Hola Capoeira community,

Once again we have celebrated the News Year with a Roda de Capoeira. This time we had the support of Passing Clouds.
Many Thanks to all that made it to the passing clouds roda last 1st January, the idea for this roda, with a variety of rodas in London means people can learn and enjoy this diversity of the art of capoeira, its richness.

The preparations for this roda began with the initiative to keep the flame burning that was already ignited at the Southbank new year roda in 2010. Although responses from capoeiristas to involve and create this roda were always reserved and few , with a core of enthusiastic and crazy folk we were able to secure the venue of Passing cloud and began our plans.Mestre Carlao suggested to me in Rio ,” Dont worry if people dont respond to be involved , just create the roda anyway and people will come ! “We are so fortunate to have been given access for our rodas to this upper space at Passing clouds its a wonderful bohemian room , like a mix between an antiques’ bric a brac’ market, art studio and an Indian backpackers retreat ! As always with the enthusiasm of the ‘crazy duo’ the preparations of mopping , sweeping , instrument tune’ing began early on the Sunday afternoon with much vigour, excitement and New Years delirium. We lit candles around the room, formed the many sofas and chairs and placed the bateria at the summit of the egg!
Capoeiristas began arriving on a rainy new years Sunday a bit late but as a few arrived , then arrived a dozen then twenty a mix of family, friends and new strangers of all styles of capoeira. We began the ritual with games in pairs to a soundtrack of Mestre Manoel’s Ypiranga de Pastinha. As the numbers grew and the anticipation arose I felt my nerves as I gave the first Ladainha of the year to ignite the capoeira for the day. Appropriately the roda began with a female game between different styles of capoeira , such is the growing larger enthusiastic female prescence of amazing female capoeira at rodas today ! The games flowed smiles and rabo de arrais passed over us all as energy grew together . A bateria made up of so many different groups represented and games almost always between capoeiristas of different groups gave for an amicable and relaxed roda. The arrival of Urban ritual capoeiristas half way through gave only more energy , and as the spontaneous guests of the day they gave there musical ideas, formation of the roda and jogos to add to the richness of the day . The roda remained animated , friendly, expressive and lively until the end after approximately three hours of vadiacao , it was time to chat , dance and smile more together .

Until the next vadiacao in passing clouds , Thank- you to everyone.

Charley and Kabula Capoeira community / family of London

A great space deserves a great Capoeira Vibe. Passing Clouds has been established as a very important space for new talents at the London scene. Capoeira is also part of this scene and to the movement which promotes the art and culture in Dalston area.

Hannah (Kabula Arts) and Prof. Toca (FICA, London)

The idea was so successful that we are working to make a monthly Roda in there. The main objective is to support the whole community of capoeiristas and to collaborate to the spirit of Capoeira in London.

When many fronts coming together to make things collectively, the energy naturally raises, everyone wins and capoeira stands out more than the individuals or groups themselves. This is the great advantage of the many Community Rodas in London.

Até a próxima Roda … see you next Roda!