of the game by observing the higher belts play in the roda. The ritualistic movements that were performed by Mestre Boneco and Mestre Zumbi in the Angola games were very interesting. It was exciting to see our master Mestre Boneco getting in to the Roda with his fast paced games as some of us had never seen him play in real life prior to this moment. He has a very powerful stature. It was also fantastic to see our Professora Potiguara playing against the Mestres and Professores. It was an ideal opportunity for us to play with and learn from other capoeristas at this event.

“It was great to see the strength and depth of the Brazilian Culture presented on the day. Capoeira is more than kicking and esquivas, it is the music, the people, the maculelê, the samba, the ritmo… just like the Mestres we should embrace all aspects and will get more out of it for doing so! (Just don’t forget to esquiva!)” – Energia

We had a lot of fun at the Batizado and this has been a great showcase for Brasilian culture here in Sydney.

Written by Acai and Energia