Capoeira
Combining dance, games and martial arts, Capoiera is a unique, Afro-Brazilian art. Highly ritualistic, it incorporates somersaults, high leg swings, sweeping movements and other acrobatics – so flexibility and stamina are more important than muscular strength.
Typically, spectators form a circle, called a roda, while pairs of people take it in turns to sing, play music or fight in the centre. Given its harmless, game-like appearance, it is thought that African slaves developed this style in order to practice their self defence moves in secret.
