Capoeira and House Dance/Music Capoeira Essay

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House music also influenced the development of b-boying, or breakdancing, which took house dance moves and made them more aggressive. Close physical posture and movement without physical contact in b-boying can be seen in capoeira. Like capoeira, house dance styles varied by region. For instance, in Chicago and Detroit, jacking was a major element of house dance. Jacking was a dance move that focused on torso movements and created a rippling effect, and the dance known as "The Farmer" also originated in this type of house music (Mirani). Jacking was influenced by the heavier sounds of techno and acid music. On the East Coast, house music was highly influenced by hip-hop music. Dance moves that originated on the East Coast include "Loose Legs," the "Train," skating, and Jamaican skanking (Mirani). On the West Coast, house music was more commercial and dance moves were influenced by b-boys.

In addition to the differences in dance, capoeira and house music shared similarities, yet were very different from each other. Capoeira music relies heavily on traditional, acoustic instruments that are played live in the roda. Traditional instruments played during capoeira dance battles are the berimbau, a single-stringed bowlike instrument that sets the tempo and style of dance; the pandeiro, a tambourine-like instrument; the reco, a box with notches in it that is played by dragging a stick across the ridges or tapping the instrument; an agogo, which are single or multiple bells played with a stick; and the atabaque, a tall-wooden Afro-Brazilian drum (Brown). These instruments are arranged in a row referred to as a bateria. These instruments are used to create different rhythms including Angola, which indicates a slow, methodical game is going to be played; Benguela, a more moderate paced rhythm based in indirection; Sao Bento Grande de Regional, a fast game with acrobatics and kicks; Cavalaria, traditionally associated with a secret code that would warn members of the roda that police were coming; and Iuna, which was used on special occasions ("The Roda").

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On the other hand, house music and b-boy music was more electronic and minimalistic, and had a heavy repetitive rhythm that established the tone and rhythm of the song. Unlike capoeira that utilizes acoustic instruments in a live setting, house music depends on more technologically advanced instruments including electronic dance machines, mixing boards, turntables and vinyl records, CDs, MIDI machines, and various types of audio software. House music also relied heavily on synthesized drum sounds to establish the rhythm of music. Like house dance itself, house music was developed in the underground scene. House music, like house dance, was also regionally specific.

Ultimately, the flash of spirit found in capoeira dance and music, and in house dance and music and b-boying, are about visual and philosophic streams of creativity and imagination. The evolution of capoeira music and dance from traditional African rituals, dances, and music allows individuals to understand how cultures and traditions are passed from one generation to the next, across social and cultural lines. The prevalence of these styles and the transition of these music and dance from the underground to more mainstream environments demonstrates that regardless of another culture or societies attempts to subjugate others, people refuse to allow themselves to be oppressed and will continue to produce art, culture, music, dance, and new traditions.

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